STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

HEIGHT AND DISTANCE

HEIGHT & DISTANCE 2. The angle of elevation of a ladder leaning
against a wall is 600 and the foot of the ladder
is 7.5m away from the wall. The length of the
ladder is-
(a) 15 m (b) 14.86 m
h (c) 15.64 m (d) 15.8 m
Sol. Let AB the ladder leaning against the wall CB.
Let AC be the
horizontal such that AC = 7.5 m and ∠ CAB
Angle of elevation
= 600.
AB
\ = sec 600 =2
BC
AB
⇒ = 2 ⇒ AB = 15m.
Line of Sight h 7.5
⇒ Length of the Ladder is 15 m.

Angle of Depression B
Example :
1. The angle of elevation of a tower from a
distance 50m from its foot is 300. Findthe
height of the tower is ?
50
(a) 50 3m (b) m
3
0
100 60
(c) 25 3m m(d) A 7.5m C
3
Sol. Let AB be the tower and AC be the horizontal 3. From the top of a cliff 90 m high, the angles of
line such that AC = 50m and ∠ ACB = 300 . depression of the top and bottom of a tower
AB
= tan 30 0 =
1
⇒ x = 50 ×
1
m=
50
m.
are observed to be 300 and 600 respectively.
AC 3 3 3 What is the height of the tower?
(a) 30 m (b) 45 m
x 1
⇒ = (c) 60 m (d) 75 m
50 3 B
300 0
1 50 60
⇒ x = 50 × m= m
3 3 30 0 E
D
B 90m

0
x 60
C A
Let AB be the cliff and CD be the tower. Draw
0 DE II CA, Then, ∠ BDE = 300 , ∠ BCA = 600
30 and AB = 90 m.
C 50m A
From right D CAB we have
50 CA
\
Height of the tower = m. = cot 60 0
3 AB

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

CA
=
1
e2 − 3 j = 20
90 3
10 3
× e j
3 − 30 m

CA 1 =
e2 + 3 j e2 − 3 j

⇒ 90 = = (20×1.73-30)m = 4.6m
3
\ Required height = 4.6 m.
F I = 30 5. On the horizontal plane, there is a vertical
⇒ CA = 90 × GH 1
3
×
3
J
3K
3m. tower with a flagpole on its top. At a point 9m
away from the foot of the tower, the angles of
elevation of the top and bottom of the flagpole
\ DE = CA = 30 3m. are 600 and 300 respectively. The height of the
From right DDEB, we have flagpole is :
BE (a) 6 3m (b) 5 3 m
= tan 300
DE (c) 6 2 m (d) 4 m

FG 30 IJ = 30m.
3×
1
Sol.
= H 3K C
⇒ BE = 30 3 × 1 I = 30m.
F
GH J
3K
\ CD = AE =(AB-BE)=(90-30)m = 60m
hence, the height of the tower is 60 m. B
0
60
4. The height of a tree is 10 meter. It is bent by
0
the wind in such a way that its top touches 30
the ground and makes an angle of 600 with O 9m A
the ground. At what height from the bottom Let AB be the tower and BC be the flag pole
did the tree get bent ? 3 = 1732
. e j and let O be the of observation.
Then,
(a) 4.6 m (b) 4.8 m
(c) 5.2 m (d) 5.4 m OA=9m, ∠ AOB = 300 and L AOC = 600
Sol.
B AB
10-X
= tan 300 = 1 ⇒ AB = 1
OA 3 9 3
F
⇒ AB = 9 × 1 × 3 = 3 3m. I
C
3 . 3
GH JK
10
-X x
AC
60
0 = tan 600
OA
D A

Let AB be the tree bent at the point C so that 3⇒

AC
= 3 ⇒ AC = 9 3 .
=
part CB takes the position CD. Then 9
CD = CB. Let AC = x metres.
\ BC = (AC-AB)
Then, CD =CB = (10-x)m and ∠ ADC = 600.
AC x 3
CD = sin 60
0 ⇒
b
10 − x
=
2 g e
= 9 3 − 3 3 m = 6 3m j
⇒ 2x= 10 3 − 3 x \ Height of the flagpole is 6 3m .

e j
⇒ 2 + 3 x = 10 3

⇒ x

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

EXERCISE
Q.1. From a light house the angles of depression of two ships on apposite side of the light are observed
to be 300 and 450 . If the height of light house is 20 m, what is the distance between the ships?

(A) ( )
3 + 1 20m. (B) ( )
3 − 1 20 m.

 1 
(C) 20 3 m (D)  1 +  20 m.
 3
Q.2. From the top of a cliff 200 m. high, the angles of depression of the top and bottom of a tower are
observed to be 30o and 45o respectively. What is the height of the tower?

(A) 400 m. (B) 400 3 m.

400
(C) m. (D) None of the above
3
Q.3. What is the angle of elevation of the sun when the shadow of a pole is 3 times the length of the
pole?

(A) 30o (B) 45o

(C) 60o (D) None of the above

Q.4. The angle of elevation of a cloud from a point 60 m. above a lake is 30o and the angle of depression
of the reflection of cloud in the lake is 60o. Find the height of the cloud?

(A) 100 m. (B) 120 m.

(C) 115 m. (D) m.

Q.5. The angle of elevation of the top of an incomplete vertical pillar at a horizontal distance of 100 m
from its base is 450.If the angle of elevation of the top of complete pillar at the same point is to be
600, then the height of the incomplete pillar is to be increased by-

(A) 50 2 m. (B) 100 m.

(C) 100 ( )
3 − 1 m. (D) 100 ( 3 + 1 m. )
Q.6. The angles of elevation of a tower from two points situated at distance 36m and 64 m from its base
and in the same straight line with it are complementary . What is the height of the tower?

(A) 50 m. (B) 48 m.

(C) 25 m. (D) 24 m.

Q.7. Two poles of height a and b metres (b > a) are c metres apart. The height in metres of the intersection
of the lines joining the top of each pole to the foot of the opposite poles is -

a+b ab
(A) (B)
ab a+b
1 2 1
(C) + (D)
2 b c
Q.8. An aeroplane flying horizontally 1 km. above the ground is observed at an elevation of 60o. After 10
seconds its elevation is observed to be 30o. The uniform speed of the aeroplane is -

(A) 240 km./hr. (B) 240 2 km./hr.

(C) 240 3 km./hr. (D) None of these

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

Q.9. From a light house the angles of depression of two ships on opposite sides of the light house one
observed to be 300 and 450 If the height of lighthouse is h, what is the distance between the ships
?

(A) ( )
3 +1 h (B) ( )
3 −1 h

 1 
(C) 3h (D)  1 + h
 3
Q.10. Two poles of height 6 meters and 11 meters stand on a plane ground. If the distance between Their
feet is 12 meters then find the difference in the distance between their tops:

(A) 12m (B) 5m

(C) 13m (D) 11m

Q.11. A pole broken by the storm of wind and its top struck the ground at a angle of 30o and at a distance
of 30 m. from the foot of the pole. The height of the pole before it was broken was

40 3
(A) 30 3 m. (B) 3
m.

(C) 60 3 m. (D) 100 3 m.

3
Q.12. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from the bottom of a building is twice that from its top.
What is the height of the building if the height of the tower is 75 m. and the angle of elevation of the
top of the tower from the bottom of the building is 60o?

(A) 25 m. (B) 37.5 m.

(C) 50 m. (D) 60 m.

Q.13. The angle of elevation of the top of a building and the top of the chimney on the roof of the building
form a point on the ground are x and 45o respectively. The height of building is h m. the height of
the chimney, in m is -

(A) h cot x + h (B) h cot x – h

(C) h tan x – h (D) h tan x + h

Q.14. A pole 5 meter high is fixed on the top of a tower.The angle of elveation of the top of the pole ob-
served from a point A on the ground is 600 and the angle of depression of the point A from the top
of the tower is 450 .The height of the tower is -

( 3 = 1.732)

(A) 6.83 m. (B) 5.9 m.

(C) 7 m. (D) 7.66 m.

Q.15. A ladder 34 meter long is placed in a lane so as to reach a window 30 meter hight and on turning
the ladder to other side of the lane and keeping its foot at the same place, it reaches a point 16
meter high. What is the width of the lane?

(A) 10 meter (B) 40 meter

(C) 46 meter (D) 50 meter

Q.16. On the level ground, the angle of elevation of a tower is 30o. On moving 20 meter nearer, the angle
of elevation is 60o. Find the height of the tower.

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

(A) 10 meter (B) 10 3 meter

(C) 15 meter (D) 20 meter
Q.17. The angle of depression of two ships from the top of a light house are 450 and 300 towards the east.
If two ships are 200 m. apart. find the height of light house.
(A) 183 m (B) 284 m.
(C) 273 m. (D) 180 m.
Q.18. Two towers of the same height stand on either side of road 60 meter wide. At a point on the road
between the towers, the elevations of towers are 60o and 30o. Find the position of the point.
(A) 25 meter (B) 45 meter
(C) 30 meter (D) 55 meter
Q.19. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from a certain point is 300 if the observer moves 20 m.
towards the tower, the angle of elevation of the of tower increases by 150. The height of tower is-
(A) 27.3 m. (B) 33.5 m.
(C) 30 m. (D) 35 m.
Q.20. Two poles of equal height are standing opposite to each other on either side of the road which is
100m wide. From a point between them on road angles of elevation of their top are 300 and 600 the
height of each pole in meter is -

(A) 25 3 (B) 20 3

(C) 28 3 (D) 30 3
Q.21. From the top of light house 60m above the sea, the angle of depression of an incoming boat is 300.
How far is the boat from the light house ?

(A) 60 3 meter (B) 30 3 meter

(C) 45 3 meter (D) 90 3 meter

Q.22. The angles of elevation of the top of a vertical tower from points at distance a and b from the base
and in the same line with it, are complementary. If a>b, then the hight of the tower is ?

(A) (a + b) (B) a+b

(C) (a − b) (D) ab

Q.23. The angle of elevation of an aeroplane from a point an the ground is 600. After 8 seconds flight the
elevation changes to 300. If the aeroplane is flying at a height of 1600 m, find the speed of the
plane.
(A) 100 m/sec. (B) 200 m/sec
(C) 300 m/sec (D) 400 m/sec
Q.24. The angles of elevation of the top of an inaccessible tower from two points on the same straight line
from the base of the tower are 300 and 600 respectively. If the points are separated at a distance of
(
100m the height of tower is : 3 = 1.732 )
(A) 86.6m (B) 80.6m

(C) 82.6m (D) 84.6m

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

Q.25. The upper part of the broken tree (broken by the wind) makes an angle 30o with the ground and the
distance from the root to the point were the top of the tree need the ground is 10 meter. What was
the height of the tree? ( = 1.73)

(A) 17.3 meter (B) 16.5 meter

(C) 15 meter (D) 18 meter

Q.26. Two men are an opposite sides of a tower. They measure the angles of elevation of the top of the
tower as 30o and 45o respectively. If the height of the tower is 60 meter, find the distance between
the two men. (Here = 1.73)

(A) 163.8 meter (B) 136.8 meter

(C) 152.5 meter (D) 125.4 meter

Q.27. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower at a point on the ground is. 300 on walking 24 metre
towards the tower the angle of elevation become 600. Find the height of the tower.

(A) 20.67 metre (B) 20.76 metre

(C) 22.65 metre (D) 21.76 metre

Q.28. The tops of two poles of height 24m and 36 m are connected by a wire.If the wire makes an angle
of 600 with the horizontal, then the lenght of the wire is

(A) 8 m (B) 6 m

(C) 6 m (D) 8 m

Q.29. A man standing in one corner of a square football field observe that the angle subtended by a pole
in the corner just diagonally opposite to this corner is 600. When he retires 80 m. from the corner
along the same straight line, he finds the angle to be 300. The length of the field in m. is-

(A) 40 (B) 20

(C) 20 (D) 40

Q.30. If the angle of elevation of top of a tower from two points distance a and b from the base and in the
same straight line with it are comlpementary then the height of the tower is-

(A) ab (B) ab

a a
(C) b (D) b

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

EXPLANATION
Q.1.(A) ∴ θ = 30o
Q.4.(B)
C

h
o
30
P o
M
60

60 m. 60 m.

A
B
In ∆ PCA
h+60
tan 450 = ⇒ AC = 20 m.
In ∆ PCB
C'
⇒ tan300 = ⇒ BC = 20
tan 30o =
∴ AB = ( + 1) 20 m.
Q.2.(D)
D
30
0
450 tan 60o =
⇒ h = 60 m.
∴ Height of cloud
200 m.

E 30o A
= 120 m.
h
Q.5.(C)
D
o
45
C
h
x B
In ∆DCB, B

600
450
tan 45 = o
⇒ x = 200
A 100 C

In ∆DEA, tan 450 =

AB = 100 m.

∴ AB = 200 – tan 600 =

100 = 100 + h
= m.
Q.3.(A) h = 100 ( -1) m.
A Q.6.(B)
B

θ
B C A C D
36
BC = AB × 64

tan cot =

and cot =

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

h = 48 m. = BC = DE =
Q.7.(B)
C
∴ Speed =
A
M b
a = km./hr.
h
D
Q.9.(A)
B
x N c-x M
c 30
0 450

∆BNM ~ ∆BDC
h
0
0 45
30
A B
N
_________(I)
∆DNM ~ ∆DBA tan 300 = AN =

and tan 450 = BN = h

⇒ ac – ax = hc AN + BN = +h= h
Q.10.(C)
⇒x= _________(II)
From (I) and (II),

⇒ a(ch) = b(ac – ch) AB = 11 meter

⇒ ach + bch = abc CD = 6 meter
∴ AE = 11 - 6 = 5 m.
⇒h= metre BC = ED = 12 m.
Q.8.(C)
B C
Q.11.(A)
I
I
60o
30o
A E D
BE = CD = 1 km. = 1000 m.
tan 60o = In ∆ACD,
⇒ AE = 1000 cot 60o tan 30o =

= m.
⇒ AC = AD tan 30o

tan 30o = =
and cos 30o
⇒ AD = 1000 cot 30o =
⇒ ED = AD – AE =

=
∴ AB = AC + CD

Distance travelled in 10 seconds =

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

Q.12.(C) a2 = 342 – 302

= 4 × 64
a = 2×8
a = 16
b2 = 342 – 162
= 50 × 18
b = 30
width of lane = 30+16 = 46 m.
Q.16.(B)

&
⇒ 25 = 75 - h ⇒ h = 50 m.
Q.13.(B)

Let AD be the tower and B and C be the

points of observation such that BC = 20
meter, DBA = 30o, DCA = 60o,
Let CD = x

Now, = tan30o =
tan 45o =
⇒ h + CD = AB

cot x = ⇒ AB = h cot x
Also, = tan60o =
⇒ h + CD = h cot x ⇒ CD = h cot x – h
Q.14.(A)

(3x–x) = 20 x = 10
Height of tower,

AD = meter
Q.17.(C)

x+5=

=
OP be the light house height
= m. =Xm
Q.15.(C) tan 450 = ,1=
x= OA
in the ∆OPB-

tan 300 =

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

CD = 20 (AC-AD) = 20
= x + 200 = x

( -1)x = 200

x=

= 10 × 2.73 m = 27.3 m.
x= =100 ( +1) Q.20.(A)

= 100 (1.73+1) = 273m

Q.18.(B)

AB = CD = h meter (Height of pole)

From ABE
tan 300 = h/x
In ∆AOB,
= h/x
_____(I)
In COD, ⇒ h=x ........ (I)
From DEC
_____(II) tan 600 =
From equation (I) and (II)

x = 45 meter
Q.19.(A)
100 - h
From equation (I)

100 -3h = h ⇒4h = 100

h =25 meter
Q.21.(A)

Let AB be the tower and C and D be the

points observation
Then ABC = 300, ADB = 450
CD = 20 m

tan 300 =
tan 30o = , AB =
AC = AB×

tan 450 = = meter

Q.22.(D)
AD = AB = h

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

tan600 = , = , x=

tan 300 =

= , =
Let hight of tower is h.
h = 86.60 m
tan (90 – )o = Q.25.(A)

cot =

tan =

= tan 30o = , h=
h=
Q.23.(D)
cos 30o =

= , AB =

Height of the tree OA+AB

X and y are the point of plane
= + =
In ABX
= 10 = 10×1.73 = 17.3 meter
tan 60 =
0
Q.26.(A)

In ACY

tan 300=
Let AB be the tower and let C and D be the
opposition of two men. Then ACB = 30o,
AC=1600 × 3 = 4800 ADB = 45o, AB = 60 meter
= cot 30o =
= 4800 - 1600 = 3200
AC = 60
Speed =
= 400 m/sec. = cot 45o = 1

Q.24.(A) =1

AD = 60 meter

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

Distacne between the two men

= CD = AC + AD
⇒ AD = m.
= (60 + 60) meter = 60( +1) Q.29.(B)
= 60(1.73+1) = 60×2.73 = 163.8 meter
Q.27.(B) Let AB is tower

h
In ∆ APC
tan 30 =
o x + 24
1 h tan 600 =
=
3 x + 24
3 h = x+ 24 _____ (1) In ∆ PCE
h
tan 300 =
tan 60 = x
o

h
3= x
3 x = h____ (2)
put the value h in equ. (1)
3 . 3 x = x+ 24
3x = x+24 =
2x = 24
x = 12
put the value of x in equ. (2)
m.
3x=h
Q.30.(C)
h = 12 3
= 12×1.732
= 20.78 meter
Q.28.(D)

In ABC,
tan(90 – )=

cot = _________(I)
and
DE = 36 – 24 = 12 m. In ABD,

∴ sin 60o = cot = __________(II)

From (I) and (II),
=

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 STUDY NOTES FOR SSC & STATE LEVEL EXAMS

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