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40
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Trigonometry – Complex Problems

2
Trigonometry – Elevation and Depression
0°
Lengths Pythagoras Angles Elevation Example
Tanθ ¿
opp
When we look up from the horizontal adj
a 2+b 2 ¿ c 2 adj
opp Cosθ= adj 50
θ=sin−1 opp θ=cos−1 angle we turn through is called an tree
Sinθ= hyp hyp hyp tan32 ¿
hyp ° angle of elevation. 100
opp opp
tan= 5 cm θ=tan −1=
adj adj Tree ¿ 100 × tan32
Depression opp
Sinθ ¿
k) C When we look down from the hyp
horizontal the angle we turn through
Calculate is called an angle of depression.
θ
40
i) Length of AC (2 dp) ¿ sin −1 ( 250 )
D
E ii) Length of CE (2 dp) ALWAYS DRAW A SKETCH
θ

B A n) A surveyor standing at the base of a hill, uses a levelling device

to see that the top of the hill is at an angle of elevation (angle
S 74 between the horizontal up to the top of the hill) is 37°. She then
° walks up the slope of hill which she measures at 250 metres.
l) What is the vertical height of the hill? (2 dp)
Calculate
R o) From the top of a lighthouse, a rescue coordinator can see a rescue
i) Length of RQ (2 dp)
boat at an angle of depression (angle between the horizontal down
ii) ∠SPR (1 dp) to the yacht) of 20°. He knows the lighthouse is 28 metres high.
How far away from the base of the lighthouse is the boat? (2 dp)
30
Y
Q ° P p) John wants to measure the height of a tree. He walks exactly 100
feet from the base of the tree and looks up. The angle from the
m)
ground to the top of the tree is 33º. How tall is the tree? (2 dp)

Z Calculate the length of WX q) An airplane is flying at a height of 2 miles above the ground.
to two decimal places The distance along the ground from the airplane to the airport

25
is 5 miles. What is the angle of depression from the airplane to
W X ° the airport? (1 dp)