9 Department of Education – Region III

TARLAC CITY SCHOOLS DIVISION

Juan Luna Street, Sto. Cristo, Tarlac City 2300
Email address: tarlac.city@deped.gov.ph/ Tel. No. (045) 470-8180

MATHEMATICS
Quarter 4: Week 4 (W4–W5)
Learning Activity Sheet

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 MATHEMATICS 9

Name: ________________________________ Date: _____________

Section: ________________________________ Quarter 4 – Week 4 (W4–W5)

WORD PROBLEMS INVOLVING RIGHT TRIANGLES

Background Information

The concepts of trigonometric ratios which were discussed in previous lessons (weeks 1, 2,
and 3) are essential in solving word problems involving right triangles. Many real-life problems on right
triangles can be anchored on those concepts. Without knowledge of those concepts, you would be in
a dilemma learning this new topic.

In any right triangle, we can define the six trigonometric ratios. Below is the right triangle ABC
where 𝜽 represents ∠A, the leg denoted by b is the side adjacent to 𝜽, the leg denoted by a is the
side opposite to 𝜽, and c is the hypotenuse.

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐
sin 𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 = 𝑐
csc 𝜃 = 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
=𝑎

𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐
cos 𝜃 = = sec 𝜃 = =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏
tan 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝑏 cot 𝜃 = 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
=𝑎

In the figure, the line of sight is an imaginary line that

connects the eye of an observer to the object being
observed. The angle of elevation is the angle from the
horizontal to the line of sight of the observer to the object
above. The angle of depression is the angle from the
horizontal to the line of sight of the observer to the object
below.

Once you have learned about those basic concepts, you can solve word problems involving
right triangles. Unsurprisingly, many of the right triangles will be presented in the context of word
problems. A good first step, after reading the word problem, is to draw or illustrate a right triangle and
try to figure out how to label it. Once you have got a helpful drawing or illustration, the math, calculation
or solving is usually easy as one-two-three.

You will also need a scientific calculator to get the values of the
trigonometric ratios of angles measured in degrees. If you do not
have one, you may visit this online scientific calculator on
www.calculator.net/scientific-calculator.html. Before using your
calculator, ensure that it is set to use the correct units.
 To set your calculator to function in degrees, press [ SHIFT ]
+ [ MODE ] + [ 3 ].
 To calculate the three basic trigonometric ratios, just press
on the calculator the [ sin ] , [ cos ] , or [ tan ] and then type
in the number of the angle. Note that the [ sin ] , [ cos ] and
[ tan ] keys automatically opens a parenthesis. If you are
simply calculating the sine, cosine or tangent of an angle, just
press [ = ] after entering the angle. But, if your are performing
a larger calculation, then you need to close the parenthesis
by pressing [ ) ] before entering for more operations or
calculations.

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  To calculate the reciprocals – cosecant, secant, and cotangent, first thing you need to press
is the [ SHIFT ] key to show an indicator that when you press the [ sin ] key, you are actually
using its reciprocal – the [ csc ] or [ sin-1 ] ; when you press the [ cos ] key, you are using the
[ sec ] or [ cos-1 ] ; and when you press the [ tan ] key, it is [ cot ] or
[ tan-1 ] is being enabled.

Below are real-life word problems involving right triangles. Read the entirety of the problem
before studying its solution. Use your learned basic algebraic techniques and properties of equalities
to observe and investigate how the final answer is solved. (Note: In all of the problems presented in
this LAS, the final answers are rounded off to nearest hundredths.)

Problem No. 1: At 8:30 AM of Friday, the angle of elevation of the sun is 38°. Find the height
of a narra tree whose shadow is 30ft long.
Solution:
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan 𝜃 =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
ℎ
tan 38° =
30 𝑓𝑡
ℎ = (tan 38°)(30 𝑓𝑡)
ℎ = 23.4385687952 𝑓𝑡
𝒉 = 𝟐𝟑. 𝟒𝟒 𝒇𝒕

Therefore, the height of

a narra tree is 23.44 ft.

Problem No. 2: A 7-meter ladder leans against the house wall. If the foot of the ladder makes
an angle of 67° with the ground, how far is the foot of the ladder from the house wall?
Solution:
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
cos 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
𝑑
cos 67° =
7𝑚
𝑑 = (cos 67°) (7 𝑚)
𝑑 = 2.7351178994 𝑚
𝒅 = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟒 𝒎

Therefore, the distance of the ladder’s

foot from the house wall is 2.74 m.

Problem No. 3: Paul is 1.69-meter tall and standing on top of the building. He observes a jeep
on the road at an angle of 75°. If the building is 25 m high, how far is the jeep from the building?
Solution:
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan 𝜃 =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
ℎ1 + ℎ2
tan 75° =
𝑑
1.69 𝑚 + 25 𝑚
tan 75° =
𝑑
26.69 𝑚
tan 75° =
𝑑
26.69 𝑚
𝑑=
tan 75°
𝑑 = 7.151563946 𝑚
𝒅 = 𝟕. 𝟏𝟓 𝒎

Therefore, the distance of the jeep from the building is 7.15 m.

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 Problem No. 4: Paul is in the banca that is floating 175 feet from the base of a 200-foot cliff.
What is the angle of depression between the cliff and the banca?
Solution:
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan 𝜃 =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
200 𝑓𝑡
tan 𝜃 =
175 𝑓𝑡
tan 𝜃 = 1.1428571429 𝑓𝑡
tan 𝜃 1.1428571429 𝑓𝑡
=
tan 𝑡𝑎𝑛
1.1428571429 𝑓𝑡
𝜃=
𝑡𝑎𝑛
𝜃 = tan−1( 1.1428571429 𝑓𝑡)
𝜽 = 𝟒𝟖. 𝟖𝟏°

Therefore, the angle of depression

between the cliff and the banca is 48.81°

Problem No. 5: Paul is 5.54-foot tall and decided to fly a kite. He then realizes that 98 feet of
string are out. The angle of the string with the ground is 42.5°. How high is Paul’s kite above the
ground?
Solution:

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
sin 𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
ℎ2
sin 42.5° =
98 𝑓𝑡
ℎ2 = (sin 42.5°)(98 𝑓𝑡)
ℎ2 = (sin 42.5°)(98 𝑓𝑡)
ℎ2 = 66.2078403463 𝑓𝑡
ℎ2 = 66.21 𝑓𝑡

𝐻 = ℎ1 + ℎ2
𝐻 = 5.54 𝑓𝑡 + 66.21 𝑓𝑡
𝑯 = 𝟕𝟏. 𝟕𝟓 𝒇𝒕

Therefore, the height of the kite

above the ground is 71.75 ft.

Learning Competency

Use trigonometric ratios to solve real-life problems involving right triangle. (M9GE-IVe-1)

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General Direction
Perform all the activities in this LAS. For each of the following activities, follow strictly what is
being asked for you to do. Write your solutions/answers on a pad paper. After you have finished the
activity I, check your work against the answer key (look for it at the last page of this LAS). Activities II
and III do not have answer keys, and are your written work and performance task, respectively.
Answer as truthful as you can because being honest with yourself is always a good thing. It will build
an awesome character in you.

Activity I: Multiple Choice. Read the problem and use its given information to give what is being
asked after each problem.

A. You are standing on the 2nd floor of your house and watching the aspin sleeping on ground at an
angle of 32°. If you are 4 m above the ground, how far is the aspin from your house?
1. Recognize the right drawing and labels.
a. b.

2. Identify the best trigonometric ratio to use in solving the problem.

a. sine b. cosine c. tangent

3. Choose the correct answer to the problem.

a. d = 5.40 m b. d = 6.40 m c. d = 7.40 m

B. Paul is standing at a distance of 16 m from the base of lamppost. From where he is standing, he
can see the top of the lamppost. If the lamppost is 10 m high and Paul is 1.69 m tall, what is the
angle of elevation of the top of the tree?
4. Recognize the right drawing and labels.
a. b.

5. Identify the best trigonometric ratio to use in solving the problem.

a. tangent b. sine c. cosine

6. Choose the correct answer to the problem.

a. 27.45° b. 28.45° c. 26.45°

C. An airplane is flying at constant altitude of 111 m above the ground. At that instant, it was recorded
that the airplane makes an angle of 47° to the airport. Solve the horizontal distance between the
airplane and the airport.
7. Recognize the right drawing and labels.
a. b.

8. Identify the best trigonometric ratio to use in solving the problem.

a. sine b. tangent c. cosine
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 9. Choose the correct answer to the problem.
a. 113.51 m b. 103.51 m c. 123.51 m

D. From the top of a house tower, a guard sees his partner on the ground at an angle of 40º. If the
tower is 45 feet in height, how far is the partner from the base of the tower?
10. Recognize the right drawing and labels.
a. b.

11. Identify the best trigonometric ratio to use in solving the problem.
a. cosine b. tangent c. sine

12. Choose the correct answer to the problem.

a. 33.43 ft b. 43.53 ft c. 53.63 ft

E. A ladder leans against a cement wall. The foot of the ladder is 6 feet from the wall. The ladder
reaches a height of 15 feet on the wall. Solve to the nearest degree, the angle the ladder makes
with the wall.
13. Recognize the right drawing and labels.
a. b.

14. Identify the best trigonometric ratio to use in solving the problem.
a. tangent b. cosine c. sine

15. Choose the correct answer to the problem.

a. 21° b. 22° c. 23°

Check your answer against the answer key.

Activity II. Written Work. Solve and write your answers to nearest hundredths.

1. The angle of elevation of the top of the building at a distance of 40 meters from its foot on a
horizontal plane is found to be 50°. Solve the height of the building.

2. A ladder placed against a wall such that it reaches the top of the wall of height 5 meters and the
ladder is inclined at an angle of 65 degree. Solve how far the ladder is from the foot of the wall.

3. A string of a kite is 99 meters long and it makes an angle of 63° with horizontal. Solve the height
of the kite, assuming that there is no slack in the string.

4. From the top of the tower 36 meters height, a girl is observing the base of a plant at an angle of
depression measuring 30°. Solve the distance between the plant and the tower.

5. An airplane is observed to be approaching the airport. It is at a distance of 11 km from the point

of observation and makes an angle of elevation of 50°. Solve the height of the airplane above the
ground.

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Activity III: Performance Task. Create your own word problem involving right triangle and solve it. A
rubric is provided below to guide you on how you will be graded.

RUBRIC 5 4 3 2 1 0
The word The word The word The word The word No
problem problem problem problem problem attempt.
is written in is written in is written in is not written is not written
clear and clear and clear and in clear and in clear and
coherent coherent coherent coherent coherent
Organization
language. It language. It language. It language. It language. It
is easy to is easy to is easy to is quite easy is uneasy
follow and follow and follow and to follow and to follow and
read. read most of read some read some read.
the time. of the time. of the time.
Appropriate Appropriate Appropriate Inappropriate Inappropriate No
content is content is content is content is content is attempt.
used for the used for the used for seen in the seen in the
word word the word word word
problem. problem. problem. problem. problem.
Learner Learner Learner Learner Learner
clearly shows most shows some shows very shows no
Content
understands understandi understandi little understandi
the ng of the ng of the understandi ng of the
mathematical mathematical mathematical ng of the mathematical
concepts concepts concepts mathematical concepts
involved in involved in involved in concepts involved in
the lesson. the lesson. the lesson. involved in the lesson.
the lesson.
Efficient Efficient Efficient Efficient Inefficient No
drawing is drawing is drawing is drawing is drawing is attempt.
observed, observed, observed, observed, observed,
Drawing
and labels and most and some and labels and labels
are correct. labels are labels are are are incorrect
correct. correct. incorrect.
Solution is Solution is Solution is Solution is Solution is No
correct and correct, incorrect; incorrect; incorrect attempt.
all work is however, however however and
shown. there is no the learner the learner learner
Solution/ work shown showed the showed the either
Calculation for the work and work and didn’t show
problem. made a made a work or
minor error major error worked the
in in problem
calculations. calculations. incorrectly.
Learner Learner Learner Learner Learner No
gives the gives the gives the gives the wrongly attempt.
correct correct correct correct solves the
answer and answer and answer and answer, problem.
Final writes it in a writes it in a writes it in a however, is
Answer complete complete complete unable to
sentence. sentence sentence write it in a
with minor with major sentence.
error in error in
grammar. grammar.

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Reflection

Consider the following guided questions in writing your insights to what you have learned.
 What are your thoughts about the lesson? Are your thoughts beneficial to you?
 Do you have interesting discoveries while learning the lesson?
 By looking around you and examining your place, how do you see or apply the lesson in
real-life?

Reference

Merden L. Bryant, et.al., Mathematics 9 Learner’s Material, Pasig City, Philippines: Vibal
Group, Inc., 2014, 467-475

Answer Key
Activity I: Multiple Choice
1. a
2. c
3. b
4. b
5. a
6. a
7. b
8. b
9. b
10. a
11. b
12. c
13. a
14. a
15. b

Go back immediately to page 6 for your written work and performance task.

Reflection: Your answer may vary.

Prepared by:

PAUL ANTHONY A. GALANG

Teacher III
Writer/Illustrator/Layout Artist