Some Applications of Trigonometry

Heights and Distances

Line of Sight
The line of sight is the line drawn
from the eye of an observer to
the point in the object viewed by
the observer.
In solving problems of heights and distances, two types of angles are involved
— angle of elevation and angle of depression. With the help of these angles,
we get a right angled triangle. If some sides and angles of a right angled triangle
are known, then remaining sides and angles can be determined with the
help of trigonometric ratios.

ANGLE OF ELEVATION ANGLE OF DEPRESSION

The angle of elevation of an The angle of depression of an object
(Object)
object viewed, is the angle viewed, is the angle formed by the line
P A
formed by the line of sight of sight with the horizontal, when it is O Angle of
ht

with the horizontal, when it is below the horizontal level i.e. the case depression
sig

when we lower our head to look at the

of

above the horizontal level i.e.

ne

object.
Li

the case when we raise our

Angle of
head to look at object. Let P be the position of the object below
elevation Object
A the horizontal level OA and O be the eye
Let P be the position of the O Horizontal line Horizontal line P
of the observer, then OP is the line of
object above the horizontal Eye sight and ∠AOP is called an angle of
line OA and O be the eye of depression.
the observer, then OP is the line of sight and ∠AOP is called
In the given figure, ∠AOP is called angle of depression because the
angle of elevation.
observer has to depress (lower) his line of sight from the horizontal OA to
In the given figure, ∠AOP is called the angle of elevation see the object P.
because the observer has to elevate (raise) his line of sight from
the horizontal OA to see the object P.
Important Points
1. The angle of elevation of a point P as seen from a point O is always equal to
Important Points
the angle of depression of O as seen from P.
1. If the observer moves towards the perpendicular line
2. The angle of elevation and depression are always acute angles.
(tower/building), then angle of elevation increases and if the
observer moves away from the perpendicular line 3. In solving problems, observer is represented by a point and objects are
(tower/building), then angle of elevation decreases. represented by line segment or point.

2. If height of tower is doubled and the distance between the

observer and foot of the tower is also doubled, then the
angle of elevation remains same.
3. If the angle of elevation of Sun above a tower decreases,
then the length of shadow of a tower increases.