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MATHEMATICS
Quarter 4 – Module 7 Week 3
Triangle Trigonometry

Self-Learning Module
 Angles of Elevation and Angles
of Depression

LET’S EXPLORE YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

Suppose you are on top of a mountain looking down at a certain village, how
will you directly measure the height of the mountain? An airplane is flying a
certain height above the ground. Is it possible to find directly the distance
along the ground from the airplane to an airport using a ruler? The
trigonometric ratios as you have learned in the previous lesson will help you
answer these questions. Perform the succeeding activities to apply these
concepts in solving real-life problems.

➤ Activity 1: Look Up! Look Down!

Follow the steps below and answer the questions that follow.

• Use a tape measure to measure the distance between your eyes and
feet.

• Move around your place and find an object that is at the exact height
as your eyes and label.

• Go outside of your place and make an illustration of:

a. Tall objects/structures

1. 2.

b. Short objects/structures

1. 2.

Questions:
1. How did you find the activity?
2. Describe the illustration or picture you have created from the activity.

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3. What mathematical concepts did you learn from the activity? When you
look up to tall objects is there an angle formed? What about when you look
down?

4. Do you think you can directly measure the height, the distance of the
object you have listed in the activity?

Solving real-life problems involving right triangles requires

knowledge of some significant terms, such as line of sight, angle of
elevation, and angle of depression.

Definitions:

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.

Line of sight above observer

Angle of elevation

EYE Horizontal line of sight

Angle of depression
Line of sight below observer

LET’S FIRM UP YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

After learning the concepts on angle of elevation and angle of

depression, you are now ready to use these in solving such
problems. In this section, you will be provided with an opportunity
to explore and solve problems in daily life through the following
activities.

➤ Activity 2: Identify Me!

In the following figures, identify the segment that represents the line of
sight, and identify the angles (if any) that represent the angle of elevation or
angle of depression.

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 Angle of Angle of Line
Figure Elevation Depression of
Sight

/ NONE OY

NONE / OX

Questions:
1. How did you identify the line of sight, angle of elevation and angle of
depression?

2. What ideas have you learned from this activity?

3. Do you think you can use these ideas in your daily life?

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4. Give and illustrate at least two situations in your life involving angle of
elevation and angle of depression.

You have just learned how to identify and describe line of sight,
angle of elevation, and angle of depression. The next activity will
help you solve these problems.

LET’S DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

The study of trigonometric ratios originated from geometric problems

involving triangles. To recall, solving a triangle means finding the lengths of
the sides and measures of the angles of the triangle. Trigonometric ratios may
be used to solve problems involving angles of elevation and depression.

Example 1:
A tower is 15.24 m high. At a certain distance away from the tower, an
observer determines that the angle of elevation to the top of it is 41°. How
far is the observer from the base of the tower?

Solution:

tan θ=
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 A trigonometric ratio often helps us
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
15.24
set up an equation, which can then
tan 41 =
0
be solved for the missing
𝑥
x tan 410 = 15.24 measurement. If two legs of the
𝑥 tan 410 15.24 triangle are part of the problem, then
0 = it is a tangent ratio. If the hypotenuse
tan 41 𝑡𝑎𝑛410
x= 17.53 m is part of the problem, then it is
either a sine or cosine ratio.

Example 2:
An airplane is flying at a height of 4 kilometers above the ground. The
distance along the ground from the airplane to the airport is 6
kilometers. What is the angle of depression from the airplane to the
airport?

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Solution:
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan θ =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
4
tan θ =
6
tan θ = 0.6667
= tan−1 (0.6667)
θ = 33.690

➤ Activity 3: Draw My Problem!

Objective:
To develop your accuracy in illustrating the pictures presented by the
information in the given word problems.

Materials:
Ruler, protractor, and drawing materials

Directions:
1. Draw the pictures presented by the information in the problems given.
(These problems don’t ask for an answer.)
2. Assume that buildings, ladders, etc. are all on level ground.
3. Clear, neat, and accurate illustrations are necessary.

Questions:
1. How did you find the activity?
2. Did you encounter any difficulty in illustrating the problems?
3. What mathematical concepts did you apply to have an accurate
illustration?

4. Based on the drawings you have; how will you define angle of elevation
and angle of depression using your own words? You have just learned
and practiced how to draw pictures presented by the information in the
given problems. Using this skill, you can now easily illustrate and solve
similar problems involving angles of elevation and depression.

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 LET’S TRANSFER YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

In this section, you will illustrate and solve problems involving the angle of
elevation and angle of depression. You will also use the concepts that you
acquired in the previous activity.

Illustrate and solve the following problem. Use the template below.

1. The angle of elevation from a boat to the top of a 92-meter hill is 12°. How
far is the boat from the base of the hill?

Draw the diagram.

What is/are given?

What is to be
determined?
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan=
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
Formula used

Solution

Rubrics for the Performance Task

Categories 20 15 10 5
Excellent Satisfactory Developing Beginning

Mathematical Demonstrate a Demonstrates Demonstrates Show lack of

Concept thorough a satisfactory incomplete understanding
understanding understanding understanding and have severe
of topics and of the concepts and has some misconceptions.
uses it and uses it to misconceptions.
appropriately simplify the
to solve the problem.
problem.
Accuracy All The Generally, most Errors in
of computations computations of the computations
Computation are correct and are correct. computations are severe.
are logically are not correct.
presented.

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 Performance Task 4.2
Angles of Elevation & Angles of Depression

Illustrate and solve the following problem. Use the template below.

To illuminate the entrance of a condominium, a night light is mounted on a 7-m

pole. If the base of the pole is 25m from the entrance, find the angle of
depression of the light.

Draw the diagram.

Given: Height of the pole 7 meters

What is/are given? Distance of the pole from the base 25
What is to be meters
determined? Asked: angle of depression of the light

Formula used
7
tan x=
25

tan x=0.28
Solution
x=tan−1 0.28

x=15.640 or 15038’

Rubrics for the Performance Task

Categories 20 15 10 5
Excellent Satisfactory Developing Beginning
Mathematical Demonstrate Demonstrates Demonstrates Show lack of
Concept a thorough a satisfactory incomplete understanding
understanding understanding understanding and have severe
of topics and of the and has some misconceptions.
uses it concepts and misconceptions.
appropriately uses it to
to solve the simplify the
problem. problem.
Accuracy All The Generally, most Errors in
of computations computations of the computations
Computation are correct are correct. computations are severe.
and are are not correct.
logically
presented.

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 For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:
Department of Education – Division of Mandaue City
Plaridel St., Centro, Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines 6014
Telephone Nos.: (032) 345 – 0545 | (032) 505 – 6337
E-mail Address: mandaue.city001@deped.gov.ph
Website: https://depedmandaue.net

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