Angles of Elevation and Depression

Angles of Elevation and Depression are used in measuring heights and distances in
trigonometric applications using right triangles. These angles are made when we look
up or down to view objects. Devices are available to measure angles of elevation and
depression. These measured angles can be used in measuring heights and distance
which are either tedious or impractical to measure, by modelling the situation into right
triangles.

In the above picture a man standing on a cliff is simultaneously viewing an airplane

flying in the sky and a boat sailing in the lake beneath. The angles of elevation and

depression are marked as xº and yº respectively.

Angle of Elevation
Angle of elevation is the angle formed by the line of sight of an observer with the
horizontal while he is viewing an object upward.

The angle of elevation is a degree measure indicating the gradient of the line of
 sight. As this angle can be measured using devices, this measure can be used to

determine large heights and long distances, which are impractical to physically

measure.

Elevation of Sun is a degree measure similar to angle of elevation, which represents the
the distance of the center of Sun's disk from the Horizon. Elevation of Sun is also used
frequently in Right triangle model applications.

In the above diagram Sun's elevation is marked as the angle between the line joining
the Sun and the tip of the shadow and the horizontal.

Angle of Depression
When the object of sight falls below the horizontal at the eye level, an angle of
depression is formed.

Definition: Angle of depression is the angle formed by the line of sight of an

observer with the horizontal while he is viewing an object downward.

Generally an angle formed with the ground level horizontal, which is the alternate
interior angle of the angle of depression is used in right triangle models to solve
application problems. In the above illustration, you may note the alternate interior
angle at the ground level.

Even though we normally consider alternate interior angle for solving the problems,

the angle of depression has to be shown different from this in the sketch. The

wrong and right sketches are given below.

Angles of Elevation and Depression Formula

Angles of Elevation or Depression can be got using inverse trigonometric functions if
the related lengths are known. In the right triangle model, if θ is a measure of angle of
elevation or depression then,

θ = sin-1 (Opposite LegHypotenuseOpposite LegHypotenuse)

or
θ = cos-1 (Adjacent LegHypotenuseAdjacent LegHypotenuse)

or

θ = tan-1 (Opposite LegAdjacentLegOpposite LegAdjacentLeg)

Use the appropriate formula depending on the known measures in the triangle.

Solved Example
Question: The height of a building is 250 ft. What is the angle of elevation from a point
on the level ground 200 ft away from the base of the building?

Solution:
 
The lengths of opposite and the adjacent legs are known for angle θ which is the angle
of elevation.

θ =  tan-1 (Opposite LegAdjacent LegOpposite LegAdjacent Leg) = tan-
1
  250200250200  

                                                            ≈ 51.3º.           Using inverse functions in the

calculator.
 

Angle of Elevation Vs Angle of Depression

Let us compare the characteristics of angles of elevation and depression.

Angle of Elevation Angle of Depression

Angle of elevation is measured when the  Angle of depression is measured when the
object is viewed upward. object is viewed downward.
Angle of elevation is always an angle in the  Generally, an angle in the right triangle which
right triangle considered for solving the is the alternate interior angle of the angle of
problem depression is considered for solving the problem.
When two positions are each viewed from the other position then, the angle of elevation
from 
one point is equal to the angle of depression from the other point, as two angles are 
alternate interior angles.

Angle of Elevation and Depression Problems

Let us solve few word problems involving angles of elevation and depression.

Solved Examples
Question 1: A surveyor wanted to measure the height of a mountain. He traveled in
the straight road leading to the mountain and measured the angle of elevation of the
peak from a point A which is on level ground with the mountain base as 32º. He drove 1
Km further down the road and again measured the angle of elevation of the peak as
40º. Find the height of the mountain nearest to a meter.

   
Solution:
 
As we see in the pictures, two variables h and x are introduced, the height of the
mountain and the distance BC. Using trig formulas we can eliminate x and solve for h.
  In right  triangle BCD, 

  tan 40 = hxhx   ⇒       x = htan40htan40

  in right triangle ACD,  

  tan 32 = hx+1hx+1

             = hhtan40+1hhtan40+1                 Substitution

             = htan40h+tan40htan⁡40h+tan40                      Complex fraction simplified.

  (h + tan 40) tan 32  = htan 40                              Cross multiplication

   htan 32 + tan 40.tan 32 = htan40
   htan 40 - htan 32 = tan 40.tan 32 
   h(tan 40 - tan 32) = tan 40.tan 32

   h = tan40tan32tan40−tan32tan40tan32tan40−tan32

      ≈ 2.4475 Km
   Hence the estimated height of the mountain = 2447.5 meters.
 

Question 2: Roger views from his shop window which is 20 ft above ground level, the
top and the base of a building on the opposite side of the Road. If the angles of
elevation and depression of the top and base are 64º and 28º find the height of the
building he is viewing rounded to the tenth of a foot.
   
The situation can be sketched as follows:
Solution:
 
AB represents the height at which Roger is viewing and = 20 ft. CD represents the
building he is viewing and we need to find its measure which is equal to (20 + y) ft.
    In right triangle AEC,

    tan 28º = CEAECEAE = 20x20x

    x = 20tan2820tan28 ≈ 37.61 ft

   In right triangle AED,

   tan 64º = yxyx = y37.61y37.61

   y = 37.61 x tan 64  ≈ 77.12 ft.

   Height of the building = 77.1 + 20 = 97.1 ft   (rounded to the tenth of a foot).
 

Question 3: The shadow of a tower, when the angle of elevation of the Sun is 30º is
found to be 40 meters longer than when it is 45º. Find the height of the Tower.
 

Solution:
 
The above sketch depicts the situation.
   The height of the tower is represented by AB which is taken as y ft.
   ABC is an isosceles right triangle ⇒  y = x.
   In right triangle ABD,

   tan 30º = yx+40yx+40 = xx+40xx+40                          Definition of tangent of an

angle.

   x = (x + 40)tan 30                                                                    Cross multiplication.

   x = x tan 30 + 40 tan 30
   x- x tan 30 = 40 tan 30

   x = 40tan301−tan3040tan301−tan30 ≈ 54.6 ft.

 

Angles of Elevation and Depression

In many careers, trigonometry is an essential element that is quite often used.
Engineers, landscapers, architects all use trigonometry in their everyday life to help
them efficiently and safely create or design something new.

Something that they might often refer to is what is called Angles of Elevation, or
Angles of Depression.

When using angles of elevation or depression, it is important that we must first

understand what is going on in the question that is being asked. Identification of the
key pieces of the question is essential in understanding (and ultimately solving) the
question.

We must then mentally, or physically (drawing) picture what is happening in the

situation, and carefully plan out how we can approach the question. Very often it is
easier to understand a question if a picture is provided, or if we have enough data to
sketch a diagram ourselves.

Often, when solving these types of questions, more steps need to be used in order to
completely solve the question. Logical reasoning must often be employed.

Angles of Elevation
Angles of elevation occur when something or someone is looking up from some kind
of horizontal. The path of which their gaze follows is called the line of sight.

In the situations we will be studying this year, usually simple trig is all that is needed
to solve a problem involving angles of elevation. Logic reasoning is needed, and it is
crucial that we understand what is going on in the question (where the angle of
elevation is located, what side is which length).

Angles of Depression

Angles of Depression are a little more complicated than Angles of Elevation, because
more logical reasoning is needed.

When solving a question involving angles of depression, it is crucial to understand

where the angle falls into play.

Angles of depression involve someone or something looking down at a certain angle,

with their gaze being the line of sight. However, it is necessary to realize that a
horizontal is being created, and that geometric patterns are needed to help solve the
question.

Looking at the question this way, there is no visible way to solve the triangle, because
the angle of depression is on the outside of the triangle. However, the horizontal line
is parallel to the ground. Therefore, we can use the Z-pattern to find an angle on the
inside of the triangle being formed.
When a question involving angles of depression is given, it is important to remember
this geometric property. The angle of depression will always be an angle of
depression from the horizontal.

Example 1: The angle of elevation from the ground to the top of a flagpole 15
meters away is 30°. To the nearest meter, how tall is the flagpole?

Step 1: Draw a diagram to find out what is happening in the question.

Now that we know how the question "looks", we have a better idea of how we can
solve the problem.

We need to solve to find out how tall the flagpole is, so that is our unknown side. We
know the angle, and we know one of the sides. Therefore, we will be using the
trigonometry ratio, tangent.

tan 30° = x/15

15 (tan 30°) = x
x = 8.66

Therefore, the flagpole is 9 meters tall.

Example 2: The angle of depression to the bottom of a canyon 67 meters deep is

40 °. To the nearest tenth of a meter, how far across does the canyon stretch?

Again, start by drawing a diagram. Remember, the angle is 40° from the horizontal.
We can also use the Z-pattern to determine an angle on the inside of the triangle.
We can now use a trig ratio to determine how far across the canyon stretches.

We have the option of using one of two trig ratios: tangent or cotangent - either way,
we will obtain the correct answer. Let's use tangent.

tan 40° = 67/x

x (tan 40°) = 67
x = 67/(tan 40°)
x = 87.46 m
x = 87.5 m

Therefore, the canyon stretches 87.5 m across.