CLASS-X

MATHEMATICS
TOPIC:APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY
 PDF OF THE
CHAPTER

http://www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/jemh109.pdf
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to:
• Define the six trigonometric ratio for a given angle.
• Apply the definitions of angle of elevation and angle of depression in real life
applications.
• Apply the six trigonometric ratios of an acute angle in a right triangle.
• Find the reference angle for a given triangle.
• Apply the properties of reference angles in appropriate situations.
• Understand the trigonometric complimentary angle relations.
• Predict what would happen when the value of adjacent , opposite , and
hypotenuse is changed.
• To determine the height or the depth of an object at a certain distance using
trigonometric ratios.
• For example: We can calculate the height of a tower by standing a certain distance
away from it and calculating the angle of elevation, thereby determining the height
of the tower.
 CONTENTS:
• INTRODUCTION • CONCEPT-3

• PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS • CONCEPT BASED QUESTION

• CONCEPT-4
• REAL LIFE APPLICATIONS
• CONCEPT BASED QUESTION
• THE TRIGONOMETRIC TABLE
• CONCEPT-5
• BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
• CONCEPT BASED QUESTION
• INTERESTING FACT
• CBSE BOARD QUESTION 2020
• EXAMPLES • HOTS
• CONCEPT-1 • QUESTION FOR YOU

• CONCEPT BASED QUESTION • ACTIVITY

• MIND MAP
• CONCEPT-2
• INTERESTING FACT
• CONCEPT BASED QUESTION
• SUMMARY
 INTRODUCTION

• Trigonometry is a Greek-originated word where ‘Tri’ means three,

‘gon’ means sides and ‘Metry’ means measure. It is a branch of
mathematics that studies relationships between side lengths and
angles of triangles. The field emerged in the Hellenistic world during
the 3rd century B.C. from applications of geometry to astronomical
studies.
 PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS:
1. In a ΔABC, right angled at B, tan A= , find the other trigonometric ratios
of angle A
2. In the ΔABC , right angled at B , if ∠A = ∠C = 45° , then prove that
(i) sin A = sin C (ii) cos A = cos C (iii) sin A + cos A =
(iv) tan A + cot A = 2
3. In a right angle Δ ABC right angled at B what does tan C represent?
4. If Δ ABC is right angled at C, then find the value of cos(A+B).
5. If sin A = , then the value of cot A is ________.
6. What is the value of tan(90° - ϴ)?
 REAL LIFE APPLICATIONS:
• Trigonometry is used in various fields. It has applications in wider
fields like engineering, physics, surveyors, architects, astronauts and
even investigation of a crime scene. Apart from astronomy and
geography, trigonometry is applicable in various fields like satellite
navigation, developing computer music, chemistry number theory,
medical imaging, electronics, electrical engineering, civil engineering,
architecture, mechanical engineering, oceanography, seismology,
phonetics, image compression and game development.
TRIGONOMETRY IN REAL LIFE
THE TRIGONOMETRIC TABLE
 BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
• ANGLE OF ELEVATION: The angle of elevation of an object as seen by
an observer is the angle between the horizontal and the line from the
object to the observer’s eye (the line of sight).
 BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
• ANGLE OF DEPRESSION: If the object is below the level of the
observer, then the angle between the horizontal and the observer’s
line of sight is called the angle of depression.
Example 1: A ladder is leaning against a wall to a height of 5 m. If the length of the ladder is 10 m,
Find-:
 the angle between the ladder and the horizontal ground.
At what distance from the wall the base of the ladder is?
Ans: Here ϴ denotes the angle of elevation. We can measure it by
A
taking
sine of the angle

10 m
=
5m
=
= 30 𝜃
B C
 Now we need to find the distance which the foot of the ladder is from
the wall i.e. the length of BC
We know
= tan 30°=
⇒
⇒BC=5.
• Example 2: Find the Sun’s elevation if a pole 6m high casts a shadow 2 m long on the ground.
Solution: In given triangle, let BC = 6m be the height of the pole.
AB = 2 be the length of the shadow on the ground. C

Let the Sun’s makes an angle on the ground.

Now, in ΔBAC, tanϴ = 6m
⇒ tanϴ = = =
⇒ tanϴ = = = tan60°
𝜃
A 2m B
⇒ ϴ =60°
• Hence, the Sun’s elevation is 60°.
MARKING SCHEME
FOR CORRECT FIGURE- 0.5
FOR FINDING RATIO- O.5
FOR CORRECT VALUE OF ϴ- 1
• TYPE-1: When the observer is a point object
• Question 1: A tower stands vertically on the ground from a point on the ground which is 15 m
away from the foot of the tower. The angle of elevation of the top of the tower is 60. Find the
height of the tower A

Solution: In the given figure, we need to find AB where

BC is given. So, using formula:
tan ϴ=
60°
tan 60= C
B
15 m

AB = 15 m
 CONCEPT BASED QUESTION

1. A tower is 50m high. Its shadow is m shorter when the Sun’s

altitude is 45° than when it is 30°. Find correct to the nearest cm.
2. A ladder is placed against a wall of a house such that its upper end
is touching the top of the wall. The foot of the ladder is 8m away
from the foot of the wall and the ladder is making an angle of 30°
with the level of the ground. Determine the height of the wall.
(Take = 1.732)
TYPE-2: When height of the object is given
Question 2: An observer of 1.5m tall is 28.5m away from a chimney. The angle of elevation of
the top of the chimney from the observer’s eyes is 45°. A

What is the height of the chimney?

45°
C
Ans: In the given figure B
1.5 m 1.5 m
ED = BC = 28.5m
E 28.5 m D
BE = CD = 1.5m
∠ABC = 45° (In every plane the angle of elevation is made
with the horizontal line at that point.)
In ΔABC,

1=
So, AC = 28.5m.
Height of the chimney = AD = CD+AC
= (1.5+28.5)m
= 30m.
 CONCEPT BASED QUESTION

1. From the top of a cliff 50m high, the angles of depression of the top
and bottom of a tower are observed to be 30° and 45°, respectively.
Find the height of the tower.

2. From a point on the ground 40m away from the foot of a tower, the
angle of elevation of the top of the tower is 30°. The angle of elevation
of the top of a water tank (on the top of the tower) is 45°. Find the (i)
height of the tower (ii) the depth of the tank.
TYPE-3: When the angle of depression is given
Question 3: The angle of depression from the top of a 20 m tall building to a man on the ground
is 60°. Find the distance of the man from the foot of the building.
Solution: In the right ABC, A S
AB=20 m ∠BCA=∠CAS=60° 60°
⇒
So, Cot 60°= 20 m

⇒
60°
⇒BC= = B C
Hence, distance of man from the foot of the building is m.
 CONCEPT BASED QUESTION

1. As observed from the top of a light house, 100m above sea level, the
angle of depression of a ship, sailing directly towards it, changes from
30° to 45°.Determine the distance travelled by the ship during the
period of observation.

2. A straight highway leads to the foot of a tower . A man standing at

the top of the tower observes a car at an angle of depression of 30°,
which is approaching the foot of the tower with a uniform speed . Six
minutes later, the angle of depression of the car is found to be 60°.Find
the further time taken by the car to reach the foot of the tower.
TYPE-4: When there are more than one angle of elevation from the
same point.
Question 4: A statue 1.6m tall stands on the top of a pedestal. From the same point the angle of
elevation of the top of the statue is 60 . From the same point the pedestal is 45 . Find the height of the
pedestal. A

Solution: In the right ΔACD, 1.6 m

AB = 1.6m, ∠BDC = 45° , ∠ADC = 60°
In the triangles Δ ACD and Δ BCD, CD is common. B

So, in right Δ ACD, 60°

45°
C D
CD=……(i)
• In right Δ BCD ,

1=
So BC = CD …(ii)
Putting the value of BC from EQ-(ii) in EQ(i)
We get,
CD=
CD=CD+1.6= CDCD = 1.6
(-1)CD = 1.6
CD =
Therefore BC = CD =
= 2.18 m
 CONCEPT BASED QUESTION

1. A 1.2m tall girl spots a balloon moving with the wind in a horizontal
line at a height of 88.2 m from the ground. The angle of elevation of
the balloon from the eyes of the girl at any instant is 60°. After some
time, the angle of elevation reduces to 30°.Find the distance
travelled by the balloon during the interval.

2. The angle of elevation of the top of an unfinished tower at a point

distant 100 m from its base is 45°; how much higher must the tower
be raised so that its angle of elevation at the same point may be
60°? (Take = 1.73)
• TYPE-5: Where both angle of elevation and angle of depression are given
Question 5: From the top of a 10 m building the angle of elevation to the top of another building on
the same plane is 30° whereas the angle of depression to the bottom is 60°. Find the height of the
other building.
E
Solution: AB=CD=10 m
∠ EAD=30°, ∠DAC=60°, ∠ACB=60°. A 30°
D
In Δ ABC, Cot 60°=
60°
⇒ BC= 10 m
⇒ AD= ……..(i)
60°
In right ΔEAD, Tan 30°= B C
= ⇒ED= ………(ii)
Height of another building EC=ED+CD
=10+
= m= m
 CONCEPT BASED QUESTION

1. From the top of a 7m high building, the angle of elevation of the

top of a cable tower is 60° and the angle of depression of its foot is
45°.Determine the height of the tower.

3. A window of a house is h m above the ground. From the window,

the angles of elevation and depression of the top and the bottom of
another house situated on the opposite side of the lane are found
to be and , respectively. Prove that the height of the other house is
h(1 + tan cot )m
 CBSE BOARD QUESTION 2020
From the top of a 7 m building, the angle of elevation of the top of a cable tower is
60° and the depression of its foot is 45°. Determine the height of the tower. (Use )27
In Δ ABC, tan 45°=
1= ⇒ BC=7 m. Also, AD=BC=7 m E

In Δ ADE, tan 60°=

60°
A D
45°
⇒DE=7 7m 7m
Total height of the tower:(7+7)m=7(1+ )m 45°
B C

FOR CORRECT FIGURE- 1

FOR FINDING THE VALUE OF BASE- 1
FOR FINDING THE LENGTH OF DE- 1
FOR FINDING THE TOTAL HEIGHT-
 HOTS
The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from two points at a distance a m and b m
from the base and in the same straight line are complimentary. Prove that height of the
tower is m.
Sol: CD=h, BC=a, AC=b
∠DBC=ϴ, ∠DAC=(90°ϴ) D
In right ΔDCB, tan ϴ=
In right ΔDCA, tan (90°ϴ)=
Multiplying each side of we get- h
tanϴcotϴ=
⇒1= =ab 𝜃 90°-
C B A
⇒h= m a

b
 QUESTION FOR YOU

The angles of depression of the top and bottom of an 8 m tall building from
top of a multistoried building are 30° and 45° respectively. Find the height of
the multistoried building and the distance between the two buildings .
 ACTIVITY

OBJECTIVE: To find out the height of a pole.

PRE- REQUISITE KNOWLEDGE:
(i) TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS
(ii) TRIGONOMETRIC TABLE
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
(i) COMPLETE PROTRACTOR
(ii) A THIN PIPE OF ALUMINIUM
(iii) A PROTRACTOR FIXED ON A STAND
(iv) MEASURING TAPE
 • Continued…
PROCEDURE:
(i) Fix a pipe of aluminium at centre of protractor in such a way that
the pipe is free to rotate
(ii) Rotate the pipe in such a way that the top of the pole is visible
through the pipe
(iii) Observe the angle of elevation of the top of the pole and note it, say

(iv) Measure the horizontal distance between the pole and the point of
observation, say =10 m
(v) Measure the height of point of the observation from the ground say
=1m
 • Continued…
OBSERVATION:
1. Angle of elevation =
2. Distance between point of observation and pole d=10m
3. Height of the point of observation from the ground = 1m

CALCULATION: Let the height of the pole be

tan =
1=
11 m
 • Continued…
CONCLUSION: The height of the pole is 11 m
LEARNING OUTCOME: Through this activity we have found the height of
the pole which cannot be measure directly by measuring tape.

𝛼=45°

𝐻 −h
𝐻
𝛼=45°
h −1 𝑚 𝑑=10 𝑚
𝑑=10 𝑚
 ACTIVITY
The angle of elevation of a cloud from a point 60 m above a lake is 30 and the angle
of depression of the reflection of the cloud in the lake is 60. Find the height of the
cloud from the surface of the lake

ANSWER
MIND MAP
 INTERESTING FACT:
• Did you know?

An early application of trigonometry was made by

Thales on a visit to Egypt. He was surprised that no
one could tell him the height of the 2000 year old
Cheops pyramid. He used his knowledge of the
relationship between the heights of objects and the
length of their shadows to calculate the height for
THALES
them. This later became the tangent ratio.
THE GREAT CHEOPS PYRAMID

***
 SUMMARY
In this chapter, you have studied the following points :
• The line drawn from the eye of an observer to a point in the object where the
person is viewing is called the line of sight.
• The angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal when the object is
above the horizontal level is called the angle of elevation.
• The angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal when the object is
below the horizontal level is called the angle of depression.
• The height of an object or the distance between distant objects can be
determined with the help of trigonometric ratios.

***