Sec.

8 5
Angles of
Elevation &
Depression
Objectives:
1) To use s of elevation and
depression to solve problems.

Angles of Elevation and

Depression
Top Horizontal
Angle of Depression

Lin

i gh
S
f
eo

Angle of Elevation
Bottom Horizontal

Since the two horizontal lines are parallel, by Alternate

Interior Angles the angle of depression must be equal to
the angle of elevation.

Angles 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).

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

Ex.1: of Elevation
Problem

Bob is standing 80m from the base

of a building. When he looks up at a
25 he sees the top of the build.
What is the buildings height?
tan 25 = Height
80m

(.466) = Height
80m
(.466)(80) = Height
Height = 37.3m

Ex.2: of Depression
Problem

A bird sits on top of a lamppost. The angle of

depression from the bird to the feet of an
observer standing away from the lamppost is 35.
The lamppost is 14ft tall. How far away is the
observer from the bird?
Sin 35 = 14
x
(.574) = 14
35
x

14ft

(.574)x = 14

x = 14/(.574)
35

x = 24.4ft

Ex.3: Finding the angle

An airplane is flying at a height of 2 miles

above the ground. The distance along the
ground from the airplane to the airport is
5 miles. What is the angle of depression
from the airplane to the airport?
x

plan
e

2 miles
Airport

x
5 miles

Example 1
Before the Mast: At a point on the ground 50
feet from the foot of the flagpole, the angle of
elevation to the top of the pole is 53. Find
the height of the flagpole.
Step 1: Draw a triangle to fit problem
h
opp

Step 2: Label sides from angles view

53
adj 50

Step 3: Identify trig function to use

Step 4: Set up equation
Step 5: Solve for variable

SO/H
CA/H
TO/A

h
tan 53 = ----50
50 tan 53 = h = 66.35 feet

Example 2
Job Site A 20-foot ladder leans against a wall
so that the base of the ladder is 8 feet from the
base of the building. What angle does the
ladder make with the ground?
Step 1: Draw a triangle to fit problem
Step 2: Label sides from angles view

x
adj 8

Step 3: Identify trig function to use

Step 4: Set up equation
Step 5: Solve for variable

SO/H
CA/H
TO/A

hyp

20

8
cos x = ----20
cos-1 (8/20) = x = 66.42

Example 3

CIRCUS ACTS At the circus, a person in the

audience watches the high-wire routine. A 5foot-6-inch tall acrobat is standing on a platform
that is 25 feet off the ground. How far is the
audience member from the base of the platform,
if the angle of elevation from the audience
members
line of sight to the top of the acrobat
Step 1: Draw a triangle to fit problem
is 27?
30.5 = 25 + 5.5
Step 2: Label sides from angles view
Step 3: Identify trig function to use
Step 4: Set up equation
Step 5: Solve for variable

SO/H
CA/H
TO/A

opp
27
x adj

30.5
tan 27 = ------x
x tan 27 = 30.5
x = (30.5) / (tan 27)
x = 59.9

Example 4
DIVING At a diving competition, a 6-foot-tall
diver stands atop the 32-foot platform. The
front edge of the platform projects 5 feet
beyond the ends of the pool. The pool itself is
50 feet in length. A camera is set up at the
opposite end of the pool even with the pools
edge. If the camera is angled so that its line
of sight extends to the top of the divers head,
what is the cameras angle of elevation to the
nearest degree?
Answer: about 39.4

37 = 32 + 6
x
45 = 50 - 5

Example 5
SHORT-RESPONSE TEST ITEM
A roller coaster car is at one of its highest
points. It drops at a 63 angle for 320 feet. How
high was the roller coaster car to the nearest
foot before it began its fall?
320

63

Answer: The roller coaster car was about 285

feet above the ground.

Example 6
A pilot flying at an altitude of 12,000 ft sights
two airports directly in front of him. The angle
of depression to one airport is 78, and the
angle of depression to the second airport is
19. What is the distance between the two
airports? Round to the nearest foot.
19

78

12000
ft
78

19

STEM
integration of
the topic

1.A ship sails 200km East. After

refueling, it turns North & sails
for
250km.Solve
for:
Magnitude:
320.47
km
Direction:
51.34* S
of E
Why does the ship float? Density ,
buoyancy
Technology: What
GPS, Sonar
devices are used in
and radars
locating or tracking
ships?

2. A kite with a string 150 feet

long makes an angle of 45
with the ground. Assuming the
string is straight, how high is
106.07 ft
Magnitude:
the
kite?
Weight, air
Why makes the kite fly? friction
Technology: What
materials are used in
making a kite?

Plastic/pape
r, tape,
string,
stick/rod,

Angles of Elevation and

Depression
angle of depression
li n

s ig
e of

ht

difference
in height
between objects

angle of elevation
distance between objects

1. The angle of elevation from point A to the top of the press box is 49. If point A is
400 ft from the base of the press box, how high is the press box?
2. Find the angle of elevation of the sun when a 12.5 ft post casts a 18 ft shadow?
3. A ladder leaning up against a barn makes an angle of 78 with the ground when the
ladder is 5 feet from the barn. How long is the ladder?
4. From the top of the 120 foot fire tower a ranger observes a fire at an angle of
depression of 19. How far from the base of the tower is the fire?
5. A hill is 1000 yards long with a vertical drop of 208 yards. Find the angle of
depression from the top of the hill to the bottom.

1.

Angles of Elevation and

Depression
The angle of elevation from
point A to the top of the press box is 49. If point A is
400 ft from the base of the press box, how high is the press box?
Side; Tan 49 = h/400

2.

400 Tan 49 = h = 460.1 ft

Find the angle of elevation of the sun when a 12.5 ft post casts a 18 ft shadow?
Angle; Tan x = 12.5/18

3.

x = Tan 1 (12.5/18) = 34.78

A ladder leaning up against a barn makes an angle of 78 with the ground when
the ladder is 5 feet from the barn. How long is the ladder?
Side; Cos 78 = 5/L L = 5/Cos 78 = 24.05 ft

4.

From the top of the 120 foot fire tower a ranger observes a fire at an angle of
depression of 19. How far from the base of the tower is the fire?
Side; Tan 19 = 120/d d = 120/Tan 19 = 348.5 ft

5.

A hill is 1000 yards long with a vertical drop of 208 yards. Find the angle of
depression from the top of the hill to the bottom.
Angle; Tan x = 208/1000

x = Tan 1 (208/1000) = 11.75