The Primary Trigonometric Ratios – Word Problems

A. Determining the measures of the sides and angles of right triangles using the primary ratios

When we want to measure the height of an “inaccessible” object like a tree, pole, building, or cliff, we can utilize the
concepts of trigonometry.

To solve such inaccessible heights or depths using trigonometry, the following angle definitions are necessary:

Angle of Elevation

line of sight The Angle of Elevation is the

angle from the horizontal to
your line of sight. (i.e. you are
horizontal
looking upwards at the object)

Angle of Depression
horizontal
The Angle of Depression is the
angle from the horizontal to the
line of sight
line of sight. (i.e. you are looking
downwards at the object)

SOLVING FOR AN UNKNOWN SIDE OR ANGLE

Where Do I Begin…Where Does It End?

1. Sketch the triangle, if one has not been provided for you.
2. Label the given angle(s) and side(s). Include the variable for the unknown side or angle, where needed.
3. “Looking” from the given angle, label the opposite side, adjacent side, and hypotenuse.
4. Write the trig ratio (sin, cos, tan) that contains the given information and the unknown you want to find.
5. Substitute the given information, and solve for the unknown.

Example 1
If your distance from the foot of the tower is 20 m and
the angle of elevation is 40, find the height of the tower.
Example 2
The angle of depression from the top of the Castle
to boat is 25. If the textbook is 50 m from
the base of the bluffs, how high are the bluffs
(to the nearest meter)?
Let h represent the height of the Castle in meters.

Assignment

1. The stringer, that supports the stairs, makes an angle of 50 with the floor. It reaches
3.2 m up the wall. How far is the base of the stringer from the wall?

2. A ship is 130 m away from the centre of a barrier that measures

180 m from end to end. What is the minimum angle that the
boat must be turned to avoid hitting the barrier?

3. A ramp has an angle of inclination of 20. It has a vertical height of 1.8 m.

What is the length, L metres, of the ramp?
4. A damaged tree is supported by a guy wire 10.0 m long. The wire makes an
angle of 61 with the ground. Calculate the height at which the guy wire is
attached to the tree.

5. A helicopter is hovering above a road at an altitude of 24 m.

At a certain time, the distance between the helicopter and a car
on the road is 45.0 m. Calculate the angle of elevation of the
helicopter from the car.

Answers: 1) 2.7 m 2) 34.7 3) 5.3 m 4) 8.7 m 5) 32.2

B. Solving problems involving two right triangles in two dimensions.

To solve a problem involving two right triangles using trigonometry,

 draw and label a diagram showing the given information, and the length or angle measure to be found
 identify the two triangles that can be used to solve the problem, and plan how to use each triangle
 solve the problem and show each step in your solution
 write a concluding statement giving the answer

Example 1
Two students want to determine the heights of two buildings. They stand on the
roof of the shorter building. The students use a clinometer to measure the angle
o
of elevation of the top of the taller building. The angle is 44 . From the same
position, the students measure the angle of depression of the base of the taller
o
building. The angle is 53 . The students then measure the horizontal distance
between the two buildings. The distance is 18.0 m. The students drew this
diagram. How tall is each building?
Example 2 A
How would you calculate the length of AB using the information
provided? Show all your steps.

30 
20 
C
12 0 m B

Assignment A
1. From the top of a building 21.0 m tall, the angle of
elevation of the top of a taller building is 46. The angle
of depression of the base of the taller building is 51.
What is the height of the taller building?

B 46 C

51

21.0 m

E 17.0 m D

2. Find the length of AB.

6m
40

3m

10 m B

3. Find the length of AD. Show the steps of your solution.

A

55 D
46

B 55.0 m C
4. Sean wishes to find the length of a pole, CD, that is on the roof of a building.
The angles of elevation of C and D are 40 and 28, respectively. The distance AB C
is 40.0 m. Find the length of the pole. Show the steps of your solution.

bui lding

A B
40.0 m

5. A person observes that from point A, the angle of elevation to the top of a cliff at
D is 30. Another person at point B, notes that the angle of elevation to the top of the
cliff is 45. If the height of the cliff is 80.0 m, find the distance between A and B.
Show the steps of your solution.

Answers:
1. 47.9 m 2. 6.9 m 3. 96.7 cm. 4. 12.3 m 5. 58.6 km