EXAMPLE32 A vertical tower stands on a horizontal plane and is surmounted by a vertical

fig-staf ofheightth.h. Ata point on the plane, the angles offelevation ofthe bottonm and the top of the flag-
elevation
staffare a anddB respectively. Prove that the height of the tower is tanhßtan
- tan a
[NCERT EXEMPLAR]
otITION Let AB be the tower and BC be the flag-staff. Let O be a point on the plane
ontaining the foot of the tower such that the angles of elevation of the bottom Band top Cof
the flag-staff at Oare a and ß respectively. Let OA = x metres, AB - y metres and
RC= hmetres. In AOAB, we obtain C
AB
OA ’ tan a =
tan a = ’X =
tan a
’ X= ycot a ...(1)
B
In A OAC,we obtain
y+h y+ h
tanß =
tan B X= (y + h)cotß ...i)
X=

A
On equating the values of x given in (i) and (ii), we get
Fig. 11.33
ycot a = (y + h)cotß ’ (y cota - y cotß) = hcotß ’ y (cot a - cot B) = h cot ß
h
hcotB tan ß htan
y = 11
cot a cotß 1 tan ß - tan a
tan a tan ß
htan a
Hence, the height of the tower is tanß
tan ß - tan a
EXAMPLE 33 Theangles ofelevation of the top of atower from two points at distances a and b metres
from the base and inthe same straight line with it are complementary. Prove that the height of the
tower is ab [NCERT EXEMPLAR, CBSE 2002 C, 04]
metres.
SOLUTItheONbase ofthe tower. Then, AC= aand AD= b. Let ZACB = and ZADB =90° -0. Let
from
Let AB be the tower. Let Cand Dbetwo points at distances aand brespectively
hbe the height of the tower. AB. In ACAB, we obtain
AB h
tan = ’ tan = ...(1)
AC
 1
’ InLet AP= From In 11.14
CM= CB=SOLUTION angle
EXAMPLF Hence, From InA CB
SOLUTION angle Hence,
EXAMPLE 34
If
AP=60
PMC', ACM = DAB, &
C'B. (i) CPM, C h (i)
h. ofdepression the metres.
B.
of the
and
Then, metres.
Let and AB tan a= tan a= = depression
35/The CB =
ß x. Let h tan (90°-tan 0) we
height tan x(cot cota x AB tan ß= tan obtainwe we Let tanß (tan height (ii),
PM Let = a (ii), = = Then, obtain
CB= x 1 obtain PMLet AB ß the x
Let AB
be angle X+
2hPMC'M cot AB PM CM - +
h+60.
erpendicular be of of +h CB -a = we (x+
(x AB CB= be C be tan tan of
angle of cot obtainwe
C the = tan ß
cotB) obtain 2h) a be its the
surface
bethe of 12h)cotB + perpendicular the the a a) =
the reflection tan the = cotß reflection tower ab
quently, elevationof 2htan CM surface of h2 AD AB
ß 2 position elevation
position - cloud hcotß +
tan tanß 2h MB is
a of
from of of a is in v
th e = ofthe the of ab ab
of cloudcloud a +h= given CM
from the a
cloud
P
andthe lakeand P lake lakecloudmetres
C'B on in + cloud ’h=ab
CB. 2h by tan PA P is
= the from a tan tarnßtan a ß [: on and from
B
Then,
h+ - PM =
lake tan o X+CB. and let
60. + tan prove a
be point is 60 = Then, P point ’
ZCPM C'the
mB h
a AB] h. C be h=
60°. - tan that
be tan |O[:CM=C'B+
n
be a
h
ts
ipoint Find ß ZCPM itspoint the Vab .i)
= a - tan ß 2h metres
reflection
30° h equating reflection
tana height metres.
thabove
e a of of
and =
observation above
observation height a
lake is EXEMPLARÊ
[NCERT of
in h the BM and in the a MATHEMATICS
tan 11.35
Fig. lake
C'PM the [CBSE2010,2017| of tan (tan
values the
tan2h
a cloud 11.34Fig.
lake. the 30°ana i ß- a+ ß = ZMPC' lake. is
= - x such
60: such clo tan tan
of B M
isand a 90-0°
Then, that
taanß)
a h+h + x+h
=Then
AB] ..1) th A
A A.
 ) DISTANCES
|1.15

CHP, we obtain
CM 1
lan30
PM V3 PM PM 3 ..)
we obtain 30
C'M P M
tan 60°= 60 m 60m
PM
C'B +BM h+ 60 +60 I 120
tan o0 = PM
PM PM /3 ...(ii) h+60
and (ii), we get
From()
}h+ 120 Flg. 11.36
V3h = 3/1 = lh+ 120 > 2/=120 ’ = 0
V3
Now, CB = CM + MB =h + 60 60 +6) =120.
Hence, the height of the cloud from the surface of the lake is 120 metres.
IAMPr s Around balloon of radius r subtends n angle a at the eye of the the observer while
balloon is
the ángle of elevation of its centre is B. Prove that the height of the centre of
Bcosec a/2. |NCERT EXEMPLAR, CBSE 2023)
rsin
OUTION Let Obe the centre of the balloon of radius r and P the eye of the observer. Let PA,
PB be tangents from P to the balloon. Then, ZAPB=a. Therefore, ZAP0= ZBPO=*
2
Let OL be perpendicular from Oon the horizontal PX. We are given that the angle of the
elevation of the centre of the balloon is B i.e. ZOPL = B.
InA OAP, we obtain
OA .................

sin 2 = OP
sin
2 OP
’ OP=rcosec
2
..()
In AOPL, we obtain
OL
sin ß = OL = OP sinß = rcosec sinß [Using (i)]
OP
P X
Hence, the height of the centre of the balloon is r sin ß cosec Fig. 11.37
2
IAMPLE 37 A straight highway leads to thefoot ofa tower. A man standing at the top of the tower
OServes a car at angle of depression of 30°, which is ayproaching to the foot of the tower with a
nform speed. Six seconds later, the.angle of depressionof the car is found to be 60°. Find the further
[NCERT, CBSE 2008, 09, 17]
me taken by the car toreach the foot of the tower.
OLUTION Let Pbe the foot of the vertical tower PQof height h metres. Let the speed of the car
bev m/sec. At Athe angle e of depression of the car is 30° and six seconds later it reaches to B
wherethe angle of depression is 60°. Clearly, car travels distance. AB in 6seconds with speed
Om/sec. Therefore. AB = 6vmetres Horizontal (Top of the tower)
30
SupposeBP =carvt takes
Then,
t seconds to reach to P from point B. 60°

metres.
AP = AB + BP = 6v + vt
In AAPO, we
tan 30 PQ
obtain 30° .60°

AP J3h = 6v + vt ..(i) A B P
V3 6v + vt
Fig. 11.38
11.16

In A BPQ, weobtain
MATTIMAliCse
tan 60 = PQ
BP
From (i) and (ii), we obtain
V3 xv3t = 6+ t ’ 3t = 6v+ vt 2vt = 6 3seconds
2t
Hence, further time taken by the car to reach the foot of the tower is 3 seconds.
BASED ON HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS (HOTS)
EXAMPLE 3s Tuo stations due south of aleaning tover which leans towards the north are a
distancesa and b from its foot. If a, Bbe the elevations of the top of the tower from the
stations, prove that its inclination to the horizontal is given by
bcota - acotB
cot =
b-a
SOLUTION Let AB be the leaning tower and let Cand Dbe two given stations at distances
a and brespectively from the foot A
of the tower. Let AE = x and BE =h
In AAEB, we obtain
BE
tan = tan = ’ I = h cot 0 ..()
AE
In ACEB, we obtain
BE
tan a=
CE D
A
h
tan a = ’ a + = hcot a I= h cot a - a ... (ii) Fig. 11.39
In ADEB,we obtain
BE
tanß ’ tan ß ’ b+ = hcot B ’ x = h cot B-b (i)
DE b+x
On equating the values of x obtained from (i) and (ii), we obtain
a
h cot = hcot a - a ’ h (cot a- cot ) = a ’ h= ...(iv)
cot a - cot 0
On equating the values of x obtained from () and (ii), we obtain
b ..(0)
h cot 0 = hcot ß b ’ h(cot ß - cot 0) = b ’ h=
cot ß - cot 0
Equating the values of h from (iv) and (v), we get
cot a cot cot B - cot 0
a(cot ß- acot 0) = b(cot a - cot 0)
bcot a - acot ß
(b - a) cot 9 = bcot a - acot ß > cot =
b- a distaneofk
ipa
EXAMPLE 39 The angle of elevation of aclifffrom afixed point is 0. After going
metres towards the top of the cliff at an angle of d, itis found that the angle ofelevation is a.Se
the height of the cliff is
k (cos -sin ocota)
metres
cot 0 - cot a
 HEIGHTS AND DISTANCES
11.17

eOLUTION Let AB be the cliff and O bethe fixed nointeuob Hhat

liff from O1s b1.e. theangle of elevation o
perpendiculars on ZAOB
= 0. Let ZAOC= and Oc-
AB and OA kmetres From Cdraw CD and C
AB. In A OCE, We obtain Then, respectively. be the height ofthe cliff
ZDCB =- a. Let h
CE
sin OC ’ sin = CE ’ CE = k sin ¢
k AD = k sin : CE = AD] ()
OE
and, cos = COS = OE
OC ’ OE =k cos
...(ii)
In AOAB, we obtain
D
AB
tan = ’ tan0 =
OA ’ OA= hcot e ...(iii) E A
OA
Fig. 11.40
CD = EA = 0A OE= h cot 0-k cos
[Using (i) and (iii)] ...(iv)
and, BD = AB AD = AB- CE = h-k sin
In A
BCD, we obtain
[Using (i)] ...(v)
BD
tan a =
CD

tan o =
hk sin ¢
hcot -k cos [Using (iv) and (v)]
1 h- ksin¢
Cot hcot9 - kcos ¢
hcot a - k sin cot a = h cot - k cos

h (cot - cot a) = k (cos- sin ¢cot a) ’ h= k (cos - sin cot a)

cot cot a
EXAMPLE 40 At the foot ofa mountain the elevation of its summit is 45°; after ascending 1000 m
towards the mountain up a slope of30° inclination, theelevation is found to be 60°. Find the height
of the mountain.
OLUTION Let Fbe the foot and S be the summit of the mnountain FOS. Then,OFS = 45o
a therefore, SF = 45. Consequently,OF= 0S= h km (say).Let FP =1000 m=1 km be
e slope so that OFP = 30°. Draw PM OS and PL I OF. Join PS. It is given that
<MPS 60°. In A FPL, we obtain
=
PL
sin 30°= ’ PL = PFsin30° =
PE

1
OM = PL = ÷km
2
60
and, ..i)
....**1000
m
M

In A
MS
os -OM =(h-]km
PLF, we obtain

COs 30° = FL
V3 V3-km Fig. 11.41
PF
’ FL= PF cos 30° =| 1x Y2
km =
2
11.18
MATHEMATICS
h = 0S=OF = OL +LF = OL
2
V3 km ’ PM =|h /3 km
OL =| h 2 -i)
In A SPM,we obtain
SM
tan 60°=
PM
SM = PM tan 60°

[Using (i) and (i)

3 1
h-= hv3-.3 ’ V3h - h =
2 2
’ h(v3-1) =1
2 2

1 V3 +1 V3 +1 2.732
= 1.366 km
h= 2 2
V3 -1 (V3-1)(V3+1)
Hence, the height of the mountain is 1.366 km.
EXAMPLE 41 A nan on a cliff observes a boat at an angle of depression of 30° which is
approaching the shore to the point immediately beneath the observer with a uniform speed. Six
minutes later, the angle of depression of the boat is found to be 60°. Find the time taken by the
boat to reach the shore.
SOLUTION Let OAbe the cliff and Pbe the initial position of the boat when the angle of
depression is 30°. After 6 minutes the boat reaches to Q such that the angle of depression
at is 60°. Let PQ= x metres. In A's POA and 00A, we obtain
A
OA OA
tan 30 and tan 60° = 30
OP
1 OA OA
and /3=
V3 OP
OP
OA = and OA = /300 30° 60°
P
OP 1
= V3 0Q 0Q =OP Fig.11.42
3

PQ = OP - O0 = OP
OP2OP
3
Let the speed of the boat be v metre/minute. Then,
PQ= Distance travelled by the boat is 6minutes
PQ =6v
=6v ’ OP = 9v
Time taken by the boat to reach at the shore is given by
OP 9u Distance
T= minutes = 9 minutes. . Time =
Speed
peedt
EXAMPLE 42 A man on the top ofa vertical tower observes a car at a uniform
coming directly towards it. Ifit takes 12 minutes for the angle of depressionmoVing
to changefrom .
30°to45
how soon after this, willthe car reach the tower? Give vour answer to the nearest secontd.
[CBSE 2006C]
HEIGHTS AND DISTANCES 11.19

OLUTION Let AB be the tower of heicht nnetres Iet Che theinitial

let after l12 minutes the car be at D. It is positionof the car and
and 45° respectively. Let the speed of the given that the angles of depression atC ana Dare
car be v metre per minute. Then,
CD=Distance travelled by the car in 12 minutes =12 v metres
[::Distance = speed x time]
Suppose the car takes t minutes to reach the tower AB from D.
=

In A DAB, we obtain Then, DA =vt metres.

AB h
tan 45 45 30Ý
AD vt ’ h= vt ..)
In A CAB, we obtain
AB 1 h
tan 30°
AC 3 vf +122 ’ V3h = vt + 12v ..i) 30° 45°
C D
Substituting the value of h from (î) in (ii), we get >12 v< Vt
A

V3 vt = vt + 12v Fig. 11.43

/3t = t + 12 ’ t(W31) =12 t=

12 12 (V3 + 1)
t= 6(3 + 1)= 16.39 minutes = 16 minutes 23
V3-1 (V3-1) (V3 +1)
seconds
Thus. the car will reach the tower from D in 16 [::0.39 minutes = 0.39 x 60
minutes and 23 seconds. seconds]