Practice Questions
Test your visual and trigonometric logic with these heights and distances questions.
The angle of elevation of a tower from a distance 100m is 30°. What is the height of the tower?
$\tan(30^\circ) = H/100 \Rightarrow 1/\sqrt{3} = H/100 \Rightarrow H = 100/\sqrt{3}$.
If a 6m high pole casts a shadow 2√3m long, find the angle of elevation of the sun.
$\tan \theta = 6 / 2\sqrt{3} = 3 / \sqrt{3} = \sqrt{3}$. Since $\tan 60^\circ = \sqrt{3}$, $\theta = 60^\circ$.
A person on top of a 50m building sees a car at an angle of depression of 45°. How far is the car from the building?
Angle of depression = Angle of elevation = $45^\circ$. $\tan 45^\circ = 50 / X \Rightarrow 1 = 50 / X \Rightarrow X = 50$.
The shadow of a vertical tower is $\sqrt{3}$ times its height. The angle of elevation is:
$\tan \theta = H / \sqrt{3}H = 1/\sqrt{3}$. Since $\tan 30^\circ = 1/\sqrt{3}$, $\theta = 30^\circ$.
The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from a point 50 m away is 30°. Find the height of the tower.
$\tan30^\circ = h/50 \Rightarrow 1/\sqrt3 = h/50 \Rightarrow h = 50/\sqrt3$ m.
From the top of a building 40 m high, the angle of depression of a car is 45°. Find the distance of the car from the building.
Angle of depression $=$ angle of elevation $=45^\circ$. $\tan45^\circ = 40/d \Rightarrow 1=40/d \Rightarrow d=40$ m.
The angles of elevation of the top of a tower from two points 20 m apart are 30° and 60°. Find the height of the tower.
$\tan60=h/d\Rightarrow h=d\sqrt3$. $\tan30=h/(d+20)\Rightarrow 1/\sqrt3 = d\sqrt3/(d+20)\Rightarrow d+20=3d\Rightarrow d=10$. $h=10\sqrt3$ m.
A flagstaff stands on top of a tower 20 m high. The angle of elevation of the top of the flagstaff from a point 20 m away is 60°. Find the height of the flagstaff.
$\tan60^\circ = (20+h)/20 \Rightarrow \sqrt3 = (20+h)/20 \Rightarrow 20+h = 20\sqrt3 \Rightarrow h = 20(\sqrt3-1)$ m.
The shadow of a tower is 40 m long when the angle of elevation of the sun is 60°. Find the height of the tower.
$\tan60^\circ = h/40 \Rightarrow \sqrt3 = h/40 \Rightarrow h = 40\sqrt3$ m.
A ladder 10 m long rests against a vertical wall making an angle of 60° with the ground. How high does the ladder reach?
$\sin60^\circ = h/10 \Rightarrow \sqrt3/2 = h/10 \Rightarrow h = 5\sqrt3$ m.
Premium Content
Unlock Heights and Distances Quiz and all premium lessons with a subscription.
From ₹199.99/year — See plans