Sample 6-1

Teacher Manual
Lesson 6 Angles of Elevation and Depression Page
Now we get a chance to apply all of our newly acquired skills in real life applications, otherwise known as
word problems. The first section is in elevation and depression problems. I first encountered these in a Boy
Scout Handbook many years ago. There was a picture of a tree, a boy, and several lines.

tree
How tall is the tree?

5'

11' 30'

Separating the picture into two triangles helps to clarify our ratios.

We could solve this with a

proportion (two ratios) as
X
5 X
5 = and solve for X.
q q 11 41
11 41

Using our trig. abilities:

5 X
in the "boy" triangle tan q = = .4545 For the large triangle tan 24.44∞ =
11 41
(41)(.4545) = X
18.64' = X
We find that q = 24.44°, so q = 24.44° The tree is 18.64'.

One of the key components in being a good problem solver is drawing a picture using all the data given.
It turns a one dimensional group of words into a two dimensional picture.
It is pretty obvious by the words themselves that an angle of elevation measures up, and an angle of
depression down. Look at Figure 1.

Figure 1
depression

elevation

We assume that the line where the angle begins is perfectly flat, or horizontal.
 6-2

Example 1 A campsite is 9.41 miles from a point directly below the mountain top. If the angle of
elevation is 12∞ from the camp to the top of the mountain, how high is the mountain?
top

mountain
campsite
12∞ 9.41 mi.

You can now see a right triangle, with the side adjacent to the 12∞ being 9.41 miles long. To find
the height of the mountain, which is the side opposite the 12∞ angle, the tangent is the best choice.
height
tan 12∞ =
9.41 mi.
(9.41)(tan 12∞) = height
Sample
Teacher Manual
(9.41)(.2126) = height Page
2 miles = height

Example 2 At a point 42.3 feet from the base of a building, the angle of elevation of the top is 75∞.
How tall is the building?
height
tan 75∞ =
42.3'
building
(42.3)(tan 75∞) = height
(42.3)(3.7321) = height

157.87' = height of building 75∞

42.3'
Practice Problems

1) How far from the door must a ramp begin in order to rise 3 feet with an 8∞ angle of elevation?

2) An A-frame cabin is 26.23 feet high at the center and the angle the floor makes with the base is 53∞15'. How
wide is the base?
Solutions
3
1) tan 8∞ = 2) 26.23
3 X tan 53.25∞ =
8∞ X
X X tan 8∞ = 3
26.23
3 X=
X= 26.23
tan 53.25∞
tan 8∞
53∞15'
3 26.23
X= X X X=
.1405 1.3392
53∞15' = 53.25
X = 21.35 ft. X = 19.59 2X = 39.18 ft
 6-A

1) Isaac's camp is 5,280 feet from a point directly beneath Mt. Monadnock. What is the hiking distance along
the ridge if the angle of elevation is 25° 16'?

2) How many feet higher is the top of the mountain than his campsite?

Express as a fraction.

3) csc q = 6) csc a =

4) sec q = 7) sec a =

a
5) cot q = 8) cot a =
2 31
4 Express as a decimal.

9) sin q = 12) sin a =

q
6 3
10) cos q = 13) cos a =

11) tan q = 14) tan a =

15) Use your answers in #9-11 to find the measure of q.

Sample
16) Use your answers in #12-14 to find the measure of a.
Student Text
Page
Solve for the lengths of the sides and the measures of the angles.

17) a 18)
A 29°
12 59
D
35.4° a
B C

F G
19) 42.66° 20) a

100 47 H
E
41°32'10"
a
 6-B

1) The side of a lake has a uniform angle of elevation of 15∞30'. How far up the side of the lake does the
water rise if, during the flood season, the height of the lake increases by 7.3 feet?

2) A building casts a shadow of 110 feet. If the angle of elevation from that point to the top of the building is
29∞3', find the height of the building.

Express as a fraction.

3) csc q = 6) csc a =

4) sec q = 7) sec a =
a
5) cot q = 8) cot a =
11
4.6
Express as a decimal.

q 9) sin q = 12) sin a =

10

10) cos q = 13) cos a =

11) tan q = 14) tan a =

15) Use your answers in #9-11 to find the measure of q.

Sample
16) Use your answers in #12-14 to find the measure of a.
Student Text
Page
Solve for the lengths of the sides and the measures of the angles.
M
17) 18)
a
J a
12
L
18° 59
29°
K

19) 20) q
67° N
10.25 2 13
Q
q a
P
 6-C

1) From a point 120 feet from the base of a church, the angles of elevation of the top of the building and the
top of a cross on the building are 38∞ and 43∞ respectively. Find the height of the cross. (The ground is flat.)

2) Find the height of the building as well as the height of the cross itself.

Express as a fraction.

3) csc q = 6) csc a =

4) sec q = 7) sec a =
a
15 5) cot q = 8) cot a =
7.1
Express as a decimal.
q
9) sin q = 12) sin a =
13.2

10) cos q = 13) cos a =

11) tan q = 14) tan a =

15) Use your answers in #9-11 to find the measure of q. They may vary slightly.

16) Use your answers in #12-14 to find the measure of a. They may vary slightly. Sample
Student Text
Page
Solve for the lengths of the sides and the measures of the angles.

S
17) 18) a
40° T
88
R
25 36.2°
U
a

19) 20) a
a
V 95
X
150

51.9° q
7
W
 6-D

1) A campsite is 12.88 miles from a point directly below Mt. Adams. If the angle of elevation is 15.5∞ from
the camp to the top of the mountain, how high is the mountain?

2) At a point 60.7 feet from the base of a building, the angle of elevation from that point to the top is 64.75∞.
How tall is the building?

Express as a fraction. First find X.

3) csc q = 6) csc a =

4) sec q = 7) sec a =

a
5) cot q = 8) cot a =
25
X Express as a decimal.

9) sin q = 12) sin a =

q
18.33
10) cos q = 13) cos a =

11) tan q = 14) tan a =

15) Use your answers in #9-11 to find the measure of q.

16) Use your answers in #12-14 to find the measure of a. Sample

Student Text
Solve for the lengths of the sides and the measures of the angles. Page
2.24 10 .5
17) 18)
a a

A
2 Z
Y 49.2°

19) 29.07° 20)

a
B D
56 10

a q
14
C
 Sample
Test 6
Test Booklet
Use for questions 1 - 4: Devan stands 926 meters fromPage
8) How long must a cable be in order to stretch
a point directly below the peak of a mountain. The angle from the observation point to the top of the
building?
of elevation between Devan and the top of the mountain
is 42°. A) 102.9 m B) 127.1 m
C) 136.1 m D) 50.3 m
1) Which equation can be used to find the height of the
mountain (X)?
Use for questions 9 & 10: A car traveled a
A) sin 42° = X B) tan 42° = 926
926 X distance of 100 feet up a ramp to a bridge. The
angle of elevation of the ramp was 10°.
C) cos 48° = 926 D) tan 42° = X
X 926
9) How high was the bridge above road level?
2) What is the height of the mountain?
A) 17.4 ft. B) 98.5 ft.
A) 833.8 m B) 1028.4 m
C) 10 ft. D) 100 ft.
C) 619.6 m D) 1383.9 m

10) What is the actual distance from the beginning

3) A tower 50 meters high is built on top of the mountain. of the ramp to the base of the bridge?
What is the angle of elevation from Devan’s position to
the top of the tower? (round decimal degrees to tenths) A) 575 ft. B) 98.5 ft.
A) 40°14’44” B) 43°42’ C) 89.4 ft. D) 17.4 ft.

C) 57°15’ D) 46°20’08”

4) If a bird flew from Devan’s position to the top of the 3

mountain, how many meters would it travel? 11) is the ratio for
3
A) 408.4 m B) 1246.1 m A) cos 45° B) cos 30°
C) 1383.9 m D) 1280.8 m C) tan 60° D) tan 30°

Use for questions 5 - 8: From a point 80 meters from

12) Arcsin .8192 =
the base of a building to the top of the building the angle
of elevation is 51°. From the same point to the top of a A) 1.22 B) 35°
flag staff on the building the angle of elevation is 54°. C) 55° D) .9999

5) What equation can be used to find the combined 13) 46°21’02” =

height (Y) of building and flagpole? A) 46.21° B) 46.12°
A) Y = 80 tan 51° B) Y = 80 sin 54° C) 46.35° D) 46.4°
C) Y = 80 tan 54° D) Y = tan 51°
80
sin a
14) is equal to
cos a
6) What is the height of the building alone? A) tan a B) cot a
A) 98.8 m B) 110.1 m C) sec a D) csc a
C) 64.8 m D) 58.1 m
1
15) is equal to
7) What is the height of the flagpole alone? cos a
A) 15.1 m B) 45.3 m A) csc a B) sec a
C) 4.2 m D) 11.3 m C) sin a D) cos a
 6-A
1) 2)
5,280 M
Cos 25°16' = Tan 25°16' =
D 5,280
D D
5,280 M 5,280 Tan 25°16' = M
D=
.9043
D = 5,838.77' 25°16' 2,492.09' = M
25°16'
5,280' 5,280'
Express as a fraction.
2 31 31 93
3) csc q = = 6) csc a =
4 2 9
2 31 93 31
4) sec q = = 7) sec a =
6 3 9 2
a
6 3 3 3 2 3
5) cot q = = 8) cot a =
2 31 4 2 9
4
Express as a decimal.
4 6 3
q 9) sin q = = .3592 12) sin a = = .9333
2 31 2 31
6 3
6 3 4
10) cos q = = .9333 13) cos a = = .3592
2 31 2 31
4 6 3
11) tan q = = .3849 14) tan a = = 2.598
6 3 4
Answers to 15 and 16 may vary slightly. Sample
15) The measure of q is 21.05°. Teacher Manual
16) The measure of q is 68.95°.
Page
Solve for the lengths of the sides and the measures of the angles.
D
Sin 61° =
B 59
17) Tan 54.6° = 18)
12 29° (59) (Sin 61°) = D
54.6° 12 Tan 54.6° = B 59
A 51.6 = D
12 D
16.89 = B C
61° Cos 61° =
35.4° 12 59
Sin 35.4° = C
A (59) (Cos 61°) = C
B 12
A=
Sin 35.4° 28.6 = C
A = 20.72
G
F F G 41.54° = 47
19) Tan 47.34° = 20)
42.66° 100 49°27'50" 47 Tan 41.54° = G
100 100 Tan 47.34° = F
108.52 = F 47 H 41.64 = G
E 47.34°
100 41°32'10" 47
Sin 42.66° = Cos 41.54° =
E H
100 H = 47
E = 41°32'10" = 41.54° Cos 41.54°
Sin 42.66°
E = 147.57 H = 62.79
 6-B

2) Tan 29.05° = B
1) 15°30' = 15.5° 110
29°3' = 29.05° B 110 (Tan 29.05°) = B
7.3' X D
15°30' 61.1' = B
29°3'
7.3 110'
sin 15.5 =
X
7.3
X=
sin 15.5 Express as a fraction.
X = 27.32' 11 11
3) csc q = 6) csc a =
4.6 10
11 11
4) sec q = 7) sec a =
10 4.6
a
10 4.6
5) cot q = 8) cot a =
11 4.6 10
4.6
Express as a decimal.

q 4.6 10
9) sin q = = .4182 12) sin a = = .9091
11 11
10
10 4.6
10) cos q = = .9091 13) cos a = = .4182
11 11
4.6 10
11) tan q = = .46 14) tan a = = 2.1739
10 4.6
15) The measure of q is 24.7°.
Sample
16) The measure of q is 65.3°. Teacher Manual
Solve for the lengths of the sides and the measures of the angles. Page
M
K M Sin 29° =
17) Tan 72° = 18) 59
12
J 72° 61° 59 Sin 29° = M
12 12 Tan 72° = 36.93
18° L 28.6 = M
12
Sin 18° = 59 L
K J 29° Cos 29° =
12 59
J = = 38.83
Sin 18° 59 Cos 29° = L
51.6 = L

2 13 = 7.2111
10.25 6
19) Sin 23° = 20) 7.211
50.24° Tan q =
N 6
67° N 10.25 arctan q = 1.202
10.25 N = = 26.23 2 13
Sin 23° Q q = 50.24°
23° a = 39.76°
P 39.76°
P Tan 67° =
10.25 (2 13 )2 + (6)2 = Q2
10.25 Tan 67° = P
2 22 = Q2
24.15 = P
 6-C
BC B
1) Tan 43° = 2) Tan 38° =
120 120
BC = 120 Tan 43° B = 120 Tan 38°
BC B
BC = 112'
B = 93.75' or 93" 9"
43° 38°
120' 120'
112' - 93.75' = 18.25' or 18' 3"
Sample Express as a fraction.
Teacher Manual 3) csc q =
15
6) csc a =
15
7.1
Page 13.2
15 15
4) sec q = 7) sec a =
a 13.2 7.1
15 13.2 7.1
5) cot q = 8) cot a =
7.1 7.1 13.2
Express as a decimal.
q
13.2 7.1 13.2
9) sin q = = .4733 12) sin a = = .88
15 15

13.2 7.1
10) cos q = = .88 13) cos a = = .4733
15 15
7.1 13.2
11) tan q = = .5379 14) tan a = = 1.8592
13.2 7.1
15) The measure of q is 28.25°.

16) The measure of q is 61.75°.

Solve for the lengths of the sides and the measures of the angles.
U
R Tan 53.8° =
S Sin 40° = 88
17) 25 18)
40° 88 Tan 53.8° = U
25 Sin 40° = R T 53.8°
R = 16.07 88 U = 120.24
88
R Sin 36.2° =
25 S 36.2° T
Cos 40° =
25 U 88
50° T=
25 Cos 40° = S Sin 36.2°
S = 19.15 T = 149.00

W 72 + X2 = ( 95 )2
Tan 38.1° =
19) 150 20) 49 + X2 = 95
38.1° 150 Tan 38.1° = W 95 45.9° X = 46
V X
150 W = 117.62 X= 46 or 6.78
150 6.78
Sin 51.9° = 44.1° Tan q =
51.9° V 7
150 7
W V= arctan .96 = 44.1
Sin 51.9°
V = 190.61 a = 90 - 44.1 = 45.9°
 6-D

M
Tan 15.5° =
1) 12.88 2) B
M Tan 64.75° =
15.5° M = 3.57 60.7
12.88 mi. B = 128.7'
B

Sample
64.75°
60.7''
Teacher Manual
Page
Express as a fraction.
(18.33)2 + X2 = 252 25 25
3) csc q = 6) csc a =
336 + X2 = 625 17 18.33

X2 = 625 25 25
4) sec q = 7) sec a =
X = 17 a 18.33 17
25 18.33 17
5) cot q = 8) cot a =
X = 17 17 18.33

q Express as a decimal.
18.33 17 18.33
9) sin q = = .68 12) sin a = = .7332
25 25
18.33 17
10) cos q = = .7332 13) cos a = = .68
25 25
17 18.33
11) tan q = = .9274 14) tan a = =1.0782
18.33 17
15) The measure of q is 42.84°.

16) The measure of q is 47.16°.

Solve for the lengths of the sides and the measures of the angles.
A
Tan 40.08° =
2.24 10 .5 10.5
18)
17) 41.81° 22 + (2.24)2 = Y2 10.5 Tan 40.08° = A
40.8°
3=Y 9.06 = A
A
2 2 Z 10.5
Y=3 Cos q = = .6667 49.2° Sin 49.2° =
3 Z
48.19° Z= 10.5
arccos .6667 = 48.19°
Sin 49.2°
a = 90 - 48.19 = 41.81°
Z = 13.87

C
Tan 29.07° = 10
56 Tan q =
19) 29.07° 20) 14
56 Tan 29.07° =C a arctan .7143= 35.54°
31.13 = C D
56 B
10 a = 90 - 35.54 = 54.46°
(56)2 + (31.13)2 = B2 102 + 142 = D2
60.93° q
64.07 = B 14 17.2 = D
C