Angles of Elevation and Depression

Definitions

Angle of elevation: Angle measured upwards from the horizontal to a point above.

Angle of depression: Angle measured downwards from the horizontal to a point below.

Key fact: Angle of depression from A to B = Angle of elevation from B to A. Alternate angles.

Example: A man 50 m from a tower sees the top with angle of elevation 28°. Find height of tower.
tan 28° = height / 50
height = 50 × tan 28° = 50 × 0.5317 = 26.6 m

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Related Exercises

Elevation and depression problems

Draw a diagram and solve:From a point 80 m from a building, the angle of elevation to the top is …

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