Angles of Elevation and Depression

Name Class Date 10-3
Angles of Elevation and Depression
Going Deeper
Essential question: How can you use trigonometric ratios to solve problems
involving angles of elevation and depression?
The diagram shows what is meant by angle
of elevation and angle of depression. These
angles depend on your viewpoint, but because
they are both measured relative to parallel
horizontal lines, they are equal in measure.
looking down
angle of depression
Video Tutor
angle of elevation
looking up
MCC9–12.G.SRT.8
1
EXAMPLE
Solving a Problem with an Angle of Depression
A lighthouse keeper at the top of a 120-foot tall lighthouse with its base at sea level spots a
small fishing boat. The angle of depression is 5°. What is the horizontal distance between
the base of the lighthouse and the boat? Round to the nearest foot.
A In the space below, sketch
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
sea level, the lighthouse,
and the boat. Label the
position of the boat along
with the bottom and top of
the lighthouse.
B Add lines that show the
C Add known and derived
angle of depression.
Use dashing to show the
horizontal reference line
and a solid line to show the
line of sight.
degree measures. Add
known and unknown
lengths to determine a right
triangle you can use to
answer the question.
D Solve an equation involving a trigonometric ratio to answer the question.
REFLECT
1a. What assumption is made about the lighthouse and sea level?
1b. Explain why the angle of elevation from the boat to the lighthouse is 5°.
1c. Explain how to find the horizontal distance using the other acute angle of
the triangle.
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Lesson 3
MCC9–12.G.SRT.8
2
EXAMPLE
Solving a Problem with an Angle of Elevation
A viewer watches a hot air balloon ascend. The viewer’s line of sight forms a 20° angle
with the ground when the balloon is 1200 feet above ground. How far is the viewer from
where the balloon started its ascent?
A On the diagram at the right, add information that can
balloon
be used to answer the question.
Show the right triangle and the angle of elevation.
Label the diagram with known measures and use a
variable for the unknown.
viewer
B Write an equation you can use in this situation.
C Solve the equation to answer the question. Show your work.
REFLECT
2a. Why is the sine ratio or cosine ratio not used in solving this Example?
practice
Use a trigonometric ratio to solve. Give answers to the nearest foot.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
1. A spectator looks up at an angle of 25° to the top of a building 500 feet away. How
tall is the building?
2. A worker looks down from the top of a bridge 240 feet above a river at a barge. The
angle of depression is 60°. How far is the barge from the base of the bridge?
3. A helicopter pilot hovers 500 feet above a straight and flat road. The pilot looks
down at two cars using 24° and 28° as angles of depression. How far apart are the
cars? Explain your work.
4. The string of a flying kite is 360 feet long and makes a 40° angle with the ground.
Find the altitude of the kite and the horizontal distance between the kite flyer and
the point on the ground directly below the kite.
Module 10
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Lesson 3
10-3
Name ________________________________________
Class Date __________________
Date Class__________________
Name
Practice
Additional
Practice
8-4
Angles of Elevation and Depression
LESSON
Marco breeds and trains homing pigeons on the roof
of his building. Classify each angle as an angle of
elevation or an angle of depression.
1. ∠1 _____________________
2. ∠2 _____________________
3. ∠3 _____________________
4. ∠4 _____________________
To attract customers to his car dealership, Frank tethers a large red balloon
to the ground. In Exercises 5–7, give answers in feet and inches to the
nearest inch. (Note: Assume the cord that attaches to the balloon makes
a straight segment.)
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
5. The sun is directly overhead. The shadow of the balloon falls
14 feet 6 inches from the tether. Frank sights an angle of elevation
of 67°. Find the height of the balloon.
______________________
6. Find the length of the cord that tethers the balloon.
______________________
7. The wind picks up and the angle of elevation changes to 59°.
Find the height of the balloon.
______________________
Lindsey shouts down to Pete from her third-story window.
8. Lindsey is 9.2 meters up, and the angle of depression from
Lindsey to Pete is 79°. Find the distance from Pete to the base
of the building to the nearest tenth of a meter.
______________________
9. To see Lindsey better, Pete walks out into the street so he is
4.3 meters from the base of the building. Find the angle of
depression from Lindsey to Pete to the nearest degree.
______________________
10. Mr. Shea lives in Lindsey’s building. While Pete is still out in
the street, Mr. Shea leans out his window to tell Lindsey and
Pete to stop all the shouting. The angle of elevation from Pete
to Mr. Shea is 72°. Tell whether Mr. Shea lives above or below
Lindsey.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Module
10 Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Additions and changes219
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content
to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
53
Lesson 3
Holt McDougal Geometry
Name ________________________________________ Date __________________ Class__________________
Problem
Solving
Problem
Solving
LESSON
8-4
Angles of Elevation and Depression
2. A surveyor 50 meters from the base of a
cliff measures the angle of elevation to
the top of the cliff as 72°. What is the
height of the cliff? Round to the nearest
meter.
1. Mayuko is sitting 30 feet high in a football
stadium. The angle of depression to the
center of the field is 14°. What is the
horizontal distance between Mayuko and
the center of the field? Round to the
nearest foot.
_______________________________________
______________________________________
3. Shane is 61 feet high on a ride at an
amusement park. The angle of depression
to the park entrance is 42°, and the angle
of depression to his friends standing below
is 80°. How far from the entrance are his
friends standing? Round to the nearest foot.
_______________________________________
Choose the best answer.
4. The figure shows a person parasailing.
What is x, the height of the parasailer, to
the nearest foot?
C 290 ft
B 245 ft
D 323 ft
6. A lifeguard is in an observation chair and
spots a person who needs help. The
angle of depression to the person is 22°.
The eye level of the lifeguard is 10 feet
above the ground. What is the horizontal
distance between the lifeguard and the
person? Round to the nearest foot.
A 4 ft
C 25 ft
B 11 ft
D 27 ft
F 0.8 m
H 1.6 m
G 1.3 m
J 2.1 m
7. At a topiary garden, Emily is 8 feet from a
shrub that is shaped like a dolphin. From
where she is looking, the angle of
elevation to the top of the shrub is 46°. If
she is 5 feet tall, which is the best
estimate for the height of the shrub?
F 6 ft
H 10 ft
G 8 ft
J 13 ft
Original
content
to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Module
10 Copyright © by Holt McDougal. Additions and changes 220
137
Lesson 3
Holt McDougal Geometry
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
A 235 ft
5. The elevation angle from the ground to
the object to which the satellite dish is
pointed is 32°. If x = 2.5 meters, which is
the best estimate for y, the height of the
satellite stand?