Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths

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Exercise – 14.1

1. A tower stands vertically on the ground. From a point on the ground which is 20 m away
from the foot of the tower, the angle of elevation of its top is found to be 60. Find the
height of the tower. [Take 3  1.732 ]
Sol:
Let AB be the tower standing vertically on the ground and O be the position of the obsrever
we now have:
OA  20 m, OAB  90 and AOB  60
Let
AB  h m

Now, in the right OAB, we have:

AB
 tan 60  3
OA
h
  3
20
 h  20 3   20 1.732   36.64
Hence, the height of the pole is 34.64 m.

2. A kite is flying at a height of 75 in from the level ground, attached to a string inclined at
60. to the horizontal. Find the length of the string, assuming that there is no slack in it.
[Take 3  1.732 ]
Sol:
Let OX be the horizontal ground and A be the position of the kite.
Also, let O be the position of the observer and OA be the thread.
Now, draw AB  OX .
We have:
BOA  60, OA  75 m and OBA  90
Height of the kite from the ground  AB  75 m
Length of the string OA  x m
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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In the right OBA, we have:

AB 3
 sin 60 
OA 2
75 3
 
x 2
75  2 150
x   86.6 m
3 1.732
Hence, the length of the string is 86.6m

3. An observer 1.5m tall is 30 away from a chimney. The angle of elevation of the top of the
chimney from his eye is 60 . Find the height of the chimney.
Sol:

Let CE and AD be the heights of the observer and the chimney, respectively.
We have,
BD  CE  1.5 m, BC  DE  30 m and ACB  60
In ABC
AB
tan 60 
BC
AD  BD
 3
30
 AD  1.5  30 3
 AD  30 3  1.5
 AD  30  1.732  1.5
 AD  51.96  1.5
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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 AD  53.46 m
So, the height of the chimney is 53.46 m (approx).

4. The angles of elevation of the top of a tower from two points at distance of 5 metres and 20
metres from the base of the tower and is the same straight line with it, are complementary.
Find the height of the tower.
Sol:

Let the height of the tower be AB.

We have.
AC  5 m, AD  20 m
Let the angle of elevation of the top of the tower  i.e. ACB  from point C be  .
Then,
the angle of elevation of the top of the tower (i.e. Z ADB) from point D
  90   
Now, in ABC
AB
tan  
AC
AB
 tan   ........  i 
5
Also, in ABD,
AD
cot  90    
AB
20
 tan   .......  ii 
AB
From (i) and (ii), we get
AB 20

5 AB
 AB  100
2

 AB  100
 AB  10 m
So, the height of the tower is 10 m.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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5. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower at a distance of 120 m from a point A on the
ground is 45 . If the angle of elevation of the top of a flagstaff fixed at the top of the tower,
at A is 60 , then find the height of the flagstaff [Use 3  1.732]
Sol:

Let BC and CD be the heights of the tower and the flagstaff, respectively.
We have,
AB  120 m, BAC  45, BAD  60
Let CD  x
In ABC ,
BC
tan 45 
AB
BC
1
120
 BC  120 m
Now, in ABD,
BD
tan 60 
AB
BC  CD
 3
120
 BC  CD  120 3
 120  x  120 3
 x  120 3  120
 x  120  
3 1
 x  120 1.732  1
 x  120  0.732 
 x  87.84  87.8 m
So, the height of the flagstaff is 87. 8 m.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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6. From a point on the ground 40m away from the foot of a tower, the angle of elevation of the
top of the tower is 30 . The angle of elevation of the top of a water tank (on the top of the
tower) is 45 , Find (i) the height of the tower, (ii) the depth of the tank.
Sol:

Let BC be the tower and CD be the water tank.

We have,
AB  40 m, BAC  30 and BAD  45
In ABD,
BD
tan 45 
AB
BD
1
40
 BD  40 m
Now, in ABC ,
BC
tan 30 
AB
1 BC
 
3 40
40
 BC 
3
40 3
 BC  
3 3
40 3
 BC  m
3
0 3 40 1.73
(i) The height of the tower, BC    23.067  23.1 m
3 3
(ii) The depth of the tank, CD   BD  BC    40  23.1  16.9 m
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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7. The vertical tower stands on a horizontal plane and is surmounted by a vertical flagstaff of
height 6m. At a point on the plane, the angle of elevation of the bottom of the flagstaff is
30 and that of the top of the flagstaff 60 . Find the height of the tower
[Use 3  1.732 ]
Sol:

Let AB be the tower and BC be the flagstaff,

We have,
BC  6 m, AOB  30 and AOC  60
Let AB  h
In AOB,
AB
tan 30 
OA
1 h
 
3 OA
 OA  h 3 ...........  i 
Now, in AOC,
AC
tan 60 
OA
AB  BC
 3 [Using (i)]
h 3
 3h  h  6
 3h  h  6
 2h  6

h
2
h3 m
So, the height of the tower is 3 m.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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8. A statue 1.46m tall, stands on the top of a pedestal. From a point on the ground, the angle
of elevation of the top of the status is 60 and from the same point, the angle of elevation
of the top of the pedestal is 45 . Find the height of the pedestal.
Sol:
Let AC be the pedestal and BC be the statue such that BC  1.46 m.
We have:
ADC  45 and ADB  60
Let:
AC  h m and AD  x m

In the right ADC, we have:

AC
 tan 45  1
AD
h
 1
x
hx
Or,
xh
Now, in the right ADB, we have:
AB
 tan 60  3
AD
h  1.46
  3
x
On putting x  h in the above equation, we get
h  1.46
 3
h
 h  1.46  3h
h  
3  1  1.46
1.46 1.46
h   2m
 3 1  0.73
Hence, the height of the pedestal is 2 m.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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9. The angle of elevation of the top of an unfinished tower at a distance of 75m from its base
is 30 . How much higher must the tower be raised so that the angle of elevation of its top
at the same point may be 60 .
Sol:
Let AB be the unfinished tower, AC be the raised tower and O be the point of observation
We have:
OA  75 m, AOB  30 and AOC  60
Let AC  H m such that BC   H  h  m.

In AOB, we have:
AB 1
 tan 30 
OA 3
h 1
 
75 3
75 75  3
h m  25 3 m
3 3 3
In AOC, we have:
AC
 tan 60  3
OA
H
  3
75
 H  75 3m
 
Required height   H  h   75 3  25 3  50 3m  86.6 m

10. On a horizonal plane there is a vertical tower with a flagpole on the top of the tower. At a
point, 9 meters away from the foot of the tower, the angle of elevation of the top and
bottom of the flagpole are 60 and 30 respectively. Find the height of the tower and the
flagpole mounted on it.
Sol:
Let OX be the horizontal plane, AD be the tower and CD be the vertical flagpole
We have:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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AB  9 m, DBA  30 and CBA  60
Let:
AD  hm and CD  x m

In the right ABD, we have:

AD 1
 tan 30 
AB 3
h 1
 
9 3
9
h  5.19 m
3
Now, in the right ABC , we have
AC
 tan 60  3
BA
h x
  3
9
 h x 9 3
9
By putting h  in the above equation, we get:
3
9
x9 3
3
9
 x9 3
3
27  9 18 18
x    10.4
3 3 1.73
Thus, we have:
Height of the flagpole = 10. 4 m
Height of the tower = 5. 19 m

11. Two poles of equal heights are standing opposite to each other on either side of the road
which is 80m wide, From a point P between them on the road, the angle of elevation of the
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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top of one pole is 60 and the angle of depression from the top of another pole at P is 30 .
Find the height of each pole and distance of the point P from the poles.

Sol:

Let AB and CD be the equal poles; and BD be the width of the road.
We have,
AOB  60 and COD  60
In AOB,
AB
tan 60 
BO
AB
 3
BO
AB
 BO 
3
Also, in COD,
CD
tan 30 
DO
1 CD
 
3 DO
 DO  3CD
As, BD  80
 BO  DO  80
AB
  3CD  80
3
AB
  3 AB  80 (Given: AB = CD)
3
 1 
 AB   3   80
 3 
 1 3 
 AB    80
 3 
 4 
 AB    80
 3
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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80  3
 AB 
4
 AB  20 3m
AB 20 3
Also, BO    20 m
3 3
So, DO  80  20  60 m
Hence, the height of each pole is 20 3 m and point P is at a distance of 20 m from left pole
ad 60 m from right pole.

12. Two men are on opposite side of tower. They measure the angles of elevation of the top of
the tower as 30 and 45 respectively. If the height of the tower is 50 meters, find the
distance between the two men.
Sol:
Let CD be the tower and A and B be the positions of the two men standing on the opposite
sides.
Thus, we have:
DAC  30, DBC  45 and CD  50 m
Let AB  x m and BC  y m such that AC   x  y  m.

In the right DBC, we have:

CD
 tan 45  1
BC
50
 1
y
 y  50 m
In the right ACD, we have:
CD 1
 tan 30 
AC 3
50 1
 
 x  y 3
 x  y  50 3
On putting y  50 in the above equation, we get:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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x  50  50 3
 x  50  50 3  50  
3  1  136.6 m
Distance between the two men  AB  x  136.6 m

13. From the point of a tower 100m high, a man observe two cars on the opposite sides to the
tower with angles of depression 30 and 45 respectively. Find the distance between the
cars
Sol:

Let PQ be the tower

We have,
PQ  100m, PQR  30 and PBQ  45
In APQ,
PQ
tan 30 
AP
1 100
 
3 AP
 AP  100 3 m
Also, in BPQ,
PQ
tan 45 
BP
100
1
BP
 BP  100 m
Now, AB  AP  BP
 100 3  100
 100  
3 1
 100  1.73  1
 100  2.73
 273m
So, the distance between the cars is 273 m.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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14. A straight highway leads to the foot of a tower, A man standing on the top of a the tower
observe c car at an angle of depression of 30 which is approaching the foot of the tower
with a uniform speed. Six seconds later, the angle of depression of the car is found to be
60 . Find the time taken by the car to reach the foot of the tower form this point.
Sol:

Let PQ be the tower.

We have,
PBQ  60 and PAQ  30
Let PQ  h, AB  x and BQ  y
In APQ,
PQ
tan 30 
AQ
1 h
 
3 x y
 x y h 3 ........  i 
Also, in BPQ,
PQ
tan 60 
BQ
h
 3
y
h y 3 ..........  ii 
Substituting h  y 3 in (i), we get
x y  3 y 3 
 x  y  3y
 3y  y  x
 2y  x
x
y
2
AB x
As, speed of the car from A to B   units / sec
6 6
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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BQ
So, the time taken to reach the foot of the tower i.e. Q from B 
speed
y

 x
 
6
 x
 
 
2
 x
 
6
6

2
 3 sec
So, the time taken to reach the foot of the tower from the given point is 3 seconds.

15. A TV tower stands vertically on a bank of canal. Form a point on the other bank directly
opposite the tower, the angle of elevation of the top of the tower is 60 . From another
point 20m away from the point on the line joining this point to the foot of the tower, the
angle of elevation of the top of the tower is 30 . Find the height of the tower and the width
of the canal.
Sol:

Let PQ=h m be the height of the TV tower and BQ= x m be the width of the canal.
We have,
AB  20 m, PAQ  30, BQ  x and PQ  h
In PBQ,
PQ
tan 60 
BQ
h
 3
x
hx 3 .........  i 
Again in APQ,
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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PQ
tan 30 
AQ
1 h
 
3 AB  BQ
1 x 3
  [Using (i)]
3 20  3
 3x  20  x
 3x  x  20
 2 x  20
20
x
2
 x  10 m
Substituting x  10 in (i), we get
h  10 3m
So, the height of the TV tower is 10 3 m and the width of the canal is 10 m.

16. The angle of elevation on the top of a building from the foot of a tower is 30 . The angle of
elevation of the top of the tower when seen from the top of the second water is 60 .If the
tower is 60m high, find the height of the building.
Sol:

Let AB be thee building and PQ be the tower.

We have,
PQ  60 m, APB  30, PAQ  60
In APQ,
PQ
tan 60 
AP
60
 3
AP
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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60
 AP 
3
60 3
 AP 
3
 AP  20 3 m
Now, in ABP,
AB
tan 30 
AP
1 AB
 
3 20 3
20 3
 AB 
3
 AB  20 m
So, the height of the building is 20 m

17. The horizontal distance between two towers is 60 meters. The angle of depression of the
top of the first tower when seen from the top of the second tower is 30 . If the height of the
second tower is 90 meters. Find the height of the first tower.
Sol:
Let DE be the first tower and AB be the second tower.
Now, AB = 90 m and AD = 60 m such that CE = 60 m and BEC  30.
Let DE = h m such that AC = h m and BC = 90  h m.

In the right BCE , we have:

BC 1
 tan 30 
CE 3


 90  h   1
60 3
  90  h  3  60
 h 3  90 3  60
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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60
 h  90   90  34.64  55.36 m
3
Height of the first tower  DE  h  55.36 m

18. The angle of elevation of the top of a chimney form the foot of a tower is 60 and the angle
of depression of the foot of the chimney from the top of the tower is 30 . If the height of
the tower is 40 meters. Find the height of the chimney.
Sol:

Let PQ be the chimney and AB be the tower.

We have,
AB  40 m, APB  30 and PAQ  60
In ABP,
AB
tan 30 
AP
1 40
 
3 AP
 AP  40 3 m
Now, in APQ,
PQ
tan 60 
AP
PQ
 3
40 3
 PQ  120 m
So, the height of the chimney is 120 m.
Hence, the height of the chimney meets the pollution norms.
In this question, management of air pollution has been shown

19. From the top of a 7 meter high building, the angle of elevation of the top of a cable tower is
60 and the angle of depression of its foot is 45 . Determine the height of the tower.
Sol:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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Let AB be the 7-m high building and CD be the cable tower,

We have,
AB  7 m, CAE  60, DAE  ADB  45
Also, DE  AB  7 m
In ABD,
AB
tan 45 
BD
7
1
BD
 BD  7 m
So, AE  BD  7 m
Also, in ACE ,
CE
tan 60 
AE
CE
 3
7
 CE  7 3m
Now, CD  CE  DE
 7 37
7  
3 1 m
 7 1.732  1
 7  2.732 
 19.124
 19.12 m
So, the height of the tower is 19.12 m.

20. The angle of depression form the top of a tower of a point A on the ground is 30 . On
moving a distance of 20 meters from the point A towards the foot of the tower to a point B,
the angle of elevation of the top of the tower to from the point B is 60 . Find the height of
the tower and its distance from the point A.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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Sol:

Let PQ be the tower.

We have,
AB  20 m, PAQ  30 and PBQ  60
Let BQ  x and PQ  h
In PBQ,
PQ
tan 60 
BQ
h
 3
x
hx 3 .........  i 
Also, in APQ,
PQ
tan 30 
AQ
1 h
 
3 AB  BQ
1 x 3
  [Using (i)]
3 20  x
 20  x  3x
 3x  x  20
 2 x  20
20
x
2
 x  10 m
From (i),
h  10 3  10 1.732  17.32 m
Also, AQ  AB  BQ  20  10  30 m
So, the height of the tower is 17. 32 m and its distance from the point A is 30 m.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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21. The angle of elevation of the top of a vertical tower from a point on the ground is 60 .
From another point 10 m vertically above the first, its angle of elevation is 30 .Find the
height of the tower.
Sol:

Let PQ be the tower

We have,
AB  10 m, MAP  30 and PBQ  60
Also, MQ  AB  10 m
Let BQ  x and PQ  h
So, AM  BQ  x and PM  PQ  MQ  h 10
In BPQ,
PQ
tan 60 
BQ
h
 3
x
h
x ........  i 
3
Now, in AMP,
PM
tan 30 
AM
1 h  10
 
3 x
 h 3  10 3  x
h
 h 3  10 3  [Using (i)]
3
 3h  30  h
 3h  h  30
 2h  30
30
h
2
 h  15 m
So, the height of the tower is 15 m.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
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22. The angles of depression of the top and bottom of a tower as seen from the top of a
60 3 m high cliff are 45 and 60 respectively. Find the height of the tower.
Sol:

Let AD be the tower and BC be the cliff.

We have,
BC  60 3, CDE  45 and BAC  60
Let AD  h
 BE  AD  h
 CE  BC  BE  60 3  h
In CDE,
CE
tan 45 
DE
60 3  h
1
DE
 DE  60 3  h
 AB  DE  60 3  h .........i 
Now, in ABC ,
BC
tan 60 
AB
60 3
 3 [Using (i)]
60 3  h
 180  h 3  60 3
 h 3  180  60 3
180  60 3 3
h 
3 3
180 3  180
h
3

h
180  3 1
3
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

 h  60  
3 1

 60 1.732 1
 60  0.732
Also, h  43.92 m
So, the height of the tower is 43. 92 m.

23. A man on the deck of a ship, 16m above water level, observe that that angle of elevation
and depression respectively of the top and bottom of a cliff are 60 and 30 . Calculate the
distance of the cliff from the ship and height of the cliff.
Sol:
Let AB be the deck of the ship above the water level and DE be the cliff.
Now,
AB  16 m such that CD  16 m and BDA  30 and EBC  60
If AD  x m and DE  h m, then CE   h 16 m.

In the right BAD, we have

AB 1
 tan 30 
AD 3
16 1
 
x 3
 x  16 3  27.68 m
In the right EBC , we have:
EC
 tan 60  3
BC


 h  16   3
x
 h  16  x 3
 h  16  16 3  3  48  x  16 3 
 
 h  48  16  64 m
Distance of the cliff from the deck of the ship  AD  x  27.68 m
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
And,
Height of the cliff  DE  h  64 m

24. The angle of elevation of the top Q of a vertical tower PQ from a point X on the ground is
60 . At a point Y, 40m vertically above X, the angle of elevation is 45 . Find the height
of tower PQ.
Sol:

We have
XY  40 m, PXQ  60 and MYQ  45
Let PQ  h
Also, MP  XY  40 m, MQ  PQ  MP  h  40
In MYQ,
MQ
tan 45 
MY
h  40
1
MY
 MY  h  40
 PX  MY  h  40 ..........  i 
Now, in MXQ,
PQ
tan 60 
PX
h
 3 [From (i)]
h  40
 h 3  40 3  h
 h 3  h  40 3
h  
3  1  40 3

40 3
h
 3 1 
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

h
40 3  3  1
 3 1  3  1
40 3  3  1
h
 3  1

h
40 3  3 1 
2
 h  20 3  3 1
 h  60  20 3
 h  60  20  1.73
 h  60  34.6
 h  94.6 m
So, the height of the tower PQ is 94. 6 m.

25. The angle of elevation of an aeroplane from a point on the ground is 45 after flying for
15seconds, the elevation changes to 30 . If the aeroplane is flying at a height of 2500
meters, find the speed of the areoplane.
Sol:

Let the height of flying of the aero-plane be PQ = BC and point A be the point of
observation.
We have,
PQ  BC  2500 m, PAQ  45 and BAC  30
In PAQ,
PQ
tan 45 
AQ
2500
1
AQ
 AQ  2500 m
Also, in ABC ,
BC
tan 30 
AC
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
1 2500
 
3 AC
 AC  2500 3 m
Now, QC  AC  AQ
 2500 3  2500
 2500  
3 1 m
 2500 1.732  1
 2500  0.732 
 1830 m
 PB  QC  1830 m
PB
So, the speed of the aero-plane 
15
1830

15
 122 m / s
3600
 122  km / h
1000
 439.2 km / h
So, the speed of the aero-plane is 122 m / s or 439.2 km / h.

26. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from ta point on the same level as the foot of
the tower is 30 . On advancing 150 m towards foot of the tower, the angle of elevation
becomes 60 Show that the height of the tower is 129.9 metres.
Sol:
Let AB be the tower
We have:
CD  150 m, ACB  30 and ADB  60
Let:
AB  hm and BD  x m

In the right ABD, we have:

Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
AB
 tan 60  3
AD
h
  3
x
h
x
3
Now, in the right ACB, we have:
AB 1
 tan 30 
AC 3
h 1
 
x  150 3
 3h  x  150
h
On putting x  in the above equation, we get:
3
h
3h   150
3
 3h  h  150 3
 2h  150 3
150 3
h  75 3  75 1.732  129.9 m
2
Hence, the height of the tower is 129.9 m

27. As observed form the top of a lighthouse, 100m above sea level, the angle of depression of
a ship, sailing directly towards it, changes from 30 and 60 . Determine the distance
travelled by the ship during the period of observation.
Sol:
Let OA be the lighthouse and B and C be the positions of the ship.
Thus, we have:
OA  100 m, OBA  30 and OCA  60

Let
OC  x mand BC  y m
In the right OAC, we have
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
OA
 tan 60  3
OC
100
  3
x
100
x m
3
Now, in the right OBA, we have:
OA 1
 tan 30 
OB 3
100 1
 
x y 3
 x  y  100 3
100
On putting x  in the above equation, we get:
3
100 300  100 200
y  100 3     115.47 m
3 3 3
Distance travelled by the ship during the period of observation  B  y  115.47 m

28. From a point on a bridge across a river, the angles of depression of the banks on opposite
sides of the river are 30 and 45 respectively. If the bridge is at a height of 2.5m from the
banks, find the width of the river.
Sol:

Let A and B be two points on the banks on the opposite side of the river and P be the point
on the bridge at a height of 2.5 m.
Thus, we have:
DP  2.5, PAD  30 and PBD  45
In the right APD, we have:
DP 1
 tan 30 
AD 3
2.5 1
 
AD 3
 AD  2.5 3m
In the right PDB, we have:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
DP
 tan 45  1
BD
2.5
 1
BD
 BD  2.5 m


Width of the river  AB   AD  BD   2.5 3  2.5  6.83 m 
29. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from to points at distances of 4m and 9m from
the base of the tower and in the same straight line with it are complementary. Show that the
height of the tower is 6 meters.
Sol:
Let AB be the tower and C and D be two points such that AC  4 m and AD  9 m.
Let:
AB  h m, BCA   and BDA  90  

In the right BCA, we have:

AB
tan  
AC
h
 tan   ......... 1
4
In the right BDA, we have:
AB
tan  90    
AD
h
 cot    tan  90     cot  
9
1 h  1 
  .......  2   cot  
tan  9  tan  
Multiplying equations (1) and (2), we get
1 h h
tan    
tan  4 9
h2
1 
36
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

 36  h 2
 h  6
Height of a tower cannot be negative
Height of the tower = 6 m

30. A ladder of length 6meters makes an angle of 45 with the floor while leaning against one
wall of a room. If the fort of the ladder is kept fixed on the floor and it is made to lean
against the opposite wall of the room, it makes an angle of 60 with the floor. Find the
distance between two walls of the room.
Sol:

Let AB and CD be the two opposite walls of the room and the foot of the ladder be fixed at
the point O on the ground.
We have,
AO  CO  6 m, AOB  60 and COD  45
In ABO,
BO
cos 60 
AO
1 BO
 
2 6
6
 BO 
2
 BO  3 m
Also, in CDO,
DO
cos 45 
CO
1 DO
 
2 6
6 2
 DO  
2 2
6 2
 DO 
2
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

 DO  3 2 m
Now, the distance between two walls of the room = BD
 BO  DO
 33 2

 3 1 2 
 3 1  1.414 
 3  2.414 
 7.242
 7.24 m
So, the distant between two walls of the room is 7. 24 m.

31. From the top of a vertical tower, the angles depression of two cars in the same straight line
with the base of the tower, at an instant are found to be 45 and 60 . If the cars are 100 m
apart and are on the same side of the tower, find the height of the tower.
Sol:

Let OP be the tower and points A and B be the positions of the cars.
We have,
AB  100 m, OAP  60 and OBP  45
Let OP  h
In AOP,
OP
tan 60 
OA
h
 3
OA
h
 OA 
3
Also, in BOP,
OP
tan 45 
OB
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
h
1
OB
 OB  h
Now, OB  OA  100
h
h  100
3
h 3h
  100
3


h  3 1   100
3

h
 3  1
100 3

 3 1  3  1
100 3  3  1
h
 3  1

h

100 3  3 
2
 h  50  3  1.732 
 h  50  4.732 
 h  236.6 m
So, the height of the tower is 236.6 m.
Disclaimer. The answer given in the textbook is incorrect. The same has been rectified
above.

32. An electrician has to repair an electric fault on a pole of height 4 meters. He needs to reach
a point 1 meter below the top of the pole to undertake the repair work. What should be the
length of the ladder that he should use, which when inclined at an angle of 60 to the
horizontal would enable him to reach the required position?
Sol:

Let AC be the pole and BD be the ladder

Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
We have,
AC  4 m, AB  1m and BDC  60
And, BC  AC  AB  4 1  3 m
In BDC,
BC
sin 60 
BD
3 3
 
2 BD
3 2
 BD 
3
 BD  2 3
 BD  2 1.73
 BD  3.46 m
So, he should use 3.46 m long ladder to reach the required position.

33. From the top of a building AB, 60m high, the angles of depression of the top and bottom
of a vertical lamp post CD are observed to the 30 and 60 respectively. Find
(i) The horizontal distance between AB and CD,
(ii) the height of the lamp post,
(iii) the difference between the heights of the building and the lamp post.
Sol:

We have,
AB  60 m, ACE  30 and ADB  60
Let BD  CE  x and CD  BE  y
 AE  AB  BE  60  y
In ACE ,
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
AE
tan 30 
CE
1 60  y
 
3 x
 x  60 3  y 3 .............  i 
Also, in ABD,
AB
tan 60 
BD
60
 3
x
60
x
3
60 3
x 
3 3
60  3
x
3
 x  20 3
Substituting x  20 3 in (i), we get
20 3  60 3  y 3
 y 3  60 3  20 3
 y 3  40 3
40 3
y
3
 y  40 m
(i) The horizontal distance between AB and CD = BD = x
 20 3
 20 1.732
 34.64 m
(ii) The height of the lamp post  CD  y  40 m
(iii) the difference between the heights of the building and the lamp post
 AB  CD  60  40  20 m
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

Exercise – Multiple Choice Question

1. If the height of a vertical pole is equal to the length of its shadow on the ground, the angle of
elevation of the sun is
(a) 0 (b) 30 (c) 45
(d) 60
Sol:

Let AB represents the vertical pole and BC represents the shadow on the ground and 
represents angle of elevation the sun.
In ABC ,
AB
tan  
BC
x
 tan   (As, the height of the pole, AB  the length of the shadow, BC  x )
x
 tan   1
 tan   tan 45
  45
Hence, the correct answer is option (c).

2. If the height of a vertical pole is 3 times the length of its shadow on the ground the angle
of elevation of the sun at that time is
(a) 30 (b) 45 (c) 60
(d) 75
Sol:

Here, AO be the pole; BO be its shadow and  be the angle of elevation of the sun.
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
Let BO  x
Then, AO  x 3
In AOB,
AO
tan  
BO
x 3
 tan  
x
 tan   3
 tan   tan 60
  60
Hence, the correct answer is option (c).

3. If the length of the shadow of a tower is 3 times its height then the angle of elevation of
the sun is
(a) 45 (b) 30 (c) 60
(d) 90
Ans: (b)
Sol:
Let AB be the pole and BC be its shadow.

Let AB  h and BC  x such that x  3h (given) and  be the angle of elevation.

From ABC , we have
AB
 tan 
BC
h h
   tan 
x 3h
1
 tan  
3
   30
Hence, the angle of elevation is 30.

4. If a pole of 12 m high casts a shadow 4 3 long on the ground then the sun’s elevation is
(a) 60 (b) 45 (c) 30 (d)
90
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
Sol:

Let AB be the pole, BC be its shadow and  be the sun’s elevation.

We have,
AB  12 m and BC  4 3 m
In ABC ,
AB
tan  
BC
12
 tan  
4 3
3
 tan  
3
3 3
 tan   
3 3
3 3
 tan  
3
 tan   3
 tan   tan 60
  60
Hence, the correct answer is option (a).

5. The shadow of a 5-m-long stick is 2m long. At the same time, the length of the shadow of a
12.5-m-high tree is
(a) 3m (b) 3.5m (c) 4.5m (d) 5.
Sol:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
Let AB be a stick and BC be its shadow, and PQ be the tree and QR be its shadow.
We have,
AB  5 m, BC  2 m, PQ  12.5 m
In ABC ,
AB
tan  
BC
5
 tan   ..........  i 
2
Now, in PQR,
PQ
tan  
QR
5 12.5
  [Using (i)]
2 QR
125  2 25
 QR  
5 5
 QR  5 m
Hence, the correct answer is option (d).

6. A ladder makes an angle of 60 with the ground when placed against a wall. If the foot of
the ladder is 2m away from the wall, the length of the ladder is
4
(a) (b) 4 3 (c) 2 2m (d) 4m
3
Sol:

Let AB be the wall and AC be the ladder.

We have,
BC  2 m and ACB  60
In ABC ,
BC
cos 60 
AC
1 2
 
2 AC
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
 AC  4 m
Hence, the correct answer is option (d).

7. A ladder 15m long just reaches the top of a vertical wall. If the ladder makes an angle of
60 with the wall then the height of the wall is
15 3 15
(a) 15 3 (b) (c) (d) 15 m
2 2
Sol:

Let AB be the wall and AC be the ladder

We have,
AC  15 m and BAC  60
AB
cos 60 
AC
1 AB
 
2 15
15
 AB  m
2
Hence, the correct answer is option (c).

8. From a point on the ground, 30m away from the foot of a tower, the angle of elevation of
the top of the tower is 30 . The height of the tower is
(a) 30m (b) 10 3 (c) 10 m (d) 30 3
Sol:

Let AB be the tower and point C be the point of observation on the ground.
We have,
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
BC  30 m and ACB  30
In ABC ,
AB
tan 30 
BC
1 AB
 
3 30
30
 AB 
3
30 3
 AB  
3 3
30 3
 AB 
3
 AB  10 3 m
Hence, the correct answer is option (b).

9. The angle of depression of a car parked on the road from the top of a 150-m. high tower is
30 . The distance of the car from the tower is
(a) 50 3 (b) 150 3 (c) 150 2 (d) 75
m
Sol:

Let AB be the tower and point C be the position of the car.

We have,
AB  150 m and ACB  30
In ABC ,
AB
tan 30 
BC
1 150
 
3 BC
 BC  150 3 m
Hence, the correct answer is option (b).
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
10. A kite is flying at a height of 30 m from the ground. The length of string from the kite to
the ground is 60m. Assuming that there is no slack in the string, the angle of elevation of
the kite at the ground is
(a) 45 (b) 30 (c) 60 (d)
90
Sol:

Let point A be the position of the kite and AC be its string

We have,
AB  30 m and AC  60 m
Let ACB  
In ABC ,
AB
sin  
AC
30
 sin  
60
1
 sin  
2
 sin   sin 30
  30
Hence, the correct answer is option (b).

11. From the top of a cliff 20m high, the angle of elevation of the top of a tower is found to be
equal to the angle of depression of the foot of the tower, The height of the tower is
(a) 20m (b) 40m (c) 60m (d) 80m
Sol:

Let AB be the cliff and CD be the tower.

Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
We have,
AB  20 m
Also, CE  AB  20 m
Let ACB  CAE  DAE  
In ABC ,
AB
tan  
BC
20
 tan  
BC
20
 tan    As, BC  AE 
AE
20
 AE  .......  i 
tan 
Also, in ADE,
DE
tan  
AE
DE
 tan   [Using (i)]
 20 
 
 tan  
DE  tan 
 tan  
20
20  tan 
 DE 
tan 
 DE  20 m
Now, CD  DE  CE
 20  20
CD  40 m
Hence, the correct answer is option (b).
Disclaimer. The answer given in the textbook is incorrect. The same has been rectified
above.

12. If a 1.5 m tall girl stands at a distance of 3m from a lamp post and casts a shadow of length
4.5m on the ground, then the height of the lamp post is
(a) 1.5m (b) 2m (c) 2.5m (d) 2.8m
Sol:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

Let AB be the lamp post; CD be the girl and DE be her shadow.

We have,
CD  1.5 m, AD  3 m, DE  4.5 m
Let E  
In CDE,
CD
tan  
DE
1.5
 tan  
4.5
1
 tan   .......  i 
3
Now, in ABE ,
AB
tan  
AE
1 AB
  [Using (i)]
3 AD  DE
1 AB
 
3 3  4.5
7.5
 AB 
3
 AB  2.5 m
Hence, the correct answer is option (c).

13. The length of the shadow of a tower standing on level ground is found to be 2x meter
longer when the sun’s elevation is 30 than when it was 45 . The height of the tower is

(a) 2 3x m 
(b) 3 2x m  (c)  
3 1 x m (d)  
3 1 x m
Sol:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
Let CD = h be the height of the tower.
We have,
AB  2x, DAC  30 and DBC  45
In BCD,
CD
tan 45 
BC
h
1
BC
 BC  h
Now, in ACD,
CD
tan 30 
AC
1 h
 
3 AB  BC
1 h
 
3 2x  h
 2x  h  h 3
 h 3  h  2x
h  
3 1  2x

h
2x 
3 1 
 3 1  3  1

2 x  3  1
h
 3 1
2 x  3  1
h
2
h  x  
3 1 m
Hence, the correct answer is option (d).

14. The length of a vertical rod and its shadow are in the ratio 1: 3 . The angle of elevation of
the sun is
(a) 30 (b) 45 (c) 60 (d)
90
Sol:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

Let AB be the rod and BC be its shadow; and  be the angle of elevation of the sun.
We have,
AB : BC  1: 3
Let AB  x
Then, BC  x 3
In ABC ,
AB
tan  
BC
x
 tan  
x 3
1
 tan  
3
 tan   tan 30
  30
Hence, the correct answer is option (a).

15. A pole casts a shadow of length 2 3 m on the ground when the sun’s elevation is 60 . The
height of the pole is
(a) 4 3 (b) 6m (c) 12m (d) 3m
Sol:

Let AB be the pole and BC be its shadow.

We have,
BC  2 3m and ACB  60
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
In ABC ,
AB
tan 60 
BC
AB
 3
2 3
 AB  6 m
Hence, the correct answer is option (b).

16. In the given figure, a tower AB is 20m high and BC, its shadow on the ground is 20 3 m
long. The sun’s altitude is
(a) 30 (b) 45 (c) 60 (d) None of these

Sol:

Let the sun’s altitude be  .

We have,
AB  20 m and BC  20 3 m
In ABC ,
AB
tan  
BC
20
 tan  
20 3
1
 tan  
3
 tan   tan 30
  30
Hence, the correct answer is option (a).

17. The tops of two towers of heights x and y, standing on a level ground subtend angle of 30
and 60 respectively at the centre of the line joining their feet. Then x:y is
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
(a) 1:2 (b) 2:1 (c) 1:3 (d) 3:1
Sol:

Let AB and CD be the two towers such that AB  x and CD  y.

We have,
AEB  30, CED  60 and BE  DE
In ABE ,
AB
tan 30 
BE
1 x
 
3 BE
 BE  x 3
Also, in CDE,
CD
tan 60 
DE
y
 3
DE
y
 DE 
3
As, BE  DE
y
x 3
3
x 1
 
y 3 3
x 1
 
y 3
 x : y  1: 3
Hence, the correct answer is option (c).

18. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from the a point on the ground 30m away from
the foot of the tower is 30 . The height of the tower is
(a) 30m (b) 10 3 (c) 20m (d) 10 2
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
Ans: (b)
Sol:
Let AB be the tower and O be the point of observation.
Also,
AOB  30 and OB  30 m
Let:
AB  h m

In AOB, we have:
AB 1
 tan 30 
OB 3
h 1
 
30 3
30 3 30 3
h    10 3m.
3 3 3
Hence, the height of the tower is 10 3 m.

19. The string of a kite is 100 m long and it makes an angle of 60 with the horizontal. If there
is no slack in the string, the height of the kite from the ground is
(a) 50 3 (b) 100 3 (c) 50 2 (d) 100m
Ans: (a)
Sol:
Let AB be the string of the kite and AX be the horizontal line.
If BC  AX , then AB  100 m and BAC  60
Let:
BC  h m

In the right ACB, we have:

Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

BC 3
 sin 60 
AB 2
h 3
 
100 2
100 3
h  50 3 m
2
Hence, the height of the kite is 50 3 m.

20. If the angles of elevations of the top of a tower from two points at distances a and b from
the base and in the same straight line with it are complementary then the height of the
tower is
a
(a) (b) ab (c) a  b (d) a b
b
Ans: (b)
Sol:
Let AB be the tower and C and D bee the points of observation on AC.
Let:
ACB   , ADB  90   and AB  h m
Thus, we have:
AC  a, AD  b and CD  a  b

Now, in the right ABC , we have:

AB h
tan     tan  ...........  i 
AC a
In the right ABD, we have:
AB h
tan  90      cot   .......  ii 
AD b
On multiplying (i) and (ii), we have:
h h
tan   cot   
a b
h h  1 
  1  tan  
a b  cot  
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

 h 2  ab
 h  ab m
Hence, the height of the tower is ab m.

21. On the level ground, the angle of elevations of a tower is 30 . On moving 20m nearer, the
angle of elevation is 60 . The height of the tower is
(a) 10m (b) 10 3 (c) 15m (d) 20m
Ans: (b)
Sol:
Let AB be the tower and C and D be the points of observation such that
BCD  30, BDA  60, CD  20 m and AD  x m.

Now, in ADB, we have:

AB
 tan 60  3
AD
AB
  3
x
 AB  3 x
In ACB, we have:
AB 1
 tan 30 
AC 3
AB 1 20  x
  AB 
20  x 3 3

20  x
 3x 
3
 3x  20  x
 2 x  20  x  10
Height of the tower AB  3 x  10 3 m

22. In a rectangle, the angle between a diagonal and a side of 30 and the lengths of this
diagonal is 8cm. The area the rectangle is
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
16
(a) 16 cm 2 (b) cm2 (c) 16 3cm2 (d) 8 3cm2
3
Ans: (c)
Sol:
Let ABCD be the rectangle in which BAC  30 and AC  8 cm.

In BAC , we have:
AB 3
 cos 30 
AC 2
AB 3
 
8 2
3
 AB  8  4 3m
2
Again,
BC 1
 sin 30 
AC 2
BC 1
 
8 2
8
 BC   4 m
2
 
Area of the rectangle   AB  BC   4 3  4  16 3 cm 2

23. From the top of a hill, the angles of depression of two consecutive km stones due east are
found to be 30 and 45 . The height of the hill is


(a) 3  1 km  
(b) 3  3 km (c) 
1
2

3  1 km (d)
1
2
3  3 km
Ans: (b)
1
2

3  1 km
Sol:
Let AB be the hill making angles of depression at points C and D such that
ADB  45, ACB  30 and CD  1 km.
Let:
AB  h km and AD  x km
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________

In ADB, we have:
AB
 tan 45  1
AD
h
 1 h  x ..........  i 
x
In ACB, we have:
AB 1
 tan 30 
AC 3
h 1
  ..........  ii 
x 1 3
On putting the value of h taken from (i) in (ii), we get:
h 1

h 1 3
 3h  h  1
  
3 1 h  1
1
h
 3 1 
On multiplying the numerator and denominator of the above equation by  
3  1 , we get:

    3  1   3 1  1
3 1
h
1
  
3  1 km
 3 1 3  1 3 1 2 2

Hence, the height of the hill is  3  1 km.

1
2

24. If the elevation of the sun changes from 30 and 60 then the difference between the
lengths of shadows of a pole 15m high, is
(a) 7.5m (b) 15m (c) 10 3m (d) 5 3m
Ans: (c)
Sol:
Let AB be the pole and AC and AD be its shadows.
We have:
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________
ACB  30, ADB  60 and AB  15 m

In ACB, we have
AC
 cot 30  3
AB
AC
  3  AC  15 3m
15
Now, in ADB, we have:
AD 1
 cot 60 
AB 3
AD 1 15 15  3 15 3
   AD     5 3 m.
15 3 3 3 3 3
Difference between the lengths of the shadows  AC  AD  15 3  5 3  10 3 m

25. An observer 1.5m tall is 28.5 away from a tower and the angle of elevation of the top of the
tower from the eye of the observer is 45 . The height of the tower is
(a) 27m (b) 30m (c) 28.5m (d) None of these
Ans: (b)
Sol:
Let AB be the observer and CD be the tower.

Draw BE  CD, let CD  h meters. Then,

AB  1.5 m, BE  AC  28.5 m and EBD  45
DE   CD  EC    CD  AB    h  1.5  m.
In right BED, we have:
DE
 tan 45  1
BE
Class X Chapter 14 – Height and Distance Maths
______________________________________________________________________________


 h  1.5   1
28.5
 h  1.5  28.5
 h  28.5  1.5  30 m
Hence, the height of the tower is 30 m.