Important Questions & Answers For Class 10 Maths Chapter 9 – Some Applications of

Trigonometry
Q.1: The shadow of a tower standing on level ground is found to be 40 m longer when
the Sun’s altitude is 30° than when it is 60°. Find the height of the tower.

Solution:

Let AB be the tower and BC be the length of its shadow when the sun’s altitude
(angle of elevation from the top of the tower to the tip of the shadow) is 60° and
DB be the length of the shadow when the angle of elevation is 30°.

Important questions class 10 maths chapter 9 A1

Let us assume, AB = h m, BC = x m

DB = (40 +x) m

In the right triangle ABC,

tan 60° = AB/BC

√3 = h/x

h = √3 x……….(i)

In the right triangle ABD,

tan 30° = AB/BD

1/√3 =h/(x + 40) ……..(ii)

From (i) and (ii),

x(√3 )(√3 ) = x + 40

3x = x + 40

2x = 40

x = 20

Substituting x = 20 in (i),

h = 20√3

Hence, the height of the tower is 20√3 m.

Q. 2: A tree breaks due to a storm and the broken part bends so that the top of the
tree touches the ground making an angle of 30° with it. The distance between the
foot of the tree to the point where the top touches the ground is 8 m. Find the
height of the tree.

Solution:

Using given instructions, draw a figure. Let AC be the broken part of the tree.
Angel C = 30 degrees.

BC = 8 m
To Find: Height of the tree, which is AB

Important questions class 10 maths chapter 9 A2

From figure: Total height of the tree is the sum of AB and AC i.e. AB+AC

In right ΔABC,

Using Cosine and tangent angles,

cos 30° = BC/AC

We know that, cos 30° = √3/2

√3/2 = 8/AC

AC = 16/√3 …(1)

Also,

tan 30° = AB/BC

1/√3 = AB/8

AB = 8/√3 ….(2)

From (1) and (2),

Total height of the tree = AB + AC = 16/√3 + 8/√3 = 24/√3 = 8√3 m.

Q. 3: Two poles of equal heights are standing opposite each other on either side of
the road, which is 80 m wide. From a point between them on the road, the angles of
elevation of the top of the poles are 60° and 30°, respectively. Find the height of
the poles and the distances of the point from the poles.

Solution:

Let AB and CD be the poles of equal height.

O is the point between them from where the height of elevation is taken. BD is the
distance between the poles.

Important questions class 10 maths chapter 9 A3

As per the above figure, AB = CD,

OB + OD = 80 m

Now,

In right ΔCDO,

tan 30° = CD/OD

1/√3 = CD/OD

CD = OD/√3 … (1)

In right ΔABO,
tan 60° = AB/OB

√3 = AB/(80-OD)

AB = √3(80-OD)

AB = CD (Given)

√3(80-OD) = OD/√3 (Using equation (1))

3(80-OD) = OD

240 – 3 OD = OD

4 OD = 240

OD = 60

Substituting the value of OD in equation (1)

CD = OD/√3

CD = 60/√3

CD = 20√3 m

Also,

OB + OD = 80 m

⇒ OB = (80-60) m = 20 m

Therefore, the height of the poles are 20√3 m and the distance from the point of
elevation are 20 m and 60 m respectively.

Q. 4: An observer 1.5 metres tall is 20.5 metres away from a tower 22 metres high.
Determine the angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the eye of the
observer.

Solution:

Let AB be the height of the observer and PR be the height of the tower.

Also, PB is the distance between the foot of the tower and the observer.

Consider θ as the angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the eye of the
observer.

Important questions class 10 maths chapter 9 A4

From the above figure,

AB = PQ = 1.5 m

PB = QA = 20 m

PR = 22 m
QR = PR – PQ = 22 – 1.5 = 20.5 m

In the right triangle AQR,

tan θ = QR/AQ

tan θ = 20.5/20.5 = 1

⇒ tan θ = tan 45°

⇒ θ = 45°

Hence, the angle of elevation is 45°.

Q. 5: The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from two points distant s and t
from its foot are complementary. Prove that the height of the tower is √st.

Solution:

Let BC = s; PC = t

Let the height of the tower be AB = h.

∠ABC = θ and ∠APC = 90° – θ

(∵ the angle of elevation of the top of the tower from two points P and B are
complementary)

Important questions class 10 maths chapter 9 A5

In triangle ABC,

tan θ = AC/BC = h/s ………..(i)

In triangle APC,

tan (90° – θ) = AC/PC = h/t

cot θ = h/t ………..(ii)

Multiplying (i) and (ii),

tan θ × cot θ = (h/s) × (h/t)

1 = h2/st

h2 = st

h = √st

Hence, the height of the tower is √st.

Q.6: The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from a certain point is 30°. If
the observer moves 20 metres towards the tower, the angle of elevation of the top
increases by 15°. Find the height of the tower.

Solution:

Let AB be the height of the tower.

The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from point P is 30°, i.e. ∠APB = 30°.

Given that, when the observer moves 20 metres towards the tower, the angle of
elevation of the top increases by 15°.

Thus, PQ = 20 m

Important questions class 10 maths chapter 9 A6

Also, ∠AQB = 30° + 15° = 45°.

QB = x

In right triangle ABQ,

tan 45° = AB/QB

1 = h/x

h = x….(i)

In right triangle ABP,

tan 30° = AB/PB

1/√3 = h/(x + 20)

x + 20 = √3h {from (i)}

h + 20 = √3h

√3h – h = 20

h = 20/(√3 – 1)

h = [20/(√3 – 1)] × [(√3 + 1)/(√3 + 1)]

= 20(√3 + 1)/(3 – 1)

= 20(√3 + 1)/2

= 10(√3 + 1)

Therefore, the height of the tower is 10(√3 + 1) m.

Q.7: A circus artist is climbing a 20 m long rope, which is tightly stretched and
tied from the top of a vertical pole to the ground. Find the height of the pole, if
the angle made by the rope with the ground level is 30°.

Solution:

Let AB be the vertical pole and AC be the length of the rope.

Also, the angle of elevation = ∠ACB = 30°

Important questions class 10 maths chapter 9 A7

sin 30 = AB/AC

1/2 = AB/20

AB = 20/2 = 10

Therefore, the height of the vertical pole is 10 m.

Q.8: From the top of a 7 m 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.

Solution:

Let AB be the height of the building and CE be the height of the tower.

Also, A be the point from where the elevation of the tower is 60° and the angle of
depression of its foot is 45°.

EC = DE + CD

Important questions class 10 maths chapter 9 A8

From the figure,

CD = AB = 7 m

BC = AD

In right ΔABC,

tan 45° = AB/BC

1 = 7/BC

BC = 7 {since BC = AD}

Thus, AD = 7 m

In right triangle ADE,

tan 60° = DE/AD

√3 = DE/7

⇒ DE = 7√3 m

EC = DE + CD = (7√3 + 7) = 7(√3 + 1)

Therefore, the height of the tower is 7(√3 + 1) m.