1 of 2

10 m

30 m

45o

A

C

B

D

E

Observer

line of sight

Horizontal line

?

  1. Two buildings are in front of each other on either side of a road of

width 10 metres. From the top of the first building, which is

30 metres high, the angle of elevation of top of the second is 45o .

What is the height of the second building ?

Top of the

second building

2 of 2

  1. Two buildings are in front of each other

on either side of a road of width 10 metres.

From the top of the first building, which is

30 metres high, the angle of elevation of

top of the second is 45o .

What is the height of the second building ?

C

E

D

A

B

45o

10 m

30 m

Sol.

The height of the second

building is 40 m

CE

AE

CE

10

AB and CD represents the heights of two buildings.

AB = 30 m

BD represents the width of the road.

BD = 10 m

A represents the position of the observer.

CAE is the angle of elevation.

CAE = 45o

ABDE is a rectangle.

AB = DE = 30 m

BD = AE = 10 m

In right angled ΔCEA,

tan 45o =

1

=

10 m

CE

=

CD

=

CE

+

ED

CD

=

10

+

30

CD

=

40 m

10 m

30 m

Opposite

side

Adjacent side

Observe ∠CAE

Ratio of opposite side and Adjacent side reminds us of _________

‘tan’

For ∠CAE

Opposite side →

Adjacent side →

CE

AE

Consider ΔCEA

tan 45o =

?

1

Observe CD

CD is made up of CE and ED