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 HEIGHTS AND DISTANCES
INTRODUCTION
One of the important application of trigonometry is in finding the height and distance of the point which are not
directly measurable. This is done with the help of trigonometric ratios.

DEFINITIONS

Angle of elevation
Let O and P be two points where P is at a Higher level than O. Let O be at the position of the observer and P be
the position of the object. Draw a horizontal line OM through the point O. OP is called the line of observation or
line of sight. Then  POM =  is called the angle of elevation of P as observed from O.
P
on
rv ati
se
ob
e of
Lin

 Angle of elevation

M
O Horizontal line

Angle of depression
In the above figure, if P be at a lower level than O, then  MOP =  is called the angle of depression.
Horizontal line
O M
 Angle of depression
L in
e
of
ob
se
rva
ti o
n

Bearing
N
In the figure, if the observer and the object i.e., O and P be on the same P

level then bearing is defined. To measure the 'Bearing', the four standard
T
directions East, West, North and South are taken as the cardinal directions. W E
O
Angle between the line of observation i.e. OP and any one standard
direction - east, west, north or south is measured. Thus,  POE =  is
called the bearing of point P with respect to O measured from east to north. S
In other words the bearing of P as seen from O is the direction in which P is seen from O .
North - east N
NE
P1
North - east means equally inclined to north and east, south -east means 45°
P2 ENE
45°
equally inclined to south and east. ENE means equally inclined to 22½°
W E
east and north east O 45°
P3

[1]
[2] Heights & Distance

Problems on two dimension N

If the total actual figure is located in one plane, the problem is of two
dimensions. For direction in two dimensional figures, cross vertically
W E
as shown in the figure.
Problems on three dimension
S
If total actual figure is located in more than one plane, the problem will
W
be of three dimensions for direction in three dimensional figures, cross N

obliquely as shown. Clearly this oblique cross represents the horizontal 90°

plane.
If OP be a vertical tower perpendicular to the plane, then it will be S E
P
represented like the figure clearly  POA = 90° if the observer at A W N
moves in east direction. We draw a line AB parallel to east to represent
this movement. Clearly  OAB = 90° ( angle between north and east) O

S
E

SOME USEFUL RESULT B

m–n theorem : In a triangle, if m,n,  ,  ,  are as shown in the diagram, then

C
(m + n ) cot  = m cot  – n cot 
(m + n) cot  = n cot A – m cot B  


B
A m D n

In a triangle ABC, if DE || AB.

AB BC C D B
then , 
DE DC
To find the shadow of line object AB with respect to the light source P, we first join the upper points P and B. Let
O be the projection of P on the plane on which object AB is situated join OA. The section AC obtained by the
intersection of the lines PB and OA. extended represents the shadow of AB with respect to light source P.
P

E
B

C A O

PROBLEMS BASED ON PROPERTIES OF A CIRCLE

Whenever a line subtends equal angles at two points or the greatest angles at some points on a given line, such
problems can be solved easily using the properties of a circle. Mainly the following geometrical properties of a
circle will be used
Heights & Distance [3]

Angles on the same segment of a circle are equal.

In other words, we can say that if the angles APB and AQB subtended on the segment AB are equal, a circle will
pass through the points A,B,Q and P i.e., the point A,B,Q and P will be concyclic.
P Q

 

A B

If AR be the tangent to the circle through the points P,Q,R then  PRA   PQR   .
[angle between any chord and the tangent to the circle is equal to the angle subendend by the chord at the
circumference]
Q

P II O
2
90

II
°-


A R A

Apollonius theorem : In a triangle ABC, AD is median, then

AB2 + AC2 = 2 (AD2+BD2)

B D C
If AD is angle bisector of triangle ABC at A, then
T
AB BD c
 
AC DC b
PA.PB = PT2
P A B

B A
D
A
PA.PB = PC.PD P
P C D C B

If AB subtends angle a at C, then AB makes same angle a with tangent at point B. i.e., ÐABD = a

C
A 

D B