Question 10 of 12intermediate🔧 ApplyNumerical4 marks

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.

Correct Answer

The height of the tower is 7(3+1) m7(\sqrt{3} + 1) \text{ m}.

Exercise: EXERCISE 9.1 | Q: 12 | (Page Page 10)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The solution is derived by applying trigonometric ratios to the right triangles formed by the building and the tower. The context provided in the solution for Question 11 establishes the value tan⁡60∘=3\tan 60^\circ = \sqrt{3}, and the solution for the chimney problem establishes tan⁡45∘=1\tan 45^\circ = 1. Using these values, the distance between the building and the tower is found using the angle of depression, and subsequently, the additional height of the tower is found using the angle of elevation.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Define Variables. Let ABAB be the building of height 7 m7 \text{ m} and CDCD be the cable tower. Let the distance between the building and the tower be x mx \text{ m}.

  2. Step 2: Calculate Distance. In ΔABD\Delta ABD, the angle of depression to the foot of the tower is 45∘45^\circ. Using tan⁡45∘=1\tan 45^\circ = 1, we write tan⁡45∘=ABBD⇒1=7x\tan 45^\circ = \frac{AB}{BD} \Rightarrow 1 = \frac{7}{x}. Solving for xx, we get x=7 mx = 7 \text{ m}.

  3. Step 3: Calculate Height Difference. Draw a perpendicular from AA to CDCD meeting at EE. In ΔACE\Delta ACE, the angle of elevation is 60∘60^\circ. Using tan⁡60∘=3\tan 60^\circ = \sqrt{3}, we write tan⁡60∘=CEAE⇒3=CE7\tan 60^\circ = \frac{CE}{AE} \Rightarrow \sqrt{3} = \frac{CE}{7}. Solving for CECE, we get CE=73 mCE = 7\sqrt{3} \text{ m}.

  4. Step 4: Calculate Total Height. The total height of the tower is CD=CE+EDCD = CE + ED. Since ED=AB=7 mED = AB = 7 \text{ m}, we have CD=73+7=7(3+1) mCD = 7\sqrt{3} + 7 = 7(\sqrt{3} + 1) \text{ m}.