Question 13 Marks
The angle of depression from the top of a tower of a point $A$ on the ground is $30^\circ .$ On moving a distance of $20$ metres from the point $A$ towards the foot of the tower to a point $B,$ the angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the point $B$ is $60^\circ $. Find the height of the tower and its distance from the point $A.$
Answer
Let $PQ$ be the tower of height, $h$ metres.
Let $A$ be the first point and $B$ be the point after moving a distance of $20m$.
In right $\triangle\text{APQ},$
$\cot30^\circ=\frac{\text{AP}}{\text{PQ}}$
$\Rightarrow\sqrt{3}=\frac{\text{x}+20}{\text{h}}$
$\Rightarrow\text{h}=\frac{\text{x}+20}{\sqrt{3}}\dots(\text{i})$
In right $\triangle\text{BPQ},$
$\cot60^\circ=\frac{\text{BP}}{\text{PQ}}$
$\Rightarrow\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}=\frac{\text{x}}{\text{h}}$
$\Rightarrow\text{h}=\text{x}\sqrt{3}\dots(\text{ii})$
From $(i)$ and $(ii),$
$\frac{\text{x}+20}{\sqrt{3}}=\text{x}\sqrt{3}$
$\Rightarrow\text{x}+20=3\text{x}$
$\Rightarrow2\text{x}=20$
$\Rightarrow\text{x}=10$
From $(ii),$ we have
So, $\text{h}=10\sqrt{3}=10\times1.732=17.32\text{m}$
Distance of the tower from point $A = (x + 20)m = 30m$
Hence, the height of the tower is $17.32m$
And the distance of the tower from point $A$ is $30m.$
View full question & answer→
Let $PQ$ be the tower of height, $h$ metres.
Let $A$ be the first point and $B$ be the point after moving a distance of $20m$.
In right $\triangle\text{APQ},$
$\cot30^\circ=\frac{\text{AP}}{\text{PQ}}$
$\Rightarrow\sqrt{3}=\frac{\text{x}+20}{\text{h}}$
$\Rightarrow\text{h}=\frac{\text{x}+20}{\sqrt{3}}\dots(\text{i})$
In right $\triangle\text{BPQ},$
$\cot60^\circ=\frac{\text{BP}}{\text{PQ}}$
$\Rightarrow\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}=\frac{\text{x}}{\text{h}}$
$\Rightarrow\text{h}=\text{x}\sqrt{3}\dots(\text{ii})$
From $(i)$ and $(ii),$
$\frac{\text{x}+20}{\sqrt{3}}=\text{x}\sqrt{3}$
$\Rightarrow\text{x}+20=3\text{x}$
$\Rightarrow2\text{x}=20$
$\Rightarrow\text{x}=10$
From $(ii),$ we have
So, $\text{h}=10\sqrt{3}=10\times1.732=17.32\text{m}$
Distance of the tower from point $A = (x + 20)m = 30m$
Hence, the height of the tower is $17.32m$
And the distance of the tower from point $A$ is $30m.$

