1. Right Triangle Trig Applications
Angles of Elevation and Depression
Dr. Shildneck
Fall, 2014

2. Tips for Solving Word Problems
Draw a picture! And, fill in what you know.
Find the right triangle(s) in the picture that you will need to use.
Figure out what your unknown is that you are trying to find.
Label opp, adj, and hyp for the angle you are going to use.
Write out the equations before you use them.

3. Things to Remember
Height is perpendicular to the ground unless stated otherwise. (straight up and down)
Across is horizontal unless stated otherwise.
Elevation means up!
Depression means down!
A shadow is on the opposite side from the sun!
Think “real.” What would it really look like?

4. Angles of Elevation and Depression
Normal Line of Sight (horizontal)
is the angle of elevation of the sun
is an angle of depression
is an angle of elevation
is an angle of depression
Normal Line of Sight (horizontal)

5. Example 1
A kite is flying at the end of a taut string that is 175 feet long. If the string is attached to the ground and forms an angle of elevation with the kite of 68o, how high is the kite from the ground?

6. Example 2
A person standing on a 750 foot tower spots a car that is parked 95 feet away from the base of the tower. Find the angle of depression to the car.

7. Example 3
Sam is in a hot-air balloon approaching a canyon. He measures the angle of depression to the near rim of the canyon as 23o, and the angle of depression to the far rim as 14o. If his balloon is 400 meters from the ground, what is the distance across the canyon?

8. Worksheet – Assignment 2 Right Triangle Trig Applications