Right Triangle Trig

ApplicationsAngles of Elevation and Depression

Dr. ShildneckFall, 2014

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.

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?

Normal Line of Sight (horizontal)

Normal Line of Sight (horizontal)

A

B

C

D

A is the angle of elevation of the sunB is an angle of depression C is an angle of elevation

D is an angle of depression

Angles of Elevation and Depression

Example 1A 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?

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.

Example 3Sam 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?

ASSIGNMENTWorksheet – Assignment 2

Right Triangle Trig Applications