NCERT Class X Chapter 9: Some Application Of Trigonometry Example 4

NCERT Class X Chapter 9: Some Applications of Trigonometry Example 4

Question:

From a point P on the ground the angle of elevation of the top of a 10 m tall building is 30°. A flag is hoisted at the top of the building and the angle of elevation of the top of the flagstaff from P is 45°. Find the length of the flagstaff and the distance of the building from the point P. (You may take \( \sqrt{3} = 1.732 \))

Given:

  • Height of the building = 10 m
  • Angle of elevation of the top of the building from P = \( 30^\circ \)
  • Angle of elevation of the top of the flagstaff from P = \( 45^\circ \)
  • \( \sqrt{3} = 1.732 \) (to be used in calculation)

To Find:

  • Length of the flagstaff
  • Distance of the building from point P

Formula:

Trigonometric ratio for tangent:

$$ \tan \theta = \frac{\text{Opposite side}}{\text{Adjacent side}} $$

Solution:

Step 1: Let the distance from point P to the base of the building be \( x \) meters. Let the length of the flagstaff be \( h \) meters.

Step 2: For the top of the building (without flag), the angle of elevation is \( 30^\circ \).

$$ \tan 30^\circ = \frac{10}{x} $$

Step 3: We know \( \tan 30^\circ = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} \). Substitute and solve for \( x \):

$$ \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{10}{x} $$ $$ x = 10 \sqrt{3} $$

Step 4: For the top of the flagstaff, the angle of elevation is \( 45^\circ \). The total height is \( 10 + h \) meters.

$$ \tan 45^\circ = \frac{10 + h}{x} $$

Step 5: We know \( \tan 45^\circ = 1 \). Substitute and solve for \( h \):

$$ 1 = \frac{10 + h}{x} $$ $$ x = 10 + h $$

Step 6: Substitute the value of \( x \) from Step 3:

$$ 10\sqrt{3} = 10 + h $$ $$ h = 10\sqrt{3} - 10 $$

Step 7: Substitute \( \sqrt{3} = 1.732 \) and calculate the values:

$$ x = 10 \times 1.732 = 17.32 \text{ m} $$ $$ h = 10 \times (1.732 - 1) = 10 \times 0.732 = 7.32 \text{ m} $$

Result:

Length of the flagstaff \( \approx 7.32 \) m
Distance of the building from point P \( = 10\sqrt{3} \) m \( \approx 17.32 \) m

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