Geometry
Trig Unit Word Problems
Angles of Elevation and Depression
1) A woman is standing on the ground at a point 78ft from the base of a building. The angle of elevation to the top of the
building is 57. To the nearest foot, how high is the building?
2) The sun shines on a flagpole, causing a shadow to be cast on the ground. The distance from the base of the pole to the
tip of the shadow is 49 feet. At that time of day, the sun’s rays make an angle of 38 with the ground. How tall is the
flagpole?
3) An observer on a cliff 1000 dm above sea level sights two ships due east. The angles of depression of the ships are 47˚
and 32˚. Find, to the nearest decimeter, the distance between the two ships.
4) A 200 ft high television transmitting tower is to be supported by guy wires running from the ground to the top of the
tower. The wires make an angle of 63 with the ground.
a) How long is each wire?
b) How far from the base of the tower must they meet the ground?
