Question
The angles of elevation of the top of a tower from two points at a distances a and b metres from the base and in the same straight line with it are complementary. Prove that the height of the tower is
metres.
Solution
Let AB be the tower of height h metres, D and C are two points on the horizontal line, which are at distances a and b metres respectively from the base of the tower. It is also given that the angles of elevation of the top of a tower from two points D and C be complementary i.e.,
∠ADB = Ս then ∠ACB = (90 -ө)
In right triangle ADB, we have
In right triangle ACB, we have
Multiplying (i) and (ii), we get
But height can't be negative.
Hence the height of the tower is mts.