WAEC 2023 · Paper 1 · Q35

Elevation, depression & bearings
Trigonometric ratios

The angle of elevation of the top of a building from a point $Z$ on the ground is $50^\circ$ . If the height of the building is $124\text{ m}$ , find the distance from $Z$ to the foot of the building.

Worked solution (try it first)

The height 124 m is opposite the $50^\circ$ angle and the distance $d$ is adjacent, so $\tan50^\circ = \frac{124}{d}$ .
Rearrange: $d = \frac{124}{\tan50^\circ}$
$= \frac{124}{1.1918}$ .
So $d \approx 104.05$ m, option A.

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