Tower Height and Angle of Elevation

XAT 2022 · Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation · Medium · Trigonometry

A tall tower has its base at point K. Three points A, B and C are located at distances of 4 metres, 8 metres and 16 metres respectively from K. The angles of elevation of the top of the tower from A and C are complementary.

What is the angle of elevation (in degrees) of the tower's top from B?

  1. A.

    60

  2. B.

    30

  3. C.

    45

  4. D.

    We need more information to solve this.

  5. E.

    15

Answer

C

Explanation

Let height of tower be hh. anα=h/4 an \alpha = h/4, anγ=h/16 an \gamma = h/16. Since angles are complementary, anα⋅tan⁡γ=1  ⟹  h264=1  ⟹  h=8 m an \alpha \cdot \tan \gamma = 1 \implies \frac{h^2}{64} = 1 \implies h = 8\text{ m}. Angle of elevation from B (distance 8 m8\text{ m}): anβ=h/8=8/8=1  ⟹  β=45∘ an \beta = h/8 = 8/8 = 1 \implies \beta = 45^\circ.

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