Heights and Distances

A man is standing on the deck of a ship, which is $40 \; m$ above water level. He observes the angle of elevation of the top of a hill as $60^\circ$ and the angle of depression of the base of the hill as $30^\circ$. Calculate the distance of the hill from the ship and the height of the hill. [Given: $\sqrt{3} = 1.732$]


$M =$ Position of man on the deck of a ship

$O = $ Position of the ship

$MO = 40 \; m$ Height of the deck of ship above water level

$H =$ Position of the hill

$HH' =$ Height of the hill

$OH =$ Distance of the hill from the ship

Draw $MP \perp HH'$

Then, $\;$ $MP = OH$, $MO = PH = 40 \; m$

In $\triangle OMH$, $\;$ $\dfrac{OM}{OH} = \tan 30^\circ = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$

$\implies$ $OH = OM \times \sqrt{3} = 40 \times \sqrt{3} = 40 \times 1.732 = 69.28$

In $\triangle MPH'$, $\;$ $\dfrac{H'P}{MP} = \tan 60^\circ = \sqrt{3}$

$\implies$ $H'P = MP \times \sqrt{3} = 40 \sqrt{3} \times \sqrt{3} = 120$

Now, $HH' = H'P + PH = 120 + 40 = 160$

$\therefore \;$ Distance of the hill from the ship $= 69.28 \; m$

Height of hill $= 160 \; m$