MATHEMATICS

QUARTER 4 – MODULE 4
MELC 4

Deal with Real-life

Problems Rightfully

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PART I.
MELC 4: Use trigonometric ratios to solve real-life problems involving right triangles.
A. Introduction and Discussions
The idea that mathematics is everywhere can be traced back at least to the ancient
Greece. There are many instances in our daily lives that we deal with mathematics, not that
we know it! We still have to look closely. It is indeed surprising to discover that there are
mathematical concepts that we could use to solve day-to-day problems. It is also fun to
realize that these real-life problems involve right triangles and could be anchored on the
concepts of trigonometric ratios and angles of elevation and angles of depression.
Recall: The Six Trigonometric Ratios

sine A = sin A

cosine A = cos A

tangent A = tan A

cotangent A = cot A

secant A = sec A

cosecant A = csc A
Note: SOH – CAH – TOA is a mnemonic to remember the primary trigonometric ratios.

Recall: Angles of Elevation and Angles of Depression

Line of sight – an imaginary line that connects the eye of an observer to the object
being observed.
Angle of Elevation – an angle formed between the horizontal line of sight and the
line of sight to an object observed above
Angle of Depression – an angle formed between the horizontal line of sight and the
line of sight to an object observed below

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Lesson 1: Solving Problems involving Angle of Elevation.

Illustrative Example 1:
A ladder 8m long leaning against a vertical wall makes an angle of 60° with the
ground. How high on the wall does the ladder reach?
There are five easy steps in solving problems involving right triangles. Here’s how to
solve for the unknown side.

First, draw a representation of the Second, identify the given angle and its
situation. relationship to the corresponding sides
(opposite, adjacent, hypotenuse)

Third, decide which trigonometric ratio to Fourth, set up the EQUATION

be used.

8m
x hypotenuse Substitute values depending on the
opposite representation.
60°
adjacent

The given/unknown sides are opposite and

hypotenuse. The equation:

Sine can be used to solve for the measure

of the wall x, since

Fifth, solve for the value of the unknown.

Cross-multiply and 8m
Solve
The ladder reached the wall 6.93m high.

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Illustrative Example 2: Zayn is flying a kite on a windy day. The string is extended 8 meters
long. If Zayn is holding the other end of the string at a 68° with the ground, how far is the kite
from Zayn (horizontally)?
First, draw: Second, identify sides: Third, which trigonometric
ratio to be used?

Fourth, set equation: Fifth, solve:

Illustrative Example 3:

A tower is 15.24m high. At a certain distance away from the tower, an observer
determines that the angle of elevation to the top of it is 41°. How far is the observer from the
base of the tower?

First, Third,

Fourth,

Fifth,

Second,

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Illustrative Example 4:
Cora determines that the angle of elevation from her position to the top of a coconut
tree is 50°. If the height of the coconut tree is 8.5m, how far is that top of the tree to Cora’s
position?
First, draw: Second, identify sides: Third, which trigonometric ratio
to be to be used?

Illustrative Example 5:
An airplane took off from an airport and travelled at a constant rate and angle of
elevation. When the airplane reached an altitude of 500m, its horizontal distance from the
airport was found to be 235m. What was the angle when the airplane rose from the ground?
Here are the five easy steps in solving for the value of an unknown angle:

First, drawing a representation will greatly Second, identifying the given and
help: unknown sides and angles:

500m 500
m
opposite

235m 235
adjacent
m

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Third, decide which trigonometric ratio to Fourth, set up the EQUATION:
be used: In this step, we have to substitute the
Based on the representation, relative to the values from step 2 to the formula on step 3.
unknown angle , the given sides are
opposite and adjacent.

Tangent will be used for this problem since,

Fifth, solve for the unknown angle:

Trigonometric ratio

Substitute the given values

Since we are solving for the unknown angle, we will
( ) take the inverse of the trigonometric ratio used. For
this example, we have tangent (tan). Its inverse is
arctangent (tan-1).
Click SHIFT + tan + ( 500 ÷ 235 ), then equals to get
the value
On some calculators,
Click 2ndF + tan + ( + 500 + ab/c + 235 + ), then
equals to get the value
Click D°M’S’’ on the calculator to get degrees-
minutes-seconds value
On some calculators,
Click ○○○ or on the calculator to get
degrees-minutes-seconds value
(DMS)
Asnwer. Adjust to the nearest degrees, minutes, or
(DM)
seconds, as required.
(D only)

Illustrative Example 6:
A 20-foot ladder rests against a wall. The base of the ladder is 7 feet from the wall.
What angle (in degrees) does the ladder makes with the ground?
First, draw: Second, identify sides: Third, which trigonometric ratio
to be used?

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Fourth, set equation: Fifth, solve:

Illustrative Example 7:
PAGASA announces that a typhoon is going to enter the Philippine Area of
Responsibility. Strong winds and heavy rainfall are expected over provinces in North and
Central Luzon.
Eddie lives in Rosales. He noticed that one of the lamppost installed in their garden is
about to collapse. As a precautionary measure, he attached a four-foot wire to the lamppost
to support it. One end of the wire is attached 2 meters from the base of the lamppost and the
other is secured at the base of a nearby mango tree.
Determine the angle the wire makes with the ground.

Third, which trigonometric

First, draw: ratio to be used?
The given sides are
opposite and hypotenuse
Second, identify sides:
relative to the unknown
hypotenuse angle.
4m 2m Sine willwhich
be used
opposite
Third, trig to solve
ratio:
4m the measure of the
2m 𝑜𝑝𝑝
unknown since 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
ℎ𝑦𝑝

Fourth, set equation: Fifth, solve:

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Lesson 2: Solving real-life problems involving angle of depression.
Illustrative Example 1:

From the top of a tower, a man finds that the angle of depression of a car on the
ground is 30°. If the car is at a distance of 40 meters from the tower, find the height of the
tower.
First, draw a representation:

Let PQ be the height of the tower and the

car is at point R.

The angle of depression, ∠SPR = and

QR = 40 m.

From Geometry, ∠SPR is congruent to

∠PRQ therefore, ∠SPR = ∠PRQ =

Second, identify the sides:

Third, decide which trigonometric ratio to
be used:
The given angle is 30 degrees
and adjacent side of 40 m. The unknown
is the opposite side.
Tangent is used to solve for the
unknown.

opposite side
tan  
adjacent side

Fourth, set equation: Fifth, solve:

(opposite) PQ = ?
Trigonometric ratio
∠SPR = ∠PRQ = Substitute values
(adjacent) QR = 40 m Cross-multiply, type in
calculator

The equation:
The height of the tower

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Illustrative Example 2:

From the top of a cliff 200 m high, the angle of depression to a point on the ground
is . Find the distance between the point on the ground and the base of the cliff.

Second, identify the sides:

First, draw:

Third, decide which trigonometric ratio to be Fourth, set equation:

used:
NO = unknown (adjacent)
The given sides are opposite and adjacent
relative to the unknown angle. TN = 200m (opposite)
o
Tangent will be used to solve the measure of LXTO = LTON = 24
the unknown since
The equation:

Fifth, solve:

NO
tan TON 
TN
200
tan 24 o 
x
x tan 24  200
o

200
x
tan 24 o
x  449.21m

The distance between the base of the cliff to

a certain point on the ground is 449.21
meters.

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Illustrative Example 3:
A house stands on the bank of a river 11 m wide. A man observes from a corner of
the roof of the house 7 m high, the foot of a light post just on the opposite bank. Find the
angle of depression.

First, drawing a representation will greatly Second, identifying the given and
help: unknown sides and angles:

Third, decide which trigonometric ratio to Fourth, set up the EQUATION:

be used:
The given sides are opposite and adjacent.

Tangent will be used for this problem since,

Fifth, solve for the unknown angle:

Trigonometric ratio

Substitute the given values

Since we are solving for the unknown angle, we will take the inverse
( ) of the trigonometric ratio used.
Follow steps on Example 5.
Follow steps on Example 5.
(DMS)
(DM) The angle of depression is .
(D only)

PART II. Activities

Directions: Read carefully the problems given below. Determine the unknown values on
each and write your solutions following the steps in solving real-life problems involving right
triangles using trigonometric ratios.
Scoring Rubric:
Score Indicators
5 With proper illustrations/presentation, complete and correct answers and solutions.
4 With complete and correct answers and solutions but no illustrations.
3 With correct answer but partially incorrect solutions
2 Partially correct solutions but incorrect answer.
1 With correct answer but no solutions presented
0 No answer and solution presented

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 1. A visual artist draws an airplane in the sky 500 m from the ground. He intends to
draw the foot of the mountain at 20° angle of depression. How far should the
airplane be from the foot of the mountain? Express your answer using whole
number.

2. If a guy wire for a tree is 8 m long, making a 40° angle with the ground, how far is
the base of the tree from the other end of the wire attached to the ground? Round
off your answer to the nearest hundredths.

3. A fire broke out on the second floor of an apartment building. The fireman can put a
ladder 10 meters away from the base of the apartment to save someone on the
upper floors. How long should the ladder be for it to create a 30° angle of
depression with the ground? Express your answer to the nearest tenths.

4. The shadow of a bush casts a shadow to the base of a trashcan 8 meters away.
The base of the trashcan and the ground creates a 35° angle. How far is the tip of
the bush from the base of the trashcan? Answer should be expressed in the nearest
tenths.

5. The angle of elevation to the top of a city plaza’s fountain from a point 12 meter from
its base is 32°. Find the height of the fountain. Express your answer as a whole
number.

6. A Jose Rizal statue stands 9.33 meters high. At a point away from the base of the
statue, the angle of elevation to the top of the statue is 43°. How far, in meters, is
the point from the base of the statue?

7. A ramp, 5.8 meters long is to be built from the ground. If the entrance of an indoor
parking space is 1m above the ground, what is the angle of elevation of the ramp?
Express the answer to the nearest degree.

8. A lighthouse illuminates a boat 17 meters away from its base. The top of the
lighthouse to the boat is 35m. What is the angle of depression from the top of the
light house to the tip of the boat? Express your answer to the nearest minute.

9. A CCTV is mounted on a wall 3 M above a bank teller’s desk. It is used to view the
bank entrance which has a horizontal distance of 10 m from the camera. Find the
angle of depression from the camera lens to the entrance door. Answers should be
expressed in the nearest degree.

10. To illuminate the entrance of a condominium, a night light is mounted on a 7-meter

pole. If the base of the pole is 25m from the entrance, find the angle of depression
of the light. Answer in the nearest minutes.

10.) 15°38’ 9.) 16° 8.) 60°56’ 7.) 10° 6.) 10 m

5.) 7 m 4.) 9.8 m 3.) 11.5 m 2.) 6.13 m 1.) 1462 m
ANSWER KEY
PART III. Assessment

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PART III. Assessment

Directions: Solve the following problems and write the letter of your answer on a paper.
Include complete solutions following the five-step process. All unknown sides should be
expressed with two decimal places and all unknown angles be expressed in degrees.

Scoring Rubric:
Score Indicators
5 With proper illustrations/presentation, complete and correct answers and solutions.
4 With complete and correct answers and solutions but no illustrations.
3 With correct answer but partially incorrect solutions
2 Partially correct solutions but incorrect answer.
1 With correct answer but no solutions presented
0 No answer and solution presented

1. For best illumination of art, a light specialist suggested that the light source mounted
on the ceiling is 1.8 m away from a piece of art hanging on the wall and that the
angle of depression of the light is 38°. How far from the wall should the light be
mounted on the ceiling to fulfill this recommendation?
A. 1.11m B. 1.42m C. 1.48m D. 2.28m
2. A ramp is 30ft long, and it is set at a 25° angle of inclination. If you walk up the ramp,
how high off the ground will you be?
A. 56.44ft B. 27.19ft C. 13.99ft D. 12.68ft
3. A mountain has a slope of 15°, and is 950m tall. How far do you need to hike to
reach its peak?
A. 3245.88m B. 3545.45m C. 3670.52m D. 3983.51m
4. A ladder of length 10m rests against a wall with its foot 5m away from the wall. What
is the measure of the angle formed between the ladder and the ground?
A. 30° B. 45° C. 60° D. 90°
5. A 30ft flagpole casts a shadow of 18 ft. What is the angle that the sun hits the
flagpole?
A. 31° B. 36° C. 53° D. 59°
6. The leaning tower of Pisa is 55 m tall. The top edge of the tower is 5 m out from the
bottom edge. What is the angle created between the ground and the tower?
A. 84° B. 71° C. 11° D. 5°
7. A kite, 135m higher above the ground has a string 200m long. Determine the angle
formed by the string the string and the ground.
A. 34° B. 42° C. 47° D. 50°
8. The angle of depression from a 10m high building to a boulder on the same level with
the base is 60°. How far is the building from the boulder?
A. 11.55m B. 20m C. 5.77m D. 9.59m
9. Lolita is outside of a building 120 m high. The measure of angle of elevation to the
top of the building is 50°. Find the distance between Lolita and the building.
A. 186.87m B. 100.69m C. 156.65m D. 185.89
10. The angle of depression from the top of a lighthouse to the water line of a boat is 10°.
If the boat is 50 meters away from the base of the lighthouse, how high is the
lighthouse?
A. 8.82m B. 8.70m C. 8.64m D. 8.53m

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References:
Bryant, M.L. et. al. (2014). Mathematics Learner’s Material 9. Vibal Groups, Inc. pp 457 –
476

Bryant, M.L. et. al. (2014). Mathematics Teachers’ Guide for Mathematics 9. Vibal Groups,
Inc. pp 292 – 296

Nivera, G.C. and Lapinid, M.R.C. (2013). Grade 9 Mathematics Patterns and Practicalities.
Salesiana Books by Don Bosco Press Inc. pp 449 – 460

Nivera, G.C. and Lapinid, M.R.C. (2014). Grade 9 Mathematics Patterns and Practicalities
Teacher’s Manual. Salesiana Books by Don Bosco Press Inc. pp 137 – 139

Natividad, Jr. E.B., Pastor, M.J.D, and Andres, S.R. (2017). Math Made Easy for Grade 9.
Salinlahi Publishing House, Inc. pp 135 – 139

Natividad, Jr. E.B., Pastor, M.J.D, and Andres, S.R. (2017). Answer Key Math Made Easy
for Grade 9. Salinlahi Publishing House, Inc. pp 20 – 21

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