Geometry and TrigonometryVery hardDistance from an angle of depression
Geometry and Trigonometry practice question
From the top of a vertical cliff 30 metres high, the angle of depression to a boat at sea has a tangent of 0.5. How far, in metres, is the boat from the base of the cliff?
Answer: 60
tan θ = 30/d = 0.5, so d = 60.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 15
- 15 multiplies 30 by 0.5 instead of dividing.
- If you answered 30
- 30 is the cliff's height.
- If you answered 45
- 45 comes from a misplaced sum.
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