A statue 1.6m tall , stands on the top of a pedestal . From a point on the ground , the angle of elevation of the top of the statue is 60 degree and from the same point the angle of elevation of the top of the pedestal is 45 degree . Find the height of the pedestal.
Let the height of the pedestal be represented by line WX and height of the statue by the line XY .
Height of Statue = XY = 1.6m
Angle of elevation to top of statue from a point p on the ground = 60°
Angle of elevation to top of pedestal from a point p on the ground = 45°
To find the length WX :
Now as statue is perpendicular to ground angle is 90°
So WXP is a right angles triangle with one angle 45° and other 90° so other one has to be 45° , which shows it is an isosceles triangle and hence WX = WP .
Similarly YWP is also a right angled triangle .
tan60° = height of (pedestal + statue)/distance of point p from base of pedestal = (1.6+WX)/WP = (1.6+WX)/WX [Since WX = WP]
> √3 * WX = 1.6 + WX
> √3 * WX - WX = 1.6
> (√3 - 1) WX = 1.6
or WX = 1.6/(√3-1)