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Mathematics — Standard (041) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [5] § 9.1 Heights and Distances § 9.2 Summary
A pole 6m high is fixed on the top of a tower. The angle of elevation of the top of the pole observed from a point P on the ground is $60^\circ$ and the angle of depression of the point P from the top of the tower is $45^\circ$. Find the height of the tower and the distance of point P from the foot of the tower. (Use $\sqrt{3} = 1.73$)
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2024 30/1/1 Q35
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 10:38 · grounding rag
Model Answer

Let the height of the tower = h m, and distance of point P from the foot of the tower = d m.

Let AB = tower (height = h), BC = pole (height = 6 m), P = point on ground.

From the angle of depression of P from the top of the tower (45°):

$$\tan 45° = \frac{h}{d} \implies 1 = \frac{h}{d} \implies d = h \quad \text{...(1)}$$

From the angle of elevation of the top of the pole from P (60°):

$$\tan 60° = \frac{h + 6}{d} \implies \sqrt{3} = \frac{h + 6}{d} \quad \text{...(2)}$$

Substituting (1) into (2):

$$\sqrt{3} = \frac{h + 6}{h}$$

$$\sqrt{3}\, h = h + 6$$

$$h(\sqrt{3} - 1) = 6$$

$$h = \frac{6}{\sqrt{3} - 1} = \frac{6(\sqrt{3} + 1)}{(\sqrt{3})^2 - 1^2} = \frac{6(\sqrt{3} + 1)}{2} = 3(\sqrt{3} + 1)$$

$$h = 3(1.73 + 1) = 3 \times 2.73 = \mathbf{8.19 \text{ m}}$$

Distance of P from foot of tower:

$$d = h = \mathbf{8.19 \text{ m}}$$

∴ Height of tower = 8.19 m and distance of point P from the foot of the tower = 8.19 m.

Source: Chapter 9, Section 9.1 – Heights and Distances

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Explanation
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