Angles of Elevation & Depression

Exam code: 4024

Written by: Ashika|Reviewed by: Caroline Carroll|Updated 2 July 2026

Elevation & depression

An angle of elevation or depression is the angle measured between the horizontal and the line of sight
- Looking up at an object creates an angle of elevation
- Looking down at an object creates an angle of depression
Right-angled trigonometry can be used to find
- an angle of elevation or depression
- or a missing distance
The tan ratio is often used in real-life scenarios
- You may know the height of an object and want to find the distance you are from it
- You may know the distance you are from an object and want to find its height

Worked example

A cliff is perpendicular to the sea and the top of the cliff, T, stands 24 metres above the level of the sea.

The angle of depression from the top of the cliff to a boat at sea is 35°.

At a point $x$ metres vertically up from the foot the cliff is a flag marker, M.

The angle of elevation from the boat, B, to the flag marker is 18°.

(a) Draw a diagram of the situation. Label all the angles and distances given above.

Answer:

(b) Find the distance from the boat to the foot of the cliff.

Answer:

Consider triangle TBF where F is the foot of the cliff
Angle TBF = 35º because of alternate angles

Use SOHCAHTOA to find the missing distance
We know the opposite (TF) and we want to find the adjacent (BF), so use $\tan θ = \frac{O}{A}$

$\begin{array}{rcl} \tan 35 & = & \frac{24}{B F} \\ B F & = & \frac{24}{\tan 35} \\ B F & = & 34.27555 . . . \end{array}$

BF = 34.3 m (3 s.f.)

Answer:

Consider triangle MBF

Use SOHCAHTOA to find the missing distance
We know the adjacent (BF) and we want to find opposite (MF), so use $\tan θ = \frac{O}{A}$

$\begin{array}{rcl} \tan 18 & = & \frac{x}{34.27555 . . .} \\ 34.27555 . . . \tan 18 & = & x \\ x & = & 11.1368 . . . \end{array}$

$x = 11.1 m$ (3 s.f.)