Concept Overview
Heights and distances problems use trigonometry to find unknown lengths.
They often involve towers, buildings, shadows, ladders, and angles of elevation or depression.
The main skill is drawing the right triangle clearly.
The angle of elevation is measured upward from the horizontal line.
The angle of depression is measured downward from the horizontal line.
Most height and distance problems form right triangles.
Choose the trigonometric ratio using the known side and unknown side.