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Angles of elevation and depression

Learn what  the terms angle of elevation and angle of depression mean. The words may be big but their meaning is pretty basic!
When you see an object above you, there's an angle of elevation between the horizontal and your line of sight to the object.
A solid, horizontal line. A point on the line is labeled you. A dashed arrow up to the right to a point labeled object.
A solid, horizontal line. A point on the line is labeled you. A dashed arrow up to the right to a point labeled object. The dashed arrow is labeled sight line. The inside angle made from the horizontal line and the dashed arrow is labeled angle of elevation.
Similarly, when you see an object below you, there's an angle of depression between the horizontal and your line of sight to the object.
A solid, horizontal line. A point on the line is labeled you. A dashed arrow down to the right to a point labeled object.
A solid, horizontal line. A point on the line is labeled you. A dashed arrow down to the right to a point labeled object. The dashed arrow is labeled sight line. The inside angle made from the horizontal line and the dashed arrow is labeled angle of depression.

Practice problem

The image below is a model of Aya, point A, looking up to Super Girl, point S, in the sky.
A rectangle where the base is the shorter side and the height is the longer side. Point A is on the bottom left corner of the rectangle. Point S is in the top right corner of the rectangle. Line segment A S is a diagonal for the rectangle. The bottom angle created by cutting angle A with line segment A S is labeled one. The top angle created by cutting angle A with line segment A S is labeled two. The top angle created by cutting angle S with line segment A S is labeled three. The bottom angle created by cutting angle S with line segment A S is labeled four.
What is the angle of elevation from Aya to Super Girl?
Choose 1 answer:

What is the angle of depression from Super girl to Aya?
Choose 1 answer:

When are these terms useful?

Angles of elevation and depression are often used in trigonometry word problems, so it's good to know their meanings.

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