Target Exam

CUET

Subject

General Aptitude Test

Chapter

Quantitative Reasoning

Topic

Trigonometry

Question:

The shadow of a tower standing on a level ground is found to be 40 m longer when the Sun's altitude is 30° than when it is 60°. Find the height of the tower.

Options:

10 m

60 m

$10\sqrt{3} m$

$20\sqrt{3} m$

Correct Answer:

$20\sqrt{3} m$

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (4) → $20\sqrt{3} m$

Let the height of the tower be h m.

Shadow length $= h \cot \theta$

  • At $30^\circ$: shadow $= h \cot 30^\circ = h\sqrt{3}$ ​
  • At $60^\circ$: shadow $= h \cot 60^\circ = \frac{h}{\sqrt{3}}$ ​

Given difference in shadows = 40 m:

$h\left(\sqrt{3} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\right) = 40$

$h \cdot \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} = 40$

$h = \frac{40\sqrt{3}}{2} = 20\sqrt{3}$