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SL 3.3—Angles of elevation and depression, bearings - IB Questionbank | RevisionDojo

Practice SL 3.3—Angles of elevation and depression, bearings with authentic IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (AA) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 structure, covering key topics like functions and equations, calculus, complex numbers, sequences and series, and probability and statistics. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.

Paper

Level

Question 1

SLPaper 2

A research drone is tethered by two cables, $AP$ and $BP$ , attached to points $A$ and $B$ on level ground.
The points $A$ and $B$ are 80 m apart. The drone $P$ is directly above the point $P_0$ on the ground.
In the horizontal triangle $ABP_0$ , the angle at $P_0$ between the lines $P_0A$ and $P_0B$ is $60^\circ$ .

At a certain instant, the angle of elevation of the drone from $A$ is $28^\circ$ and from $B$ is $35^\circ$ .

Draw a fully-labelled 3-D diagram showing $A,B,P_0,P$ and all known angles.

[2]

Let the horizontal distances $AP_0 = x$ m and $BP_0 = y$ m.
Show that
$x\tan28^\circ = y\tan35^\circ.$

[2]

Using the cosine rule in triangle $ABP_0$ , show that
$80^2 = x^2 + y^2 - 2xy\cos60^\circ.$

[2]

Use your results from part 2 and 3 to find the height $h$ of the drone above the ground.
Give your answer to the nearest metre.

[3]

The drone then moves horizontally so that its projection $P_0$ traces out a circular path of radius 80 m centred at a fixed point on the ground.
Calculate, in metres and in radians, the length of the arc of this path when the bearing of $P_0$ from $A$ changes from $050^\circ$ to $130^\circ$ .

[3]

The tension in each cable is proportional to its length.
If the tension in $AP$ is $T_A = k|AP|$ and in $BP$ is $T_B = k|BP|$ , find the ratio $\dfrac{T_A}{T_B}$ at this instant.

[3]

Question 2

SLPaper 2

A rescue helicopter $P$ hovers above a mountain valley. It is connected by two winch cables to huts $A$ and $B$ on level ground.
The distance between the huts is 90 m. The helicopter is vertically above point $P_0$ , and in the horizontal triangle $ABP_0$ , $\angle AP_0B = 70^\circ$ .

The angle of elevation of the helicopter is $32^\circ$ from $A$ and $45^\circ$ from $B$ .

Sketch a fully-labelled 3-D diagram showing $A,B,P_0,P$ and all given angles.

[2]

Let $AP_0=x$ m and $BP_0=y$ m.
Show that
$x\tan32^\circ = y\tan45^\circ.$

[2]

Using the cosine rule in triangle $ABP_0$ , write down an equation relating $x$ and $y$ .

[2]

Use your results to find the height $h$ of the helicopter above the ground, correct to the nearest metre.

[2]

The point $P_0$ later moves horizontally around a circular path of radius 90 m centred at a base camp.
Find the length of the arc, in metres and radians, when its bearing from $A$ changes from $010^\circ$ to $100^\circ$ .

[3]

If tensions are $T_A = k|AP|$ and $T_B = k|BP|$ , find $\dfrac{T_A}{T_B}$ .

[3]

Question 3

SLPaper 2

A hot-air balloon $P$ is anchored by two ropes to points $A$ and $B$ on level ground.
The distance $AB$ is 75 m. The balloon is vertically above $P_0$ , and $\angle AP_0B = 60^\circ$ in the horizontal triangle $ABP_0$ .

The angles of elevation of the balloon are $28^\circ$ from $A$ and $37^\circ$ from $B$ .

Draw a fully-labelled 3-D diagram showing $A,B,P_0,P$ and all the given angles.

[2]

Let $AP_0=x$ m and $BP_0=y$ m.
Show that
$x\tan28^\circ = y\tan37^\circ.$

[2]

Using the cosine rule in triangle $ABP_0$ , write an equation relating $x$ and $y$ .

[2]

Find the height $h$ of the balloon, to the nearest metre.

[2]

The projection $P_0$ moves horizontally on a circle of radius 75 m.
Find, in metres and radians, the length of the arc when the bearing of $P_0$ from $A$ changes from $045^\circ$ to $115^\circ$ .

[3]

If $T_A = k|AP|$ and $T_B = k|BP|$ , find $\dfrac{T_A}{T_B}$ .

[3]

Question 4

SLPaper 2

A person is flying their kite. The kite is on a string of length 100 m and has an angle of elevation of $65^{\circ}$ .

Find the height that the kite is flying at above the point the person is holding it.

[2]

Now the second person raises their kite to the same vertical height from the same position as the first person. The angle between two kites is $15^{\circ}$ .

Find the length of the string for the kite flown by the second person.

[3]

Question 5

SLPaper 2

From a given point, the angle of elevation to the top of the building is $25^{\circ}$ . After walking 80 m towards the building, the angle of elevation is now $31^{\circ}$ .

Find x and h in the following figure.

[5]

Question 6

SLPaper 2

A satellite dish $D$ is positioned vertically above a point $D_0$ on the ground. Two control posts, $C_1$ and $C_2$ , are 40 m apart. The bearing of $C_2$ from $C_1$ is $090^\circ$ . The bearing of the dish $D_0$ from $C_1$ is $010^\circ$ . At a certain instant, the angle of elevation of the dish from $C_1$ is $45^\circ$ and from $C_2$ is $60^\circ$ .

Draw a fully-labelled 3-D diagram showing $C_1,C_2,D_0,D$ and all known angles.

[2]

Let the horizontal distances $C_1 D_0 = x$ m and $C_2 D_0 = y$ m. Show that $x\tan45^\circ = y\tan60^\circ .$

[2]

Using the cosine rule in triangle $C_1C_2D_0$ , express $y$ in terms of $x$ and known constants.

[3]

Combine your results from parts (b) and (c) to find the height $h$ of the dish. Give your answer to the nearest tenth of a metre.

[3]

The dish's projection $D_0$ describes a circular path of radius $x$ m. The path subtends an angle of $2.5$ radians. Calculate the arc length in metres.

[3]

Find the ratio of the horizontal distance from $C_2$ to the 3-D distance $|C_2 D|$ at this instant.

[3]

Question 7

SLPaper 1

Find the bearing of Q from P in the following diagrams.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

[6]

Question 8

SLPaper 2

A rescue beacon $B$ is positioned vertically above a point $B_0$ on the ground. Two observers, $O_1$ and $O_2$ , are 500 m apart on level ground. The bearing of $O_2$ from $O_1$ is $045^\circ$ . The bearing of the beacon $B_0$ from $O_1$ is $100^\circ$ . At a certain instant, the angle of elevation of the beacon from $O_1$ is $15^\circ$ and from $O_2$ is $25^\circ$ .

Draw a fully-labelled 3-D diagram showing $O_1,O_2,B_0,B$ and all known angles.

[2]

Let the horizontal distances $O_1 B_0 = x$ m and $O_2 B_0 = y$ m. Show that $x\tan15^\circ = y\tan25^\circ .$

[2]

Using the cosine rule in triangle $O_1O_2B_0$ , express $y$ in terms of $x$ and known constants.

[3]

Combine your results from parts (b) and (c) to find the height $h$ of the beacon. Give your answer to the nearest metre.

[3]

The beacon's projection $B_0$ describes a circular path of radius 600 m. Calculate, in metres, the arc length of the path when the bearing from $O_1$ to $B_0$ changes from $100^\circ$ to $160^\circ$ .

[3]

The length of the tether cable attached at $O_1$ is $L_1 = |O_1B|$ . The length of the cable attached at $O_2$ is $L_2 = |O_2B|$ . Find the ratio $\dfrac{L_1}{L_2}$ at this instant.

[3]

Question 9

SLPaper 2

A person standing 60 meters away from a building observes the top of the building at an angle of elevation of $60^\circ$ .

If the person then moves 20 meters closer to the building, what is the new angle of elevation to the top of the building?

[4]

Question 10

SLPaper 2

A cyclist can choose between using 2 ramps. The equations of the ramps with height, $y$ , at distance, $x$ are $y = 3x$ and $y = 2x$ .

By finding the angle they make with the ground, find the angle created between the 2 ramps.

[4]

Explain which ramp the cyclist should take if they are trying to reach a higher level as quickly as possible.

[1]

SL 3.3—Angles of elevation and depression, bearings Questionbank