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    Topics || Problems

    A flagpole and a tower stand 36 meters apart on a horizontal plane. A person standing successively at their bases observes that the angle of elevation of the top of the tower is twice that of the pole, but at a point midway between their bases and angles of elevation are complementary. Find the height of the pole and tower.
    Angle of elevation

    \( \alpha + \beta = 90\) and \( \delta + \beta = 90\)

    \( \therefore \delta = \alpha\)

    \( \tan \theta = \frac{P}{36}\) (1)

    \( \tan 2 \theta = \frac{T}{36}\) (2)

    \( \tan \alpha = \frac{T}{18}\) (3)

    \( \tan \alpha = \frac{18}{P}\) (4)

    Combine (3) and (4)

    \( T = \frac{18^2}{P}\) (3.4)

    Simplify (2)

    \( \tan 2\theta = \frac{2 \tan \theta}{1-tan^2 \theta}\)

    \( \frac{T}{36} = \frac{2 \tan \theta}{1-tan^2 \theta}\)

    Combine simplified (2) and (1)

    \( \frac{T}{36}= \frac{2 \frac{P}{36}}{1-(\frac{P}{36})^2}\)

    \( \frac{T}{36}= \frac{72P}{36^2 - P^2}\)

    \( P = \frac{2592P}{36^2-P}\) BUT \( T = \frac{18^2}{P}\)

    Thus

    \( \frac{18^2}{P} = \frac{2592P}{36^2-P}\)

    \( P^2 = \frac{36^2-P^2}{8}\)

    \( 9P^2 = 162 (8)\)

    \( P = 12 m\)

    \( T = \frac{18^2}{12}\)

    \( T = 27 m\)

    Therefore: The height of the pole is 12 meters and the height of the tower is 27 meters.