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Question : A clock tower stands at the crossing of two roads which point in the north-south and the east-west directions. $P, Q, R$, and $S$ are points on the roads due north, east, south, and west respectively, where the angles of elevation of the top of the tower are respectively, $\alpha, \beta, \gamma$ and $\delta$. Then $\left(\frac{\mathrm{PQ}}{\mathrm{RS}}\right)^2$ is equal to:

Option 1: $\frac{\tan ^2 \alpha+\tan ^2 \beta}{\tan ^2 \gamma+\tan ^2 \delta}$

Option 2: $\frac{\cot ^2 \alpha+\cot ^2 \beta}{\cot ^2 \gamma+\cot ^2 \delta}$

Option 3: $\frac{\cot ^2 \alpha+\cot ^2 \delta}{\cot ^2 \beta+\cot ^2 \gamma}$

Option 4: $\frac{\tan ^2 \alpha+\tan ^2 \delta}{\tan ^2 \beta+\tan ^2 \gamma}$


Team Careers360 6th Jan, 2024
Answer (1)
Team Careers360 14th Jan, 2024

Correct Answer: $\frac{\cot ^2 \alpha+\cot ^2 \beta}{\cot ^2 \gamma+\cot ^2 \delta}$


Solution :
Let K be the point on the top of the tower and the height of the clock tower $OK$ be $h$ cm
$OK$ is perpendicular to $PR$ and $SQ$.
In Δ$POK$,
$\tan α = \frac{OK}{OP}$
⇒ $OP = \frac{h}{\tan α}$
⇒ $OP = h \cot α$
Similarly, In ΔQOK
$\tan β = \frac{OK}{OQ}$
⇒ $OQ = \frac{h}{\tan β}$
⇒ $OQ = h \cot β$
In $ΔPOQ$ formed by joining $P$ and $Q$, $OP$ is perpendicular to $OQ$, and then
⇒ $PQ^2 = OP^2 + OQ^2$
⇒ $PQ^2 = h^2 \cot^2 α + h^2 \cot^2 β$
⇒ $PQ^2 = h^2 (\cot^2 α + \cot^2 β)$
Similarly,
$RS^2 = h^2 (\cot^2 γ + \cot^2 δ)$
⇒ $(\frac{PQ}{RS})^2 = \frac{h^2 (\cot^2 α + \cot^2 β)}{h^2 (\cot^2 γ + \cot^2 δ)}$
⇒ $(\frac{PQ}{RS})^2 = \frac{\cot^2 α + \cot^2 β}{\cot^2 γ + \cot^2 δ}$
Hence, the correct answer is $\frac{\cot^2 α + \cot^2 β}{\cot^2 γ + \cot^2 δ}$.

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