Question:medium

The lengths of the shadows of a tree of height p, thrown by sun's rays at three different moments are p, 2p and 3p. The sum of the angles of elevation of the sun's rays at these three moments is equal to...

Show Hint

The tangent of each elevation angle is tree height divided by shadow length.
Updated On: Oct 1, 2026
  • \(\frac{2π}{3}\)
  • \(\frac{3π}{2}\)
  • \(\frac{π}{4}\)
  • \(\frac{π}{2}\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Use the identity
If $\tan A = 1$, $\tan B = \frac{1}{2}$, $\tan C = \frac{1}{3}$, then $\tan(A + B + C) = \dfrac{\Sigma\tan - \Pi\tan}{1 - \Sigma\tan\tan}$.

Step 2: Compute the pieces
Sum of tangents $= 1 + \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{11}{6}$. Product $= \frac{1}{6}$. Sum of pair products $= \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} + \frac{1}{6} = 1$.

Step 3: Evaluate
The denominator is $1 - 1 = 0$, so $\tan(A + B + C)$ is undefined, which means the total is $\frac{\pi}{2}$ (numerator $\frac{11}{6} - \frac{1}{6} = \frac{5}{3} \ne 0$).

Step 4: Conclusion
Each angle is acute, so the total lies between 0 and $\frac{3\pi}{2}$, and the only odd multiple of $\frac{\pi}{2}$ in that range is $\frac{\pi}{2}$ itself.

Final Answer:
The total is pi/2. This is option (D). \[ \boxed{\text{(D) }\frac{\pi}{2}} \]
Was this answer helpful?
0