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Mathematics — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [1]
If a pole 6 m high casts a shadow $2\sqrt{3}$ m long on the ground, then the sun's elevation is :
  1. (a) $60^\circ$
  2. (b) $45^\circ$
  3. (c) $30^\circ$
  4. (d) $90^\circ$
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 30/4/1 Q9
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 10:35 · grounding rag
Model Answer

(a) 60°

Here, pole height = 6 m, shadow length = $2\sqrt{3}$ m. $\tan\theta = \dfrac{6}{2\sqrt{3}} = \dfrac{3}{\sqrt{3}} = \sqrt{3}$, so $\theta = 60°$.

Explanation

Set up a right triangle where the pole is the opposite side and the shadow is the adjacent side. Using $\tan\theta = \frac{\text{height}}{\text{shadow}}$ gives $\sqrt{3}$, which corresponds to 60°. Remember: $\tan 60° = \sqrt{3}$, $\tan 45° = 1$, $\tan 30° = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$.

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