# Angles of elevation and depression

The angle of elevation is measured upwards from the horizontal. The angle of depression is measured downwards from the horizontal.

Maths (school) · Part 06: Pythagoras and trigonometry · Card 7 of 9 · Last updated 2026-10-19

## Analogy

Elevation is like looking up at a kite. Depression is like looking down from a balcony.

## Example

**Tower 20 m away, angle 35**

Height = 20 x tan 35
= 20 x 0.7002
= 14.0 m

## In practice

Pilots, lifeguards and surveyors use these angles to judge height and distance.

## Practice

### Flashcards

- **Where is an angle of elevation measured from?** From the horizontal, looking up.

## Questions people ask

### Where is the angle of elevation measured from?

From the horizontal line, up to the line of sight. Imagine standing flat on the ground, looking straight ahead, then tilting your gaze upwards. The tilt is the angle of elevation. The horizontal is the starting line. The angle of depression works the same way, but you look downwards from the horizontal instead.

### Are the angle of elevation and depression equal?

Yes, when two people look at each other. The angle of depression from a clifftop down to a boat equals the angle of elevation from the boat up to the clifftop. They are alternate angles between parallel lines. This helps because you can often copy one angle straight onto the other end of the line.

## Related concepts

- [Sine, cosine and tangent](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/maths-school/maths-school-part-6/maths-school-part-6-concept-3)
- [Finding a missing side](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/maths-school/maths-school-part-6/maths-school-part-6-concept-4)
- [Finding a missing angle](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/maths-school/maths-school-part-6/maths-school-part-6-concept-5)
- [Exact trigonometry values](https://studyvisually.com/learn/science/maths-school/maths-school-part-6/maths-school-part-6-concept-6)

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