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A man on the top of a vertical observation tower observers a car moving at a uniform speed coming directly towards it. If it takes 8 minutes for the angle of depression to change from 30° to 45°, how

  • A.6 min 57 second
  • B.8 min 57 second
  • C.10 min 57 second
  • D.12 min 57 second

Answer: C

Angles of depression from the top equal the angles of elevation from the car, so for a tower of height \( h \):

\[ d_{30} = \frac{h}{\tan 30^{\circ}} = h\sqrt{3}, \qquad d_{45} = \frac{h}{\tan 45^{\circ}} = h \]

In 8 minutes the car covers \( h\sqrt{3} - h \); the distance left is \( h \). At constant speed time is proportional to distance:

\[ t = 8 \times \frac{h}{h(\sqrt{3}-1)} = \frac{8}{\sqrt{3}-1} = \frac{8(\sqrt{3}+1)}{2} = 4(\sqrt{3}+1) \]

\[ t = 4 \times 2.732 = 10.93 \text{ min} \approx 10 \text{ min } 57 \text{ s} \]

The height \( h \) cancels, so the tower's size is irrelevant - which is why the question can omit it.

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