Distance Survey

By Leighton McIntyre
Goal: to calculate distance given obstructions in path
Problem
In conducting a land survey, the following problem
arose. There were two points A and B along a road and
points C and D off the road along the respective
perpendiculars to the road at A and B. There were
buildings on the property that prevented direct
measurement of the distances along BD and AC.
Measurements, however, could be made for AD, BC,
and AB as follows:

AB = 240 yards
AD = 260 yards
BC = 300 yards

A light pole is to be installed at point E, the

intersection of CB and AD. How far will the pole be
from the road? That is, what is the distance EF?
Again, an existing building blocks direct
measurement.
Solution 1

AC AB , BD AB, AC //BD
then BC and AC are both transversals to AC and BD.
The following angle congruencies hold:
<ACE <BED , <ACB <CBD, <CEA <DEB
ACE ~ BED
AC2 = CB2 - AB2 = 3002 - 2402 = 32400
hence AC = 180
BD2 = AD2 - AB2 = 2602 - 2402 = 10000
hence BD = 100
Ratio of sides of ACE to BED 180:100 or 9:5
CE: BE = 9:5
CE = 9 BE and CE +BE = BC
5

Hence BE =

5
BC
14

5
*300
14

750
7

AE = 9 DE and AE + DE = AD
5

9
AD
14

Hence AE =

9
*260
14

1170
7

Now using Herons Formula we can calculate the area

of triangle
ABE becausewe have the three sides and

then find height EF

Area ABE =

s(s a)(s b)(s c)

Where a = 240, b =

Area ABE =

1170
,
7

c=

750
7

,s=

a+b+c
= 1800
2
7

378000
1800 1800
1800 1170 1800 750
(
240)(

)(

)=
7
7
7
7
7
7
49

Now we know using the base of the triangle as 240

and EF as height in formula
Area ABE = 1 base*height
2

378000 1
= (240) EF
49
2

EF = 378000 = 3150 =
49 *120
49

Solution 2

64.29

AC AB , BD AB, EF AB AC //BD// EF
From solution 1, we calculated that AC = 180 and BD
= 100
Denote by x the distance EF. Denote by y the distance
FB
Consider ABC and FBE are similar by AA
similarity.
That is <CAB <EFB, by right angles; <FBE <FBE,
by reflexive property.
Consider ABD and AFE are similar by AA
similarity.
That is <ABD <AFE, by right angles; <FAE <FAE,
by reflexive property.
We have the following proportions

CA
AB

EF
FB

DA

EF
FA

AB

x))

180
240

x
y

3 =
4

100

= x
240 y
240

12x + ( 20 x))= 1200

3

56
x
3

= 1200

x = 64.29

y = 4x
3

5 =

12x = 1200
( 20x))

x
y

12

240 y

12x = 5(240 ( 4