A crane is trying to reach the ninth floor of an under-construction mu...
Steps 1 & 2: Understand Question and Draw Inferences
The flexibility of the crane’s arm is an important point here. Remember that the ninth floor is at a fixed height. Hence when the crane moves closer to the building, its elevation angle will increase for sure and its arm length will decrease. Hence the only constant here is the height of the ninth floor (from the ground).
Hence, in order to find out the distance moved by the crane, we first need to find the constant height.
Let’s represent the given information diagrammatically.
In right triangle ABC, AB represents the building till the ninth floor. The length of AB is assumed to be h feet. BC represents the arm of the crane initially, when the angle of elevation was 30. From the question statement, we know that BC = 180 feet.
Since the crane’s height is given to be negligible, we have shown the arm of the crane as starting from the ground level only. Thus, points C and A lie on the horizontal ground, and the line AC is therefore perpendicular to the building AB.
Right triangle BAC is a 30°-60°-90° triangle.
We know that in such a triangle, the sides opposite to the angles 30°, 60°, and 90° respectively are in the ratio 1 : √3 : 2.
So, h = 90 feet.
Also,
Let the crane move x feet towards the building to point D.
Let the distance AD = y feet.
Thus, x + y = 90√3
So, if we are able to find the value of y, we will be able to find the value of x.
We have only one piece of information about right triangle DAB, that AB = 90 feet.
If we get one more piece of information about this triangle, we will be able to find the value of y.
Thus, in order to find the value of y, we need to know either one of the two unknown sides or one of the two unknown angles of Triangle DAB.
Step 3: Analyze Statement 1
After the movement, the elevation angle of the crane’s arm is 60
This means that Triangle DAB is a 30°-60°-90° triangle.
We know that in such a triangle, the sides opposite to the angles 30°, 60°, and 90° respectively are in the ratio 1 : √3 : 2.
Thus, y = 30√3
Since we know the value of y, we will be able to find the value of x.
Thus, Statement 1 alone is sufficient to answer the question.
(Note: We have shown the full calculation here just to demonstrate how the value of y may be calculated, if a PS question was made on the same situation. Since this is a Data Sufficiency question, you need not actually solve till the value of y. Once you analyze that the given data is sufficient to find the value of y, you can move on to Step 4)
Step 4: Analyze Statement 2
After the movement, the crane is at a distance of 30√3 feet from the building.
That is, y = 30√3
Since we know the value of y, we will be able to calculate the value of x.
Thus, Statement 2 is Sufficient.
Step 5: Analyze Both Statements Together (if needed)
We get a unique answer in steps 3 and 4, so this step is not required
Answer: Option (D)