New Century Mathematics (Second Edition)

S3 Question Bank
3B Chapter 10 Applications in Trigonometry

Level 3

<code=10178300>
<bk=3B><ch=10><ex=10A><type=L3><mark=12><title=10178300><content>
Q

P S
horizontal ground

The figure shows a hiking trail PQRS. Lamp posts are set at P, Q, R and S such that the distances
between two adjacent lamp posts are equal. It is given that the gradient of RS is 0.75 and the
inclination of PQ is 60. P, Q, R and S lie on the same vertical plane.
(a) Find the gradient of QR.
(b) If the distance between P and S is 1 500 m, find the length of the hiking trail PQRS.
(Give the answers correct to 3 significant figures.)
(12 marks)
Solution:
Q
 R
V
x
60 
P S
T U

With the notations in the figure, construct QT  PS, RU  PS and RV  QT. 1M

Let RS = x. Then PQ = QR = x.
(a) In △RSU,
tan  = 0.75 1M
 = 36.870, cor. to 5 sig. fig.
RU
sin 36.870 = 1M
x
RU = x sin 36.870
In △PQT,
QT
sin 60 = PQ
QT = PQ sin 60
= x sin 60

© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2017 3B Chapter 10 Level 3 P.66

This study source was downloaded by 100000760044660 from CourseHero.com on 03-22-2022 00:37:01 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/133226548/JNCM2E-QB-3B10L3-edoc/
 In △QRV,
QV = QT  VT
= QT  RU
= x sin 60  x sin 36.870
= x(sin 60  sin 36.870)
QV
sin  = QR
x(sin 60  sin 36.870 )
sin  = 1M
x
sin  = sin 60  sin 36.870
 = 15.428, cor. to 5 sig. fig. 1A
Gradient of QR = tan 15.428 1M
= 0.276, cor. to 3 sig. fig. 1A

(b) In △RSU,
US
cos  = 1M
x
US = x cos 
= x cos 36.870
Similarly,
in △PQT, PT = x cos 60
in △QRV, VR = x cos 15.428, i.e. TU = x cos 15.428
∵ PS = 1 500 m
∴ PT + TU + US = 1 500 m
x cos 60 + x cos 15.428 + x cos 36.870 = 1 500 m 1M+1A
x(cos 60 + cos 15.428 + cos 36.870) = 1 500 m
1 500
x= m
cos 60  cos 15.428  cos 36.870
The required length = 3x
1 500
= 3 m 1M
cos 60  cos 15.428  cos 36.870
= 1 990 m, cor. to 3 sig. fig. 1A
<end>

© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2017 3B Chapter 10 Level 3 P.67

This study source was downloaded by 100000760044660 from CourseHero.com on 03-22-2022 00:37:01 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/133226548/JNCM2E-QB-3B10L3-edoc/
 <code=10178319>
<bk=3B><ch=10><ex=10B><type=L3><mark=7><title=10178319><content>
P

60
B
45
Q
A C sea level
30
In the figure, a helicopter P is above the sea level. ACQ is a horizontal line. AB is an inclined
platform with inclination 30 and AB = 100 m. The angles of elevation of P from A and B are 45
and 60 respectively. Find the height of the helicopter above the sea level.
(Give the answer correct to 3 significant figures.)
(7 marks)
Solution:
With the notations in the figure, construct BD⊥PQ.
P

60
D
B
45
A C Q
30
Let PD = x m.
In △ABC,
AC
cos 30 = 100 m 1M

AC = 100 cos 30 m

BC
sin 30 = 100 m 1M

BC = 100 sin 30 m

= 50 m
DQ = BC = 50 m 1A
In △PBD,
PD
tan 60 = 1M
BD
xm
tan 60 =
BD
x
BD = tan 60 m
x
CQ = BD = tan 60 m 1A

© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2017 3B Chapter 10 Level 3 P.68

This study source was downloaded by 100000760044660 from CourseHero.com on 03-22-2022 00:37:01 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/133226548/JNCM2E-QB-3B10L3-edoc/
 In △APQ,
PQ
tan 45 = AQ 1M
PD  DQ
1 = AC  CQ
AC + CQ = PD + DQ
x
100 cos 30 + tan 60 = x + 50
 1 
x 1   = 100 cos 30  50
 tan 60 
x = 86.603, cor. to 5 sig. fig.
PQ = (x + 50) m
= (86.603 + 50) m
= 137 m, cor. to 3 sig. fig.
∴ The height of the helicopter above the sea level is 137 m. 1A
<end>

<code=10178376>
<bk=3B><ch=10><ex=10B><type=L3><mark=9><title=10178376><content>
A

45
P 30
P m 60
O Q C

20
m

In the figure, A and B represent two windows of a building, and PQ is a straight road with gradient
1 : 3 . The angle of elevation of A from P is 45, while the angle of elevation of B from Q is 60.
ABC and OQC are straight lines. PQ = 30 m and QC = 20 m.
(a) Find OP and OQ.
(b) Find the distance between A and B.
(Give the answers correct to 3 significant figures if necessary.)
(9 marks)
Solution:
With the notations in the figure, construct PD⊥AC.

© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2017 3B Chapter 10 Level 3 P.69

This study source was downloaded by 100000760044660 from CourseHero.com on 03-22-2022 00:37:01 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/133226548/JNCM2E-QB-3B10L3-edoc/
 A

45
P 30 D
P m 60
O Q C

20
m

(a) In △OPQ,
1
tan OQP = 1M
3
OQP = 30
OP
sin OQP = 30 m 1M

OP = 30 sin 30 m
= 15 m 1A
OQ
cos OQP = 30 m 1M

OQ = 30 cos 30 m
= 26.0 m, cor. to 3 sig. fig. 25.981 1A

(b) In △APD,
AD
tan 45 = 1M
PD
AD = PD tan 45
= OC tan 45
= (25.981 + 20) tan 45 m
= 45.981 m
In △BQC,
BC
tan 60 = 20 m 1M

BC = 20 tan 60 m
AB = AD + DC – BC 1M
= AD + OP  BC
= (45.981 + 15 – 20 tan 60) m
= 26.3 m, cor. to 3 sig. fig.
∴ The distance between A and B is 26.3 m. 1A
<end>

© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2017 3B Chapter 10 Level 3 P.70

This study source was downloaded by 100000760044660 from CourseHero.com on 03-22-2022 00:37:01 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/133226548/JNCM2E-QB-3B10L3-edoc/
 <code=10178395>
<bk=3B><ch=10><ex=10C><type=L3><mark=6><title=10178395><content>
N

31
N
47
Q O

In the figure, a car travels from O to P in the direction N47W, then travels in the direction S31W
to Q, which is due west of O. Suppose the speed of the car is constant throughout the whole
journey and the car takes 2 hours to travel from O to P. How long does it take for the car to travel
from P to Q?
(Give the answer correct to 3 significant figures.)
(6 marks)
Solution:
With the notations in the figure, construct PR⊥OQ.
N

31
N
47
Q R O

Let v km/h be the speed of the car.

OP = 2v km 1A
OPR = 47 1A
In △OPR,
PR
cos 47 = 2v km 1M
PR = 2v cos 47 km
In △PQR,
PR
cos 31 = PQ 1M
2v cos 47
PQ = km
cos 31
PQ
The required time = v km/h 1M
2v cos 47 1
=  h
cos 31 v
= 1.59 h, cor. to 3 sig. fig. 1A
<end>

© OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2017 3B Chapter 10 Level 3 P.71

This study source was downloaded by 100000760044660 from CourseHero.com on 03-22-2022 00:37:01 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/133226548/JNCM2E-QB-3B10L3-edoc/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)