MAA [3.1-3.

3] 3D GEOMETRY – TRIANGLES
SOLUTIONS
Compiled by: Christos Nikolaidis

3D GEOMETRY

O. Practice questions

1. (a) d AB  32  4 2  0 2  5
(b) d OB  12  12  5 2  27  3 3
(c) M(1/2, –1,5)
(d) C(–4,5,5)
2.
Solid Volume Surface area

4
V  5  3  4  60 S  2  15  2  12  2  20  94
3
5

5
r2
h5
S  2 (2)(5)  2  ( 2 2 )  28
4 V   2 2 5  20
(diameter)

r 3 slant height: l  5
4 h4

1 S   (3)(5)   3 2  24
V   3 2 4  12
6 3
(diameter)

4
V   33  36 S  4 3 2  36
3

radius = 3

1 2
3. (a) V  8 3  64
3
(b) AM 2  4 2  3 2  AM  5
1 
S  8 2  4    8  5   64  80  144
 2 

1
 TRIANGLES

4. (a)
4 3
sin B̂ sin Cˆ
5 5
3 4
cos B̂ cos Cˆ
5 5
4 3
tan B̂ tan Cˆ
3 4
(b)
a 5 b 4 c 3
 5  5  5
sin Aˆ 1 ˆ
sin B 4 ˆ
sin C 3
5 5
(c)
LHS RHS
5 2
3  4  2(3)(4) cos Aˆ  9  16  0  25
2 2

32 42  52  2(4)(5) cos Cˆ  16  25  32  9

42 32  52  2(3)(5) cos Bˆ  9  25  18  16

(d)
1
Area =  3  4  sin Aˆ  6
2
1 1 3
Area =  4  5  sin Cˆ   4  5   6
2 2 5
1 1 4
Area =  3  5  sin Bˆ   3  5   6
2 2 5

5. a 2  102  82  2(10)(8) cos 60  a  84 (  9.17 )

83
6. (a) 9 2  102  82  2(10)(8) cos Aˆ  cos Aˆ 
160
(b) Aˆ  58.8
2
10
a 10 10sin 45 2  a  10 2
7.  a a
sin 45 sin 30 sin 30 1
2
10 6 10 sin 30 5
8. (a)   sin Aˆ   sin Aˆ 
sin Aˆ sin 30 6 6
(b) Aˆ  56.442...  56.4 or Aˆ  123.557...  124

2
9.

(a) ˆ  135
BAC
(b) Bearing of B from A = 45
Bearing of C from A = 180
Bearing of D from A = 270
(c) Bearing of A from B = 180  45  225
(d) BC2  22  32  2(2)(3) cos135  BC  4.6352...  4.64

10. (a) AC 2  52  32  AC  34
2
(b) AD 2  34  42  AD  50
ˆ 4 ˆ  38.7
(c) tan EAB=  EAB
5
ˆ 4 ˆ  34.4
(d) tan DAC=  DAC
34
4
(e) tan Eˆ =  Eˆ  38.7
5
1
11. (a) (i) A (7)(5) sin 40  11.2
2
(ii) BC2  52  7 2  2(5)(7) cos 40  BC  4.51

sin 40 sin Bˆ
(iii)   Bˆ  45.4 and so Cˆ  180  40  45.4  94.6
4.51 5
(b) Bˆ  27.3 , Aˆ  112.7

(c) Cˆ  64.1 , Aˆ  75.9 or Cˆ  115.9 , Aˆ  24.1

(d) (i) 7 2  62  BC2  2(6)(BC) cos 40  BC  10.437...  10.4
1
(ii) Area = (6)(10.437..) sin 40  20.126...  20.1
2
(e) (i) 62  7 2  BC2  2(7)(BC) cos 40
 BC  1.3931...  1.39 or BC  9.3314...  9.33
1 1
(ii) Area 1= (7)(1.3931...) sin 40  3.13 , Area 2= (7)(9.3314...) sin 40  21.0
2 2

3
A. Exam style questions (SHORT)
12. (a) AC2= 72 + 92 – 2(7)(9) cos 120º
AC =13.9 (= 193 )
(b) METHOD 1
sin Aˆ sin 120
sine rule   Â  34.1
9 13.9
METHOD 2
7 2  13.9 2  9 2
cosine rule cos Aˆ   Â  34.1
27 13.9

13. Note: largest angle opposite largest side

4 2  52  7 2 1
cos  = = –   = 101.5°
245 5

14. (a) The smallest angle is opposite the smallest side.

82  7 2  52 88 11
cos θ = =  = 0.7857
28 7 112 14
Therefore, θ = 38.2°
1
(b) Area = × 8 × 7 × sin 38.2°= 17.3 cm2
2
15. (a)
5 2  4 2  6 2  2  4  6 cos Q
PQ̂R = 55.8 (0.973 radians)
1
(b) Area =  4  6 sin 55.8 = 9.92 (cm2)
2
16. (a) Angle A  80

AB 5
  AB  3.26 cm
sin 40 sin80

1 1
(b) ac sin
AreaB  (5) (3.26)sin 60
 7.07 cm 2
2 2
sin R sin 75
17. (a) sine rule 
7 10
PR̂Q = 42.5
(b) P = 180  75  R = 62.5
1
area  PQR =  7 10  sin P = 31.0 (cm2)
2
sin B sin 48 5
18. Using sine rule:   sin B = sin 48° = 0.5308… B = 32.06°= 32°
5 7 7

sin (AĈB) sin 50 20 sin 50

19.   sin (AĈB)  = 0.901
20 17 17
AĈB = 64.3° or AĈB = 180° – 64.3° = 115.7°
(a) AĈB > 90°  AĈB = 116 (3 sf)
(b) In Triangle 1, AĈB = 64.3°
 BÂC = 180° – (64.3° + 50°)= 65.7°
1
Area = (20)(17) sin 65.7° = 155 (cm2) (3 sf)
2

4
 48 2  32 2  56 2
20. cos CÂB 
2( 48)(32)
C ÂB  86°

21.
d B
A

50 80
70°

(2.5 × 20 = 50) (2.5 × 32 = 80)

d2 = 502 + 802 – 2 × 50 × 80 × cos 70°
d = 78.5 km

1
22. (a) (5)(13.6) sin C  20 = 20  sin C = 0.5882...  AĈB = 144° (2.51 radians)
2
(b) cosine rule (AB)2 = 52 + 13.62 – 2(5)(13.6)cos143.968...
AB = 17.9

1
23. Area of a triangle = × 3 × 4 sin A= 4.5 sin A = 0.75
2
A = 48.6° and A = 131° (or 0.848, 2.29 radians)

1
24. 20  (10)(8) sin Q  sin Q = 0.5
2

PQ̂R = 30 or
6

25. (a)

(b) TÂU = 86º

x2 = 252 + 362 – 2(25)(36) cos 86º
x = 42.4

5
26. (a) METHOD 1
7 2  7 2  13 2
cosine rule cos AĈB 
277
AĈB = 2.38 radians (= 136°)
METHOD 2
considering right-angled triangle
1  6.5
sin  AĈB  
2  7
AĈB = 2.38 radians (= 136°)
(b) METHOD 1
AĈD = 180 – 136.4 OR AĈD = π – 2.381
6. 5 7
sine rule in triangle ACD: . 
sin 0.760... sinAD̂C

AD̂C = 47.9...° OR AD̂C = 0.836...

CÂD = 180 – (43.5... + 47.9...) = 88.5° OR CÂD = π – (0.760... + 0.836...) = 1.54

METHOD 2
1 1
AB̂C  (180  136.4) OR AB̂C  ( π  2.381)
2 2
6. 5 13
sine rule in triangle ABD: 
sin 0.380... sin AD̂C

AD̂C = 47.9...° OR AD̂C = 0.836...

CÂD = 180 – 47.9 – (180 – 136.4)) = 88.5° OR CÂD = π – 0.836– (π – 2.381) = 1.54
Note: Two triangles are possible with the given information.

27. METHOD 1

AB = 68.533…
1
Area = Aˆ  (105)(68.533..) sin 60  3115.94...  3116 m (or 3120m to 3sf)
2

1
Area = Aˆ  (105)(92.335) sin 40  3115.96...  3116 m (or 3120m to 3sf)
2

6
 c sin A 5  0.5
28. sin C = 
a 3
Ĉ = 56.4° or 123.6°
B̂ = 93.6° or 26.4°

29, METHOD 1

METHOD 2

30.

31.

7
32. METHOD A (using Sine rule)
sin 30 sin C 1
  sin C   C  45
or C   135

3 2 6 2
1
For C  45
, A  105
, Area = 6  3 2  sin105
 12.3
2
1
For C   135
, A  15
, Area = 6  3 2  sin15
 3.29
2
METHOD B (using Cosine rule)

(3 2 ) 2  BC 2  6 2  2 BC  6  cos 30  BC 2  6 3BC  18  0

 BC  3  3 3
1 99 3
Area = 6  (3  3 3  sin 30   12.3 or 3.29
2 2

33. Method 1:
sin C sin 30 1
Using the sine rule:  sin C =
6 3 2 2
C = 45°, 135°.
3 2 BC BC
Again,  or
sin 30 sin105  sin15 
Thus, BC = 6 2 sin 105° or 6 2 sin 15°
BC = 8.20 cm or BC = 2.20 cm.

Method 2:
Using the cosine rule: AC2 = 62 + BC2 – 2(6)(BC)cos30°
18 = 36 + BC2 – 6 3 BC
Therefore, BC2 – ( 6 3 )BC + 18 = 0
Therefore, BC = 3 3  3, i.e. BC = 8.20 cm or BC = 2.20 cm.

sin 35 sin Bˆ 6.5 sin 35

34. Sine rule:   sin Bˆ   sin Bˆ  0.932
4 6. 5 4
Hence Bˆ  68.8 or Bˆ  180  68.8  111.2

If Bˆ  68.8 , then Cˆ  180  35  68.8  76.2

sin 35 sin 76.2
Sine rule again:   AB  6.77
4 AB
If Bˆ  111.2 , then Cˆ  180  35  111.2  33.8
sin 35 sin 33.8
Sine rule again:   AB  3.88
4 AB

8
35. METHOD 1
sin C sin 20
  Ĉ = 152.9°  (From diagram) smallest triangle when Ĉ is obtuse
8 6
 CB̂A = 7.13° (or 7.1°)
1
Area ABC = (8)(6)(sin7.13°) = 2.98(cm2) (accept 2.97)
2

METHOD 2
Let AC = x
By the cosine rule 62 = 82 + x2 – (2)(8)(x)cos 20°
x = 2.178
1 1
Area = AB × ACsin(20°) = (8)(2.178)sin20° = 2.98(cm2)
2 2

36. METHOD 1

37. METHOD 1 Using cosine rule

METHOD 2 Using sine rule

For AC:

9
 PQ
38. (a) = tan 36° PQ  29.1 m (3 sf)
40
(b)

B
40m 30

Q 70
A

AQ̂B = 80°

AB 40
  AB = 41 9. m (3 sf)
sin 80 sin 70

39. (a) AB̂C = 110°

AC2 = 252 + 402 – 2(25)(40) cos 110°  AC = 53.9 (km)

(b) By using either sine rule or cosine rule:

BÂC = 44.2°  bearing = 074°

BD
40. (a) sin A   BD  c sin A
c
AD
(b) cos A   AD  c cos A
c
CD  AD  AD  b  c cos A
(c) BC 2  BD 2  CD 2

41.

10
42.

30
45
20
50

h h
Let h  AD . AB  , AC 
tan 30 tan 20
2 2
 h   h  h 2
    50  100(
2
 )
 tan 20   tan 30  tan 30 2
 h  13.6

43.

B. Exam style questions (LONG)

44.

11
45. (a) (AD)2 = 7.12 + 9.22  2(7.1) (9.2) cos 60AD = 8.35 (cm)
(b) 180  162 = 18
DE 8.35
=  DE = 2.75 (cm)
sin 18 sin 110

1
(c) 5.68 = (3.2) (7.1) sin DB̂C  sin DB̂C = 0.5
2
 DB̂C 30 or 150

(d) Finding A B̂ C (60 + D B̂ C)

(AC)2 = (AB)2 + (BC)2  (AC)2 = 9.22 + 3.22
 AC = 9.74 (cm)
1
(e) Area =  9.2  7.1 sin 60= 28.28...
2
Area of ABCD = 28.28... + 5.68= 34.0 (cm2)

46. (a) BD = 4 2  8 2  2  4  8 cos θ = 165  4 cos θ  = 4 5  4 cos θ

(b) (i) BD = 5.5653 ...

sin CB̂D sin 25
  sin CB̂D = 0.911
12 5.5653
(ii) CB̂D = 65.7r CB̂D = 180  65.7= 114

(iii) BD̂C = 89.3

BC 5.5653 BC 12
 or  (or cosine rule)
sin 89.3 sin 25 sin 89.3 sin 65.7

 BC = 13.2
Perimeter = 4 + 8 + 12 + 13.2 = 37.2
1
(c) Area =  4  8  sin 40= 10.3
2

47. (a) AC2 = 52 + 42 – 2 × 4 × 5 cosx  AC = 41  40 cos x

AC 4
(b)  , AC = 8 sin x
sin x sin 30

(c) (i) 8 sin x = 41  40 cos x  x = 111.32 to 2 dp

(ii) AC = 8 sin 111.32 = 7.45
(d) (i) 7.452 = 32 – 32 cos y  y = 137
1
(ii) Area = × 4 × 4 × sin 137 = 5.42
2

12
 7 2
6 2 2 6
48. (a)  2 sin A = 6   =
sin A sin 45 2 7 2 7

(b) (i) BD̂C + BÂC = 180°

6
(ii) sin A = => A = 59.0° or 121° (3 sf)
7
 BĈD = 180° – (121° + 45°)= 14.0° (3 sf)

7 2
BD
(iii)  2 =>BD = 1.69
sin 14 sin 45
1
BD  6 sin 45
Area ΔBCD 2 BD
(c)  =
Area ΔBAC 1 BA
BA  6 sin 45
2

49. (a) BC2 = 652 +1042 –2 (65) (104) cos 60°  BC = 91 m

(b) area = 1 (65) (104) sin 60° = 1690 3 (p = 1690)

2

(c) (i) A1 =  1  (65) (x) sin 30°= 65x

2 4

(ii) A2 =  1  (104) (x) sin 30°= 26x

2

(iii) A1 + A2 = A  65x + 26x = 1690 3

4

 169x = 1690 3
4

4  1690 3
x=  x = 40 3 (q = 40)
169
(d) (i) supplementary angles have equal sines
(ii) using sin rule in ΔADB and ΔACD

BD  65 sin 30
 BD 
sin 30 sin AD̂B 65 sin AD̂B

and DC  104  DC  sin 30

sin 30 sin AD̂B 104 sin AD̂C

since sin AD̂B = sin AD̂C

BD  DC  BD  65  BD  5
65 104 DC 104 DC 8

13
50.
O

10 10

F G
6

 10 2  6 2  10 2 
(a) (i) cos =     = 72.5° (3 s.f.)

 (2)(10)(6) 
(ii) h = shortest distance from O to FG = 3 tan = 9.53939... = 9.54 m (3 s.f.)
(iii) Area of OFG = 1
2
(10)(6)(sin )

1
total surface area of roof = 4 × (10)(6)(sin ) = 114.4727... = 114 m2 (3 s.f.)
2
(iv) Let φ = angle between slant height (line) and plane EFGH
3
cos φ =    φ = 71.7° (3 s.f.)
h

(v) H = Height of tower from base to O = 40+ h 2  3 2 = 49.055... = 49.1 m (3 s.f.)

6 sin 79
(b) Height (BP) = = 30.9 m (3 s.f.)
sin(90  79)

51. (a) (i) AP = ( x  8) 2  (10  6) 2  x 2  16 x  80

(ii) OP = ( x  0) 2  (10  0) 2  x 2  100

AP 2  OP 2  OA 2 ( x 2  16 x  80)  ( x 2  100)  (8 2  6 2 )
(b) cos OP̂A  =
2AP  OP 2 x 2  16 x  80 x 2  100

2 x 2  16 x  80 x 2  8 x  40
= 
2 x 2  16 x  80 x 2  100 {( x 2  16 x  80)( x 2  100)}

(c) For x = 8, cos OP̂A = 0.780869  OP̂A = 38.7° (3 sf)

8
OR tan OP̂A   OP̂A = 38.7° (3 sf)
10
(d) OP̂A = 60°  cos OP̂A = 0.5

x 2  8 x  40
0.5 =  x = 5.63
{( x 2  16 x  80)( x 2  100)}

(e) (i) f (x) = 1 when cos OP̂A = 1, hence, when OP̂A = 0.

This occurs when the points O, A, P are collinear.
3x 40
(ii) The line (OA) has equation y = When y = 10, x = (= 13 13 )
4 3
40
OR directly x= (= 13 13 )
3

14
 PR 9
52. (a) Sine rule   PR = 5.96 km
sin35 sin 120
9 sin 25
(b) EITHER Sine rule PQ = = 4.39 km
sin 120
OR Cosine rule: PQ2 = 5.962 + 92 – (2)(5.96)(9) cos 25 = 19.29  PQ = 4.39 km
4.39 5.96
Time for Tom = Time for Alan =
8 a
4.39 5.96
Then =  a = 10.9
8 a
(c) RS2 = 4QS2
4QS2 = QS2 + 81 – 18 × QS × cos 35  3QS2 + 14.74QS – 81 = 0
 QS = –8.20 or QS = 3.29
therefore QS = 3.29
OR
QS 2QS 1
  sin SR̂Q  sin 35  SR̂Q = 16.7°
sinS R̂Q sin35 2

Therefore, QŜR = 180 – (35 + 16.7) = 128.3°

9 QS
  QS = 3.29
sin 128.3 sin16.7

15