Trigonometry topic study guide

Question verbs Definition

Sketch A rough or unfinished drawing
Find Provide an answer to
Show Provide the answer with methodology
Key terms Definition
Obtuse An angle that measures more than 90 °
Values A number signifying the result of a calculation or function
Angle An angle is the figure formed by two rays
degree A measurement of a plane angle in which one full rotation is 360
degrees
area The measure of a region's size on a surface
triangle A polygon with three edges and three vertices
Questions appearing in past HSC papers
Question name 2021 mathematics advanced Q12a &
Q12b
A right-angled triangle XYZ is cut out from a semicircle with centre O. The length of
the diameter XZ is 16 cm and YXZ = 30°, as shown on the diagram.

(a) Find the length of XY in centimetres, correct to two decimal places.

[2 marks]
(b) Hence, find the area of the shaded region in square centimetres, correct to one
decimal place.
[3 marks]
Worked solution annotation
a. adjacent
Using the Cosine rule, cosθ= . Using that,
hypotenuse
16
we can move the XY onto the left to get XY =
cos 30
which, when evaluated, is 13.86 to 2 d.p.

b.

To find the area of the shaded region, you first need to

1 2
find the area of the semi-circle using the formula π r
2
and subtract from it the area of the triangle using the
1
formula ab × sinC .
2
Question name 2021 mathematics advanced Q18
The diagram shows a triangle ABC where AC = 25 cm, BC = 16 cm, BAC = 28° and angle
ABC is obtuse.
[3 marks]

Find the size of the obtuse angle ABC correct to the nearest degree.
Worked solution annotation
sinA sinB
Using sine rule, = , you can flip the formula
a b
a ∙ sinB
to solve for sinA with the formula sinA= . From
b
there, using sin−1 , you will get the inverse of sinA
which will give you A. However, the angle is obtuse, so
you need to take A and subtract it from 180 to get ∠ B.
Question name 2022 mathematics advanced Q28
2 2
The graph of the circle x + y =2 is shown.
The interval connecting the origin, O , and the point (1 , 1) makes an angle θ with the
positive x -axis.

By considering the value of θ , find the exact area of the shaded region, as shown on the
diagram.
[2 marks]
Worked solution annotation
To find the area of the shaded region, you first need to
1 2 c
find the area of the sector using the formula r θ and
2
1
subtract the area of the triangle bh.
2

This give you the formula for the shaded region

1 2 c 1
r θ − bh. Then you substitute in the values from
2 2
1 2 π 1
the question giving you ×1 × − × 1× 1 which can
2 4 2
be solved for the area.
Functions topic study guide
Question verbs Definition
Which Chose an option from a definite set
Solve find an answer to
Find Provide an answer to
Show Provide the answer with methodology
Graph plot or trace on a graph
Key terms Definition
Line An infinitely long object with no width, depth, or curvature
Function An expression, rule, or law that defines a relationship between
two variables
Equation A statement that the values of two mathematical expressions are
equal (indicated by the sign =).
Axis A line with respect to which a curve or figure is drawn, measured,
or rotated
Questions appearing in past HSC papers
Question name 2021 mathematics advanced Q11

x−1
Solve x + =9
2
[2 marks]
Worked solution Annotation
First, we need to multiply both sides by 2 to remove
the division on the left hand side.

Then, we can add the 2 x and the x into 3 x and add the
1 onto both sides which gives us 3 x=19. Then we
need to divide both sides by 3 to give us x .

Question name 2022 mathematics advanced Q12a

A student believes that the time it takes for an ice cube to melt (M minutes) varies
inversely with the room temperature (T°C). The student observes that at a room
temperature of 15°C it takes 12 minutes for an ice cube to melt.

Find the equation relating M and T.

[2 marks]
Worked solution Annotation
 When the room is at 15 ℃ and it takes 12 minutes for
k
the ice cube to melt, 12= .
15

k =18 0 which subbed into the original equation gives

180
M= .
T
Question name 2022 mathematics advanced Q31a
A line passes through the point P(1 , 2) and meets the axes at X ( x , 0) and Y (0 , y ),
where x >1.

2x
Show that y=
x−1
[2 marks]
Worked solution Annotation
The gradient XP=PY

rise
Using we can find the gradient of the two points
run
using the third point, P.

Then the y is moved to one side to solve for x which is

2x
y= .
x−1