Problems in

2- and 3-
CAPS
Dimensions Mathematics
Series
 Outcomes for this Topic
In this topic we will:
1. Review the area, sine and cosine rules
Unit 1

2. Solve geometric problems in

2  dimensions Unit 2

3. Solve geometric problems in

3  dimensions Unit 3
 Unit 1

Review of the
Sine, Cosine and Area
Rules for Triangles CAPS
Mathematics
Series
Recall the formula for area of any triangle ABC
C
Area ABC  1
2 bc sin A
or b a
Area ABC  1
2 ac sin B
or A c B
C
Area ABC  1
2 ab sin C
C
b a
b a
A c B
A c B
We know that one way to find unknown sides and angles
in non-right angled triangles is by using the Sine Rule :

a b c
 
sin A sin B sin C C
or
sin A sin B sin C
 
b a
h
a b c
Proof of Sine Rule is Examinable
A c N B
The sine rule for triangles can be used when:
• Two angles and a side are given
sin A sin B a sin B
Use  b to determine b.
a b sin A
sin A sin C a sin C
 c
Use
a c sin A
to determine c.
A is also known!
• Two sides and the non-included angle are given
sin A sin C a sin C
Use   sin A  to determine A.
a c c

Remember ambiguous case occurs when the shorter

of the two given sides is opposite the given angle.
The Cosine Rule for triangle ABC is given by:
a 2  b 2  c 2  2bc cos A (1) C

or
b
b  a  c  2ac cos B (2)
2 2 2 a

or
A c B
c  a  b  2ab cos C (3)
2 2 2

• This rule applies when 2 sides and the angle formed

by them are known.
• The letters can be switched to find any side
provided it is opposite the given angle.
The cosine rule for triangles can be used to:
• Determine the third side when two sides
and included angle are given B

Use a 2  b 2  c 2  2bc cos A to determine a

if b, c and A are given
C A
Similarily : Use b  a  c  2ac cos B to determine b
2 2 2

and c 2  a 2  b2  2ab cos C to determine c

• Determine any angle if Use :
three sides are given. b2  c 2  a 2
cos A  to determine A
2bc
B
a 2  c 2  b2
cos B  to determine B
2ac
a 2  b2  c 2
C A cos C  to determine C
2ab
Tutorial 1: Applications - Sin, Cosine and Area Rules

In the diagram AB  9 units; AD  6 units; DB  8 units

and BC  7 units. DC // AB.
1. Calculate ABD PAUSE
• Do Tutorial 1
2. Calculate DCB • Then View Solutions
3. Calculate DC
4. Determine the area of quadrilateral ABCD
1. Calculate ABD

We have 3 sides that are given in triangle ABD

So we use the Cosine Rule :
92  82  6 2 109
cos ABD    0, 757
2(9)(8) 144
 ABD  40,8
2. Calculate DCB

Now ABD  BDC (alternate angles DC//AB)

Using the Sine Rule we get:
sin DCB sin BDC

8 7
8sin 40,8
 sin DCB 
7
 8sin 40,8 
 DCB  sin 1    48,3
 7 
2. DCB can be obtuse:
D C1 C2

Shorter side is opposite the given angle

 Two possibilities
A B
DC1 B  180  48, 3  131, 7
or DC 2 B  48, 3
 40,8
48,3
3. Calculate DC when
C  48,3  acute 

DBC  180  (40,8  48,3)  90,9

DC 7

sin 90,9 sin 40,8
sin 90,9  7
 DC   10, 7 units
sin 40,8
3. Calculate DC when
C  131, 7  obtuse  40,8

DBC  180  (40,8  131, 7)  7,5

DC 7

sin 7,5 sin 40,8
sin 7,5  7
 DC   1, 40 units
sin 40,8
 10, 7

4. Find the area

40,8
of ABCD

Area of quadrilateral ABCD

 Area ABD  Area BCD
1 1
  8  9  sin 40,8   10, 7  8  sin 40,8
2 2
51, 49 square units
 1, 40

4. Find the area

of ABCD
40,8

Area of quadrilateral ABCD

 Area ABD  Area BCD
1 1
  8  9  sin 40,8   1, 40  8  sin 40,8
2 2
27,18 square units
 Unit 2

Problems in CAPS
2-Dimensions Mathematics
Series
 Angles of elevation and depression
The following diagrams show you how to identify
angles of elevation and depression
Some Strategies for solving 2-D Problems

• Fill in all given information on the diagram

• The sine rule is used in almost every example
• Start by using basic geometry results
e.g. exterior angle of a triangle, co-interior angles,
alternate angles, corresponding angles etc.
• Consider also trigonometric identities such as
sin(180  x )  sin( x ),cos(90  x )   sin x,
0 0

sin(90  x )  cos x, etc.

0
 Example 1: Problem in 2-Dimensions
1. The angle of elevation
of the top of a building B ,
0

from a point A on a level

road is 36. At a point C
27 metres further down 250 360

the road, the angle of

elevation is 25
If D represents the base of the building,
calculate the height of the building
(BD in the diagram)
 2-Dimensional Problems
Solution Example 1
Use the sine rule in ΔABC Calculate BD
CBA  36  25  11
AB 27

sin 25 sin11
27sin 25
 AB   59,8 m
sin11
BD
Now in ΔABD, sin 36 
AB
 BD  AB sin 36  59,8  sin 36
 BD  35,15 m
 Example 2: Problem in 2-Dimensions
2. A cableway AB which is 800 metres long connects two
mountains across a valley. From A the angle of depression
of B is 23 and the angle of depression of the bottom of the
valley at C is 54 and DBC  50. Calculate distance AC .
 2-Dimensional Problems
Solution: Example 2
Write down the known angles
ABD  23 (alt. angles)
ABC  73  23  50  31
23
CAB  31  54  23  76
ACB  180  (31  73)  76
AC AB AB  sin ABC
Now   AC 
sin ABC sin ACB sin ACB
800  sin 73
 AC 
sin 76
 788, 46 metres
 Tutorial 2: 2-Dimensional Problems
1. AD is a radio mast on top of a building DC.
The angle of elevation of D from B is 43 and
of the angle of elevation of A from B is 52.
If AD  10 m, calculate height DC of the building .

PAUSE
• Do Problem 1 of Tutorial 2
• Then View Solutions
 Tutorial 2: Suggested Solution: Problem 1
Calculate the height DC of the building.
Write down all known angles
ABD  9
38
A= 90  52  38
BD AD
 9
sin A sin ABD
BD 10
 
sin 38 sin 9
10 sin 38  DC  BD  sin 43
 BD 
sin 9  DC  39, 36  sin 43
 39, 36 m  Building is 26,84 metres high
 Tutorial 2: 2-Dimensional Problems
2. A sportsground is marked off as a trapezium ABCD,
with ABE  60 and DCF  40. AD BC and AE  BC
and DF  BC. If BE  30 metres and AD  40 metres,
determine the lengths of
(a) AE
(b) DF PAUSE
(c) CF • Do Problem 2 of Tutorial 2
• Then View Solutions

Hence, determine:
(d) the area of ABCD.
 Tutorial 2: Suggested Solution: Problem 2

AE
(a) tan 60 
30
 AE  30 tan 60
 51,96 m
(b) DF  AE
 51,96 m

DF 51,96
(c) tan 40   FC   61,92 m
FC tan 40
 Tutorial 2: Suggested Solution: Problem 2
1 AE  51,96 m
(d) Area of ABCD   AD  BC  ( AE )
2
1
 (40  30  40  61,92)(51,96)
2
 4466, 48 m 2

(d) Alternate way

Area of ABCD
 Area ABE + Area AEFD + Area DFC
1 1
 (30)(51,96)  (51,96)(40)  (61,92)(51,96)
2 2
 4466, 48 m 2 FC  61,92 m
 Unit 3

Problems in CAPS
3-Dimensions Mathematics
Series
1. In the figure alongside, BCD is on the horizontal plane. AB is
drawn perpendicular to BCD. Thus, ACB is a vertical
plane and ACB is an angle on this plane ( vertical).
BCD; BDC and CBD are angles of BCD

NB : We work with plane BCD first,

then plane ACB (or vice versa)
2. In the figure below, two planes intersect
along a straight line SP. Take any point A on the line
and draw perpendiculars to this line through A, one
in each plane. The angle between these 2 perpendiculars
is also the angle between the 2 planes
Some Strategies for solving 3-D Problems
• Interpret the given figure correctly in 3 - dimensions
• Right angles in 3  D do not always look like right angles
• Shade the horizontal plane and mark all right angles
• It may help if the figure is drawn "folded open".


3-D Pyramid 2-D Net Representation
 Example 1: 3-Dimensional Problem
1. PQ is a mast with Q being
the foot. R and S are two
points in the same
horizontal plane as Q.
QRS  65, QSR  70 72

and QRP  72. 65

70

If QS  12m, calculate PQ.

 3-Dimensional Problems
Solution Example 1
1. Find QR first: Calculate PQ
QR 12

sin 70 sin 65
12sin 70
 QR   12,44m
sin 65
72
PQ
Now tan 72  65
QR
70
 PQ  QR tan 72
 12, 44 tan 72
 38, 29 m
 Example 2: 3-Dimensional Problem
2. In the figure A, B and C
are 3 points in the same
horizontal plane. AD
represents a tower that is
perpendicular to the plane.

If BDA  ABC  BCA  

and BC  x , prove that
x
AD 
2sin 
 3-Dimensional Problems: Solution 2
2. BAC  1800  2 x
Prove AD 
sin BAC  sin(1800  2 )  sin 2 2 sin 
AB x
Now 
sin C sin BAC
x sin C
 AB 
sin BAC
x sin 

sin 2
x sin 

2 sin  cos 
x

2 cos 
AB AB
In ABD, tan θ   AD 
AD tan θ
 x   cos θ  x
 AD     
 2 cos θ   sin θ  2 sin θ
 Tutorial 3: 3-Dimensional Problems
1. In the figure alongside, AC
PAUSE
and BD are vertical posts. • Do Problem 1 of Tutorial 3
• Then View Solutions
A, B and P are points on level
ground. PC and PD are wires
and PD  6 metres.
Prove that
6 cos y sin z tan x
AC 
sin w
Hence, find AC if x  35, y  52,
w  42 and z  56
 Tutorial 3: Suggested Solution: Problem 1
BP
1. In PBD : cos y  Find AC
6
 BP  6 cos y
BP AP
In APB : 
sin w sin z
BP sin z 6 cos y sin z
 AP  
sin w sin w
AC
In APC : tan x 
AP
6 cos y sin z tan x
 AC  AP tan x 
sin w
6 cos 52 sin 56 tan 35
AC  x  35, y  52,
sin 42
 3, 2m w  42and z  56
 Tutorial 3: 3-Dimensional Problems
2. In the figure alongside B, C and D
are 3 points in the same horizontal plane
PAUSE Topic
and AB is a vertical pole of length p metres.• Do Problem 2 of Tutorial 3
• Then View Solutions
The angle of elevation of A from C is  ,
BCD   , CBD  30and BD  8 metres.
(a) Express CDB in terms of 
(b) Express BC in terms of p and a
trigonometric function of 

(c) Hence, show that p  4 1  3 tan  
(d) Use the result in (c) to calculate
the value of  (to one decimal place), if
the length of the pole is 12 metres.
Tutorial 3: Suggested Solution: Problem 2(a)&(b)

(a) Express CDB in terms of 

2. (a) CDB  150  
(b) Express BC in terms of p and a
p trigonometric function of 
(b) tan  
BC
p
 BC 
tan 
Also
BC 8

sin(150   ) sin 
8 sin(150   )
 BC 
sin 
Tutorial 3: Suggested Solution: Problem 2(c)
Showed that:  sin 
8sin 150     Note: tan   cos 
BC 
p
and BC   
tan  sin 

p 8sin 150    
Show p  4 1  3 tan  
2. (c) Now 
tan  sin 
8sin 150    tan 
 p
sin 
8  sin150 cos   cos150 sin  
 p
cos 
1 3 
8  cos   sin  
 2 2 

cos 

 4 1  3 tan  
Tutorial 3: Suggested Solution: Problem 2(d)
We have:

p  4 1 3 tan  

 
(d) Now 4 1  3 tan   12

 
 1  3 tan   3
2
 tan    1,155
3
   49,1
 End of the Topic Slides on
Problems in 2- and 3- Dimensions

REMEMBER!
• Consult text-books and past exam papers and memos
for additional examples.
• Attempt as many as possible other similar examples on
your own.
• Compare your methods with those that were discussed
in these Topic slides.
• Repeat this procedure until you are confident.

• Do not forget: Practice makes perfect!