3D Trigonometry

Starter
Can you find the value of x in this diagram to 2dp? Be
careful with rounding answers!
1) Start by finding the opposite 3) Then you can find the angle x by
side in the left triangle using the opposite and hypotenuse in
NOT TO SCALE the upper triangle
Hyp 𝑂𝑝𝑝=𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃× 𝐴𝑑𝑗
13cm
𝑂𝑝𝑝
𝑂𝑝𝑝=𝑇𝑎𝑛 42× 8 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃=
𝐴𝑑𝑗
x
49.82° 𝑂𝑝𝑝=7.20(2 𝑑𝑝) 9.9 4
Opp 5.94 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃=
13
2) Then subtract this from the
4cm hypotenuse of the lower triangle
𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃=0.7646…
42° 𝐴𝑑𝑗
5.94
𝐻𝑦𝑝= 𝜃=49.9 °
𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜃
8cm 12
7.20 Hyp
Adj 𝐻𝑦𝑝=
Opp 𝐶𝑜𝑠 24
24°
12cm 𝐻𝑦𝑝=13.14 (2 𝑑𝑝)
Adj
𝑆𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒=13.14−7.20=5.94
cuboid box

what are the diagonals?

three other diagonals the same length as FH?
B C

A D

F G

E H
three other diagonals the same length as FD?
B C

A D

F G

E H
space diagonals
cardboard box space diagonal length?

14½

19 29
cardboard box space diagonal length?

14½

19 29
 14½

19
29
lengths all in cm.
 14½

19
29
 14½

19
29
1202
19

29
 14½

1202
19
29
 14½

1202
19
29
37.58 cm
1412.25
14½

1202
find the length of the space diagonal lengths are all in cm.

13

6
18
 3D Trigonometry
ABCDEFGH is a cuboid, as shown.
a) Calculate the length of BD 8.06cm (√65)
b) Calculate the angle between BH and the base of the cuboid
 You can find the length of BD by just using the base

H G
4cm

E F 7cm
D C
6cm 𝑎 2+ 𝑏2=𝑐2
Sub in values
4cm
72 + 42 =𝑐 2
Add up
A B
7cm 6 5=𝑐 2
Square root
8 .06=𝑐
(Remember that as an exact value, c = √65!)
 3D Trigonometry
ABCDEFGH is a cuboid, as shown.
a) Calculate the length of BD 8.06cm (√65)
b) Calculate the angle between BH and the base of the cuboid
 To find the angle between BH and the base, draw on BH,
and look to make a right angled triangle (inside the shape)
H G
Opp
6
E F
θ
D C
6cm √65
Adj
θ 4cm 𝑂𝑝𝑝
√65 𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=
𝐴𝑑𝑗
6 Sub in values
A B
7cm 𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=
√ 65 Calculate
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=0.744…
Use inverse Tan
𝜃=36.7 °
(1)

find the length of the diagonal BH for a cuboid with sides

of 5 cm, 5 cm and l2 cm (to 2 d.p.)
(2)
the length of the diagonal BH is 13 cm
what is the (integer) length of the cuboid?
• SUCCESS CRITERIA: TO BE ABLE TO
APPLY PYTHAGORAS THEOREM
IDENTIFY 2D SHAPES IN 3D SOLD SHAPES.
REDRAW AN APPROPRIATE TRIANGLES INCLUDING
ALL THE FACTS TO SOLVE THE 3D PROBLEMS.
3D Pythagoras
The key here is identify some 2D triangle ‘floating’ in 3D space.
You will usually need to use Pythagoras twice.
Find the length of
diagonal connecting
two opposite corners of
a unit cube.
?

1
√3
√2 1
1
We obtained the by using Pythagoras
on the base of the cube.
3D Pythagoras
The key here is identify some 2D triangle ‘floating’ in 3D space.
You will usually need to use Pythagoras twice.
Determine the height of
this pyramid.

√?2
2
√2
√2 2
2
Angles between lines and planes
A plane is:
A flat 2D surface (not necessary
horizontal). ?

When we want to find the angle

between a line and a plane, use
the “drop method” – imagine the
line is a pen which you drop onto
the plane. The angle you want is
between the original and dropped
𝜃 lines.

Click for
Bromanimation
Angles between two planes

To find angle between two

lin planes:
e of
gr Use ‘line of greatest slope’*
ea on one plane, before again
te
st
s ‘dropping’ down.?
lo
pe * i.e. what direction would be ball roll down?

𝐵 Example:
6𝑐𝑚 𝐶 Find the angle between
pe the plane and the
l o
sts 3𝑐𝑚 horizontal plane.
ate
f gre
𝐴 lin
e o
𝜽 ?
𝐷
Test Your Understanding

1 A pyramid has a square base of sides 6cm.

Vertex , is directly above the centre of the
base, .
Work out the height of the pyramid.

?
Test Your Understanding

2 The diagram shows a vertical

mast, , 12 metres high. Points
are on a horizontal plane.
Point is due West of .
a) Calculate
b) Calculate the bearing of
from to the nearest degree

a)

b)

?
 Exercise 2
1 A cube has sides 8cm. Find: 2 A radio tower 150m tall has two support cables
a) The length . ? running 300m due East and some distance due
b) The angle between and the South, anchored at and . The angle of inclination
horizontal plane. ? to the horizontal of the latter cable is as
indicated.
𝐵

8 150𝑚

𝐶 300 𝑚 𝐴
50°
8
𝐴 𝐵
a) Find the angle between the cable attached to
and the horizontal plane. ?
b) Find the distance between and . 325.3m
?
Exercise 2
𝐶
N

5
𝐷 4
𝐵
3
𝑋
𝐴
a) is a point on such that is the line of greatest slope on the triangle . Determine the
length of .
By Pythagoras , and . If , then . Then can be expressed in two different ways:

Solving: ?
b) Hence determine .
c) Hence find the angle between the planes and .
?
?
 6 [Set 3 Paper 2] The diagram shows
part of a skate ramp, modelled as a
triangular prism.
represents horizontal ground. The
vertical rise of the ramp, , is 7 feet.
The distance feet.

You are given that

a) The gradient of is twice the gradient of . Write
down the distance . 48
b) Greg skates down the ramp along ? . How much
further would he travel if he had skated along .

?
 Exercise 2
5 [June 2013 Paper 2] is a cuboid. is the
midpoint of . is the midpoint of .
a) Show that 7.5m
b) Work out the angle between the line
and the plane .

c) Work out the obtuse angle between

the planes and ?
.

?
(1)

for the triangular prism door wedge shown calculate the length of the
diagonal PT
(2)

for the right, square-based pyramid

shown, calculate the height of the vertex,
V
above the square base
3 D TIGONOMETRY IN REAL LIFE
a guyed mast
height = 78 feet

guys are wire rope

how much is
needed?

distance between guy

anchors (square base)
= 56.6 feet
a guyed mast
height = 78 feet
equal sections

guys are wire rope

how much is
needed?

distance between guy

anchors (square base)
= 56.6 feet
 Plenary
The great pyramid of Giza is a square based pyramid of side length 230m,
and is 139m high. If you were to stand in one corner and walk up the
pyramid to the top, what angle would you be walking up at and how far
would you have to walk?
 We need the length of the diagonal first

𝑎 2+ 𝑏2=𝑐2
Sub in values
230m 2302 +230 2=𝑐 2
Add up
1 05800=𝑐 2
Square root
230m
325.27=𝑐
230m
325.27m

230m
 Plenary
The great pyramid of Giza is a square based pyramid of side length 230m,
and is 139m high. If you were to stand in one corner and walk up the
pyramid to the top, what angle would you be walking up at and how far
would you have to walk?
 Now we can draw the height on, and halve the length
we just found…

139m
𝑂𝑝𝑝
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=
Opp
𝐴𝑑𝑗
139 Sub in values
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=
139m 162.63
Calculate
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=0.854…
40.5°
θ Use inverse Tan
230m 𝜃=40.5 °
325.27m 162.63m
162.63m
Adj
230m So you would be walking
up at an angle of 40.5°
The great pyramid of Giza is a square based pyramid of side length 230m,
and is 139m high. If you were to stand in one corner and walk up the
pyramid to the top, what angle would you be walking up at and how far
would you have to walk?
 Now we can draw the height on, and halve the length
we just found…

139m So you would be walking up at an

angle of 40.5°

139m 𝑎 2+ 𝑏2=𝑐2
Sub in values
162.632 +1392=𝑐 2
40.5° Add up
230m
162.63m
4 5771=𝑐 2
162.63m Square root

230m 213.9=𝑐
So you would have to walk a distance
of 213.9m to the top!
a square base pyramid

height of the
pyramid

lateral edge
slant height
(apothem)
(1) (2)

for the triangular prism door wedge shown for the right, square-based pyramid
calculate the length of the diagonal PT shown, calculate the height of the vertex,
V
above the square base

(3) (4) square base length = 12, height = h,

for the right, regular
V lateral edge = L
hexagon pyramid
shown

calculate the L
h
perpendicular height of
the vertex, V , above 6 cm
the hexagon base
12

create a formula for L in terms of h

find L if (i) h = 3 (ii) h = 7 (iii) h = 17
2 cm
 Summary
• We have looked at using Trigonometry
in 3D shapes

• We have seen how to model this using

2D diagrams

• We have seen that diagrams help a lot!!