Prerequisite knowledge
TOA, CAH, SOH:
$ \tan \theta = $ $ \phantom{.} {Opp \over Adj} $,
$ \cos \theta = $ $ \phantom{.} {Adj \over Hyp} $,
$ \sin \theta = $ $ \phantom{.} {Opp \over Hyp} $
Pythagoras theorem:
$ a^2 + b^2 = c^2 $
Special angles:
|
$30^\circ \text{ or } {\pi \over 6}$
| $45^\circ \text{ or } {\pi \over 4}$
| $60^\circ \text{ or } {\pi \over 3}$
|
| $\sin \theta$ |
$ \phantom{.} {1 \over 2} $ |
$ \phantom{.} {1 \over \sqrt{2}} $ |
$ \phantom{.} {\sqrt{3} \over 2} $ |
| $\cos \theta$ |
$ \phantom{.} {\sqrt{3} \over 2} $ |
$ \phantom{.} {1 \over \sqrt{2}} $ |
$ \phantom{.} {1 \over 2} $ |
| $\tan \theta$ |
$ \phantom{.} {1 \over \sqrt{3}} $ |
$ \phantom{.} 1 $ |
$ \phantom{.} \sqrt{3} $ |
Geometry formulas (provided):
\begin{align*}
\text{Sine rule: } & {a \over \sin A} = {b \over \sin B} \\
\\
\text{Cosine rule: } & a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2bc \cos A \\
\\
\text{Area of triangle} & = {1 \over 2} a b \sin C
\end{align*}
Questions
1. The diagram shows a triangle $ABC$ in which $AC = x$ cm, $\angle BAD = y^\circ$ and $\angle BCA = 90^\circ$. The midpoint of $BC$ is $D$ and $\angle BAC = 30^\circ$.
(from Mentor book)
(i) Show that the length of $AD$ is $ {\sqrt{a} \over b} x$ cm, where $a$ and $b$ are integers to be determined.
Solutions
\begin{align*}
\tan 30^\circ & = {BC \over x} \\
{1 \over \sqrt{3}} & = {BC \over x} \\
x & = \sqrt{3} BC \\
\\
BC & = {1 \over \sqrt{3}} x \times {\sqrt{3} \over \sqrt{3}} \\
& = {\sqrt{3} \over 3} x \\
\\
DC & = {\sqrt{3} \over 3}x \times {1 \over 2} \\
& = {\sqrt{3} \over 6}x \\
\\
\text{By Py} & \text{thagoras theorem,} \\
AD^2 & = DC^2 + CA^2 \\
& = \left( {\sqrt{3} \over 6} x\right)^2 + x^2 \\
& = {1 \over 12}x^2 + x^2 \\
& = {13 \over 12}x^2 \\
AD & = \sqrt{ {13 \over 12}x^2 } \\
& = {\sqrt{13} \over \sqrt{12}} x \\
& = {\sqrt{13} \over 2 \sqrt{3}} x \phantom{000000} [\sqrt{12} = \sqrt{4} \times \sqrt{3} ] \\
& = {\sqrt{13} \over 2\sqrt{3}} x \times {\sqrt{3} \over \sqrt{3}} \\
& = {\sqrt{39} \over 6} x \text{ cm}
\end{align*}
(ii) Show that $y^\circ = \sin^{-1} \left(\sqrt{39} \over 26\right)$.
Solutions
\begin{align*}
\angle CBA & = 180^\circ - 90^\circ - 30^\circ \\
& = 60^\circ \\
\\
{\sin y^\circ \over BD} & = { \sin 60^\circ \over AD} \phantom{000000} [\text{Sine rule}] \\
AD \sin y^\circ & = BD \sin 60^\circ \\
{\sqrt{39} \over 6} x \sin y^\circ & = \left({\sqrt{3} \over 6} x\right) \left(\sqrt{3} \over 2\right) \\
{\sqrt{39} \over 6} x \sin y^\circ & = {3 \over 12} x \\
{\sqrt{39} \over 6} x \sin y^\circ & = {1 \over 4} x \\
\sin y^\circ & = { {1 \over 4} x \over {\sqrt{39} \over 6} x } \\
& = { {1 \over 4} \over {\sqrt{39} \over 6} } \\
& = {1 \over 4} \div {\sqrt{39} \over 6} \\
& = {1 \over 4} \times {6 \over \sqrt{39}} \\
& = {6 \over 4 \sqrt{39}} \times { \sqrt{39} \over \sqrt{39} } \\
& = {6 \sqrt{39} \over 4(39)} \\
& = {6 \sqrt{39} \over 156} \\
& = {\sqrt{39} \over 26} \\
\\
\therefore y^\circ & = \sin^{-1} \left(\sqrt{39} \over 26\right) \phantom{0} \text{ (Shown)}
\end{align*}
Past year O level questions
| Year & paper |
Comments |
| 2012 P1 Question 2 |
Link - Subscription required |
| 2008 P1 Question 1 |
Link - Subscription required |
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