A Maths Revision Notes >>

Geometry problem

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 $\angle BAC = 30^\circ$.

sketch

(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

(ii) Show that $y^\circ = \sin^{-1} \left(\sqrt{39} \over 26\right)$.

Solutions

Past year O level questions

Year & paper Comments
2012 P1 Question 2 Link - Subscription required
2008 P1 Question 1 Link - Subscription required


Trigonometry: Real-life problem Trigonometry: Formulas & identities