SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES

3.2
Solve problems involving three-dimensional objects
Task
(1)

: Answer all the questions below.

H

Solution:

6 2 32 6.708

HC=

C
B

The diagram above shows a cuboid with a

rectangular base, ABCD. Given that
AB = 6cm, BC = 4cm and CG=3 cm.
Find

BHC

BD =

6 2 4 2 7.211

HB =

4.69 2 32 7.810

7.810 2 6.708 2 4 2
cos BHC
2(7.810)(6.708)
= 0.8589
BHC = 30.810

(2)
H

B
The diagram above shows a cuboid with a
rectangular base ABCD. Given that
AB = 16 cm, BC = 4cm and CG=13 cm.

Find

(3)

BHC

[10.98]

F
D

The diagram above shows a cuboid with a

rectangular base ABCD. Given that AB = 6
cm, BC = 4cm and CG = 3 cm.
Find BGD.
4.

[74.44]

G
F

[ 4.772 cm ]

5.

D
F

The diagram on the left shows a cuboid with a rectangular

base ABCD. Given that BC = 8.2 cm, CG = 6.42 cm,

AB = 12.03 cm and

ABG =110.02.

To find unknown sides :

To find unknown
angles :

10. SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES

1.2
Use Sine Rule to find the unknownsin
sides
angles
A or sin
B ofsina triangle.
C

[ 17.91 cm ]

sin A sin B sin C

a
b
c

Task 1 : Find the unknown sides of a triangle when two of its angles and one of the corresponding
sides are known.
(1) Diagram 1 shows the triangle ABC.
Answer :

BC
8.2

sin 750 sin 400

BC
Calculate the length of BC.

8.2
sin 750
0
sin 40

Using the scientific calculator,

BC = 12.32 cm
(2) Diagram 2 shows the triangle PQR

Diagram 2
[ 8.794 cm ]

Calculate the length of PQ.

(3) Diagram 3 shows the triangle DEF.
D
15 cm

600

350 16

Diagram 3

Calculate the length of DE.

[ 10.00 cm ]

(4) Diagram 4 shows the triangle KLM.

L
K
420
630
15 cm
Diagram 4

M
Calculate the length of KM.

[ 11.26 cm ]

(5) Diagram 5 shows the triangle ABC.

Answer :

ABC 180 0 40 0 750 650

AC
8.2

sin 65 0 sin 40 0
Calculate the length of AC.

BC

8.2
0

sin
65
sin 40 0

Using the scientific calculator,

AC = 11.56 cm
(6) Diagram 6 shows the triangle PQR

Diagram 6

Calculate the length of PR.

[ 6.527 cm ]

(7) Diagram 7 shows the triangle DEF.

D
15 cm

600

350 16

Diagram 7

Calculate the length of EF.

[ 17.25 cm ]

(8) Diagram 8 shows the triangle KLM.

L
K
420
630
15 cm
M

Diagram 8

Calculate the length of KL.

[ 16.26 cm ]

Task 2 : Find the unknown sides of a triangle when two of its angles and the side not corresponding
to the angles are known.
(9) Diagram 9 shows the triangle ABC.
Answer :

ABC 1800 470 780 550

Diagram 9

BC
11.2

sin 470 sin 550

Calculate the length of BC.

BC

11.2
sin 47 0
0
sin 55

Using scientific calculator,

BC = 9.9996 cm or 10.00 cm
(10) Diagram 10 shows the triangle ABC.

Diagram 10
Calculate the length of AC.
[ 4.517 cm ]

7.2 cm
(11) Diagram 11 shows the triangle PQR.
P
Diagram
11
280

250

Q
Calculate the length of PQ.
[ 3.810 cm ]

(12) Diagram 12 shows the triangle DEF.

D

720
E

510

5.6 cm
Diagram 12

Calculate the length of DE.

[ 5.189 cm ]

Task 3 : Find the unknown angles of a triangle when two sides and a non-included angle are given.
(1) Diagram 1 shows the triangle ABC.
Answer :
A
10 cm

15 cm

600
Diagram 1

sin C sin 60 0

10
15

Find ACB.

10 sin 60 0
sin C
15

sin C 0.5774
C sin 1 0.5774

15 cm
L
(2) Diagram
2 shows the triangle KLM
K
Diagram 2
9 cm

500
M

C 35.270

Find KLM
[ 27.360 ]

(3) Diagram 3 shows the triangle DEF.

D
3.5 cm

12.5 cm

430 24
Diagram 3

Find DFE.
13 cm
(4) Diagram 4 shows the triangle PQR.

[ 11.090 ]

Diagram 4
10 cm
1300
Q

Find QPR.
Diagram9 5cm

14 cm
[ 36.110 ]

(5) Diagram 5 shows the triangle ABC.

Answer :

1100
C
Find ABC.

sin A sin 110 0

9
14
B

9 sin 110 0
sin A
14

sin A 0.6041
A sin 1 0.6041

A 37.160
ABC 180 0 110 0 37.16 0
Diagram 6

32.84 0

2.8 cm
(6) Diagram 6 shows the triangle KLM.
4.2 cm

250
M
Find KLM.
[ 138.640 ]

4.46.7
cm cm

(7) Diagram 7 shows the triangle DEF.

D

340

Diagram 7

F
Find DFE.

[ 124.460 ]

(8) Diagram 8 shows the triangle PQR.

P

12.3 cm
550

7.7 cm

Diagram 8

Find PQR.
[ 94.150 ]

cm
Task 4 : Find 14
the unknown
side of a triangle when two sides and a non-included angle are given.
(1) Diagram 1 shows the triangle ABC.
Answer :
Diagram 1

A9 cm

sin C sin 37 0

14
9

370
B
C

Given that ACB is an obtuse angle, find

the length of AC.

14 sin 37 0
sin C
9

sin C 0.9362
C sin 1 0.9362

C 110.580
B 1800 110.580 37 0
32.420
AC
sin 32.42 0

AC

9
sin 37 0
9 sin 32.42 0
sin 37 0

AC = 8.018 cm
9 cm
(2) Diagram 2 shows the triangle KLM
L
Diagram 2
400

K
7 cm
M

Given that KLM is an obtuse angle, find

the length of ML.

[ 2.952 cm ]

(3) Diagram 3 shows the triangle DEF.

D
8 cm

420
11 cm

F
Diagram 3
Given that the value of EDF is greater than
900, find the length of DE.

8.5 cm
(4) Diagram 4 shows the triangle PQR.
P

Diagram
460 4

[ 5.040 cm ]

6.9 cm
Q
Given that PQR is an angle in the second
quadrant of the cartesian plane, find the
length of QR.

[ 2.707 cm ]

(5) Diagram 5 shows the triangle KLM.

K

230
9.2 cm
Diagram 5

17.3 cm

M
Given that KLM is an angle in the second
quadrant of the cartesian plane, find the
length of KL.

[ 9.686 cm ]

10. SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES

2.2
Use Cosine Rule to find the unknown sides or angles of a triangle.

b2 c2 a2
cos A
2bc
a2 c2 b2
cos B
2acangle are given.
: Find the unknown side of a triangle when two sides and an included

Task 1
(1) Diagram 1 shows the triangle PQR such
that PR =12.3 cm , QR =16.4 cm and

PRQ = 67 .

Solution :

a2 b2 c2
cos C
2
2 2ab

x 2 16.4 12.3 2(16.4)(12.3) cos 67 0

P
12.3 cm

x cm
Q

670
16.4 cm

= 262.1

x 262.61

Diagram 1

x 16.21

Find the value of x.

(2) Diagram 2 shows the triangle PQR such that

R
PQ =7 cm, QR =5 cm and
x cm

5 cm
5cm
750
Q
7 cm

Diagram 2

PQR = 75 .

Find the value of x.

[ 7.475 ]

(3) Diagram 3 shows a triangle with sides 5 cm ,

13 cm and an included angle 43 .

x cm

5 cm

430
13 cm
Diagram 3

Find the value of x .

[ 9.946 ]

7 cm
(4) Diagram 4 shows the triangle PQR.
C
A
530
Diagram 4
6.3 cm
B
Find the length of BC.

[ 5.967 cm ]

5.8 cm
(5) Diagram 5 shows the triangle KLM.
K
Diagram 5

L
480

4 cm

M
Find the length of LM.
R
(6) Diagram 6 shows the triangle PQR.
2.23 cm
P

750 31
5.40 cm
Diagram 6

[ 4.312 cm ]

Find the length of PR.

[ 5.302 cm ]

(7) Diagram 7 shows a triangle with sides

6.21cm6.210 cm , 10.51 cm and an included angle
36 39 .
360 39
x cm
10.51cm
Diagram 7

Find the value of x .

[ 6.656 ]

Task 2 : Find the unknown angle of a triangle when three sides are given.
(1) In Diagram 1, ABC is a triangle where
Solution :
AB = 13 cm, AC = 14 cm and BC= 15 cm.

13 2 14 2 15 2
cos BAC
2(13)(14)

A
14 cm

13cm
B

15 cm
Diagram 1

=0.3846

BAC 67.38

BAC

Find
.
(2) Diagram 2 shows a triangle ABC where
AB = 11 cm, AC = 13 cm and BC= 16 cm.
A
11cm
B

16 cm
Diagram 2

BAC

13 cm
C

Find
.
(3) Diagram 3 shows a triangle ABC where
AB = 13 cm, AC = 16 cm and BC = 17.5 cm.

[ 83.17]

A
16 cm

13cm
B

17.5 cm
Diagram 3

Calculate

BAC
[ 73.41]

(4) Diagram 4 shows a triangle ABC where

AB = 12.67 cm, AC = 16.78 cm and
BC= 19.97 cm.
A
16.78 cm

12.67cm
B

19.97 cm

Diagram 4

Calculate

BCA

[39.17]

(5) In Diagram 5, PQR is a triangle such that

PR = 6.45 cm, RQ = 2.23 cm and
PQ = 5.40 cm.
R
6.45 cm
P

2.23 cm
Q

5.40 cm
Diagram 5

RQP .
Find

[108.07]

(6) In Diagram 6, PQR is a triangle such that

PR = 23.5 cm, RQ = 12.5 cm and
PQ= 18.7 cm.
R
23.5 cm
P

12.5 cm

18.7 cm

Diagram 6
Calculate the smallest angle in the triangle.

[31.96]

(7) For triangle ABC in Diagram 7, AB = 8.56

cm, AC = 11.23 cm and BC= 14.51 cm.
A
11.23cm

8.56cm
B

14.5 1cm
Diagram 7

Calculate the largest angle in the triangle.

[93.33]

(8) For triangle ABC in Diagram 8, AB = 13

cm, AC = 16 cm and BC= 17.5 cm.
A
16 cm

13cm
B

17.5 cm
Diagram 8

Calculate the second largest angle in the

triangle.

Area of =

10. SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES

3.1

Use the formula

of a triangle.

1
ab sin C
2

[61.19]

1
ab sin C
2
=

or its equivalent to find the area

Task : Find the area of a triangles given in each of the following..

(1) In Diagram 1, ABC is a triangle with
Solution:
AB= 6 cm, AC = 9 cm and

BAC 53 .

1
ABC (6)(9) sin 53
2
Area of

A
53

9 cm

6 cm
B

= 21.56 cm2

Diagram 1

Find the area of ABC

(2) In Diagram 2, ABC is a triangle with

AC= 6 cm, BC = 5 cm and

ACB 78 .

6 cm
B

78

5 cm

[ 14.67 cm2 ]

C Diagram 2

Find the area of ABC.

(3) In Diagram 3, ABC is a triangle with

ACB

120
AC= 6 cm, BC = 8 cm and
.
B
8 cm
120

C
6 cm

Diagram 3

[ 20.78 cm2 ]

Find the area of ABC.

(4) In Diagram 4, ABC is a triangle with
AC= 6 cm, BC = 12.5 cm and the reflex
B

angle

12.5 cm

250

ACB 250 .

6 cm
A

[ 35.24 cm2 ]

Diagram 4

Find the area of

ABC.

(5) In Diagram 5, ABC is a triangle such that

AB= 12.5 cm , AC = 6 cm and ACB=80.

Solution:

(a)

12.5
6

sin 80 sin CBA

80
6 cm

sin

12.5 cm

6 sin 80
12.5

CBA =

= 0.4727

Diagram 5

CBA =sin

Find (a) CBA,

(b) the area of the triangle.

-1

(0.2727)
=28.21

(b)

CAB 180 28.21 80

=71.79

Area of

ABC=

1
(6)(12.5) sin 71.79
2

=35.62 cm2

(6) In Diagram 6, ABC is a triangle such that

AB= 11 cm , AC = 15 cm and ACB=4534.

A
11cm

15 cm

B
4534'
C

Diagram 6

Find (a) CBA,

(b) the area of the triangle.

[ (a) 76.830 (b) 69.66 cm2 ]

(7) In Diagram 7, ABC is a triangle such that

AC = 7 cm, AB = 15 cm and
ACB = 11530.

15 cm
7cm 11530'
C
Diagram 7

Find (a) CBA,

(b) the area of the triangle

[ (a) 24.910 (b) 33.46 cm2 ]

(8) In Diagram 8, ABC is a triangle where

AB= 15 cm, BC =11 cm and AC=8 cm.

11 cm

Solution

B
(a)

8cm

112 15 2 8 2
cos B
2(11)(15)
=0.8545

15 cm

B = 31 30

Diagram 8

Find (a) the smallest angle,

(b) the area of

ABC.

(b)

1
(11)(15) sin 31 30 '
Area of ABC = 2
= 42.86

(9) In Diagram 9, ABC is a triangle where

AB= 30 cm, BC =25 cm and AC=20 cm.

C
25 cm

20 cm

30 cm

Diagram 9

Find (a) the largest angle,

(b) the area of

ABC.

[ (a) 82.820 (b) 248.04 cm2 ]

(10) In Diagram 10, ABC is a triangle where

AB = 13 cm, AC = 14 cm and BC= 15 cm.
A
13cm
B

14 cm

15 cm
Diagram 10

Find (a) the second largest angle,

(b) the area of

ABC.
[ (a) 59.490 (b) 84.00 cm2 ]

10. SOLUTION OF TRIANGLES

Further Practice with questions based on SPM format.
Task : Answer all the questions below.
(1) Diagram 1 shows a trapezium LMNO.
L 13 cm M

16 cm
31o
O

18 cm 1
Diagram

Calculate (a) LNM,

(b) the length of LN,
(c) the area of OLN.
[ (a) 24.740 (b) 25.67 cm (c) 118.99 cm2 ]

(2) In Diagram 2, BCD is a straight line.

A

32o
7 cm
B

10 cm

DiagramC2 5 cm

Find (a) ACD,

(b) the length of BC,
(c) the area of triangle ABD.
[ (a) 111.800 (b) 3.769 cm (c) 28.50 cm2 ]

(4) Diagram 4 shows a quadrilateral KLNM.

Diagram 4
Calculate (a) the length of LM,
(b) MNL,
(c) the area of quadrilateral KLNM.

[ (a) 12.92 cm (b) 31.730 (c) 141.65 cm2 ]

(5) In Diagram 5, QRS is a straight line.

Diagram 5
Find (a) QPR,
(b) the length of RS,
(c) the area of triangle PRS.

[ (a) 54.310 (b) 4.157 cm (c) 74.75 cm2 ]

(6) In Diagram 6, BCD is a straight line.

Diagram 6
Calculate (a) the length of AB,
(b) CAD,
(c) the area of triangle ACD.

[ (a) 6.678 cm (b)84.740 (c) 13.17 cm2 ]

Past year questions

1. SPM 2003 P2Q 15
Diagram below shows a tent VABC in the shape of a pyramid with triangle ABC as the horizontal

base. V is the vertex of the tent and the angle between the

inclined plane VBC and the base is

50o

[ANSWERS;
2.700,
] =AC =2.6m,
Given that VB
=VC3.149,
=2.2 m2.829
and AB
calculate
(a) the length of BC if the area of the base is 3 m2.
[3 marks]
(b) the length of AV if the angle between AV and the
base is 250.
[3 marks]
(c) the area of triangle VAB
[4 marks]

2. SPM 2004 P2 Q13

Diagram below shows a quadrilateral ABCD such that

ABC is acute.

(a)Calculate

(i)

ABC

(ii)
(b) A triangle ABC has the same measurements as those given for triangle ABC, that is, AC=12.3

B 'A 'C ' 40.5o , but which is different in shape to triangle ABC.

cm, CB=9.5cm and

(i) etch the triangle ABC

(ii) State the size of

A'B'C'

[2 marks]

[ANSWERS ; 57.23, 106.07, 80.96, 122.77]

3. SPM 2005 P2Q12
Diagram below shows triangle ABC
(a) Calculate the length, in cm, of AC.
[2 marks]
(b) A quadrilateral ABCD is now formed so that AC is a

ACD

40
diagonal,
and AD =16 cm. Calculate the
two possible values of

ADC

( c) By using the acute

[2 marks]

from (b) , calculate

[ANSWERS; 19.27, 50.73, 24.89, 290.1 ]

4. SPM 2006 P2 Q 13
Diagram below shows a quadrilateral ABCD.

The area of triangle BCD is 13 cm2 and

acute. Calculate

BCD

(a)
,
(b) the length, in cm, of BD,

BCD is
[2 marks]
[ 2 marks]

[ANSWERS ; 60.07, 5.573, 116.55 35.43 ]

5. SPM 2007 P2Q15
Diagram shows quadrilateral ABCD.
(a) Calculate
(i) the length, in cm, of AC

ACB

(ii)
[4 marks]
(b) Point A lies on AC such that AB =AB.

(i) Sketch

A ' BC


[ANSWERS 13.36, 23.88
13.80]
6. SPM 2008 P2Q14
In the diagram below, ABC is a triangle. ADFB,AEC and BGC are straight lines. The straight line
FG is perpendicular to BC.

DAE

80
FBG

45
It is given that BD = 19 cm, DA =16 cm, AE = 14 cm,
and
(a) calculate the length, in cm, of
(i)
DE
(ii)
EC
(b) The area of triangle DAE is twice the area of triangle FBG,
Calculate the length , in cm, of BG
(c) Sketch triangle ABC which has a different shape from triangle ABC
[ANSWERS: 19.344, 16.213, 10.502]

[5 marks]
[4 marks]
[ 1 mark]