Trigonometric identities with triangles

A question is this type if and only if it requires using Pythagorean or other trigonometric identities (e.g., sin²θ + cos²θ = 1) in conjunction with sine or cosine rule.

6 questions · Standard +0.7

1.05b Sine and cosine rules: including ambiguous case1.05c Area of triangle: using 1/2 ab sin(C)
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OCR MEI C4 Q3
18 marks Challenging +1.2
3 Fig. 8 shows a searchlight, mounted at a point A, 5 metres above level ground. Its beam is in the shape of a cone with axis AC , where C is on the ground. AC is angled at \(\alpha\) to the vertical. The beam produces an oval-shaped area of light on the ground, of length DE . The width of the oval at C is GF . Angles DAC, EAC, FAC and GAC are all \(\beta\). \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{f5ab2a9d-3366-4b9b-86b0-85d5d923953c-2_695_877_503_242} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 8}
\end{figure} \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{f5ab2a9d-3366-4b9b-86b0-85d5d923953c-2_333_799_505_1048} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 8}
\end{figure} In the following, all lengths are in metres.
  1. Find AC in terms of \(\alpha\), and hence show that \(\mathrm { GF } = 10 \sec \alpha \tan \beta\).
  2. Show that \(\mathrm { CE } = 5 ( \tan ( \alpha + \beta ) - \tan \alpha )\). $$\text { Hence show that } \mathrm { CE } = \frac { 5 \tan \beta \sec ^ { 2 } \alpha } { 1 - \tan \alpha \tan \beta } \text {. }$$ Similarly, it can be shown that \(\mathrm { CD } = \frac { 5 \tan \beta \sec ^ { 2 } \alpha } { 1 + \tan \alpha \tan \beta }\). [You are not required to derive this result.]
    You are now given that \(\alpha = 45 ^ { \circ }\) and that \(\tan \beta = t\).
  3. Find CE and CD in terms of \(t\). Hence show that \(\mathrm { DE } = \frac { 20 t } { 1 - t ^ { 2 } }\).
  4. Show that \(\mathrm { GF } = 10 \sqrt { 2 } t\). For a certain value of \(\beta , \mathrm { DE } = 2 \mathrm { GF }\).
  5. Show that \(t ^ { 2 } = 1 - \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 2 } }\). Hence find this value of \(\beta\).
OCR MEI C4 Q2
5 marks Standard +0.3
2 In Fig. 6, \(\mathrm { ABC } , \mathrm { ACD }\) and AED are right-angled triangles and \(\mathrm { BC } = 1\) unit. Angles CAB and CAD are \(\theta\) and \(\phi\) respectively. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{c8ea5913-c527-40e7-bfcc-c1c2df544e04-2_452_535_437_781} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 6}
\end{figure}
  1. Find AC and AD in terms of \(\theta\) and \(\phi\).
  2. Hence show that \(\mathrm { DE } = 1 + \frac { \tan \phi } { \tan \theta }\).
Edexcel AEA 2009 June Q5
15 marks Challenging +1.8
5.(a)The sides of the triangle \(A B C\) have lengths \(B C = a , A C = b\) and \(A B = c\) ,where \(a < b < c\) .The sizes of the angles \(A , B\) and \(C\) form an arithmetic sequence.
  1. Show that the area of triangle \(A B C\) is \(a c \frac { \sqrt { 3 } } { 4 }\) . Given that \(a = 2\) and \(\sin A = \frac { \sqrt { } 15 } { 5 }\) ,find
  2. the value of \(b\) ,
  3. the value of \(c\) .
    (b)The internal angles of an \(n\)-sided polygon form an arithmetic sequence with first term \(143 ^ { \circ }\) and common difference \(2 ^ { \circ }\) . Given that all of the internal angles are less than \(180 ^ { \circ }\) ,find the value of \(n\) .
OCR MEI C4 2013 January Q6
5 marks Moderate -0.3
6 In Fig. 6, \(\mathrm { ABC } , \mathrm { ACD }\) and AED are right-angled triangles and \(\mathrm { BC } = 1\) unit. Angles CAB and CAD are \(\theta\) and \(\phi\) respectively. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{9bceee25-35bd-448b-a4a2-1a5667be5f11-03_440_524_504_753} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 6}
\end{figure}
  1. Find AC and AD in terms of \(\theta\) and \(\phi\).
  2. Hence show that \(\mathrm { DE } = 1 + \frac { \tan \phi } { \tan \theta }\). Section B (36 marks)
CAIE P1 2018 November Q6
7 marks Standard +0.3
\includegraphics{figure_6} The diagram shows a triangle \(ABC\) in which \(BC = 20\) cm and angle \(ABC = 90°\). The perpendicular from \(B\) to \(AC\) meets \(AC\) at \(D\) and \(AD = 9\) cm. Angle \(BCA = \theta°\).
  1. By expressing the length of \(BD\) in terms of \(\theta\) in each of the triangles \(ABD\) and \(DBC\), show that \(20\sin^2 \theta = 9\cos \theta\). [4]
  2. Hence, showing all necessary working, calculate \(\theta\). [3]
AQA AS Paper 1 2018 June Q6
7 marks Standard +0.8
\(ABC\) is a right-angled triangle. \includegraphics{figure_6} \(D\) is the point on hypotenuse \(AC\) such that \(AD = AB\). The area of \(\triangle ABD\) is equal to half that of \(\triangle ABC\).
  1. Show that \(\tan A = 2 \sin A\) [4 marks]
    1. Show that the equation given in part (a) has two solutions for \(0° \leq A \leq 90°\) [2 marks]
    2. State the solution which is appropriate in this context. [1 mark]