CHAPTER 21 INTRODUCTION TO TRIGONOMETRY

EXERCISE 82 Page 206

1. Find the length of side x

By Pythagoras’s theorem, 412  x 2  402

from which, x 2  412  402 and x = 412  402 = 9 cm

2. Find the length of side x

By Pythagoras’s theorem, 252  x 2  7 2

from which, x 2  252  7 2 and x = 252  7 2 = 24 m

3. Find the length of side x, correct to 3 significant figures.

By Pythagoras’s theorem, x 2  4.7 2  8.32

from which, x= 4.7 2  8.32 = 9.54 mm

4. In a triangle ABC, AB = 17 cm, BC = 12 cm and ABC = 90. Determine the length of AC,

correct to 2 decimal places.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 349

Triangle ABC is shown sketched below.

By Pythagoras’s theorem, AC2  17 2  12 2

AC = 17  12 = 20.81cm
2 2
from which,

5. A tent peg is 4.0 m away from a 6.0 m high tent. What length of rope, correct to the nearest

centimetre, runs from the top of the tent to the peg?

The tent peg is shown as P in the sketch below, with AB being the tent height.

Py Pythagoras, length of rope, AP = 6.02  4.02 = 7.21 m

6. In a triangle ABC, B is a right angle, AB = 6.92 cm and BC = 8.78 cm. Find the length of the

hypotenuse.

Triangle ABC is shown sketched below.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 350

By Pythagoras’s theorem, AC 2  6.922  8.782

from which, hypotenuse, AC = 6.922  8.782 = 11.18 cm

7. In a triangle CDE, D = 90o, CD = 14.83 mm and CE = 28.31 mm. Determine the length of DE.

Triangle CDE is shown sketched below.

By Pythagoras’s theorem, 28.312  DE 2  14.832

from which, DE 2  28.312  14.832 and DE = 28.312  14.832 = 24.11 mm

8. Show that if a triangle has sides of 8, 15 and 17 cm it is right angled.

Pythagoras’s theorem applies to right-angled triangles only.

Assuming the hypotenuse is 17, then 17  15  8

2 2 2

i.e. 289 = 225 + 64

Since Pythagoras’s theorem may be applied, the triangle must be right-angled.

9. Triangle PQR is isosceles, Q being a right angle. If the hypotenuse is 38.46 cm find (a) the lengths

of sides PQ and QR, and (b) the value of QPR.

(a) Since triangle PQR in the diagram below is isosceles, PQ = QR

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 351

 From Pythagoras, (38.47)  (PQ)  (QR)  2(PQ)
2 2 2 2

38.47 2 38.47 2 38.47

 PQ   
2

from which, 2 and PQ = 2 2 = 27.20 cm

Hence, PQ = QR = 27.20 cm

(b) Since triangle PQR is isosceles, P = R and since Q = 90, then P + R = 90

Hence, QPR = 45 (=QRP)

10. A man cycles 24 km due south and then 20 km due east. Another man, starting at the same time

as the first man, cycles 32 km due east and then 7 km due south. Find the distance between the

two men

With reference to the diagram below, AB = 32 – 20 = 12 km

and BC = 24 – 7 = 17 km

Hence, distance between the two men, AC =

 12 2
 17 2 
= 20.81 km by Pythagoras.

11. A ladder 3.5 m long is placed against a perpendicular wall with its foot 1.0 m from the wall. How

far up the wall (to the nearest centimetre) does the ladder reach? If the foot of the ladder is now

moved 30 cm further away from the wall, how far does the top of the ladder fall?

Distance up the wall, AB =


3.52  1.02 
= 3.35 m by Pythagoras.
© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 352
A 'B   A 'C '    BC '   

2 2
  3.5 2
 1.30 2   3.25 m

Hence, the amount the top of the ladder has moved down the wall, given by AA = 3.35 – 3.25

= 0.10 m or 10 cm

12. Two ships leave a port at the same time. One travels due west at 18.4 knots and the other due

south at 27.6 knots. If 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour, calculate how far apart the two ships

are after 4 hours.

After 4 hours, the ship travelling west travels 4  18.4 = 73.6 nautical miles, and the ship travelling

south travels 4  27.6 = 110.4 nautical miles, as shown in the diagram below.

Hence, distance apart after 4 hours =

 73.6 2
 110.42 
= 132.7 nautical miles by Pythagoras.

13. The diagram shows a bolt rounded off at one end. Determine the dimension h.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 353

Part of the bolt is shown below.

From Pythagoras, AB  AC  BC 452  162  BC 2 and BC2  452  162

2 2 2
i.e.

from which, length BC =

 45 2
 162   1769
= 42.06 mm

Length BD = radius = 45 mm, hence, h = CD = BD – BC = 45 – 42.06 = 2.94 mm

14. The diagram shows a cross-section of a component that is to be made from a round bar. If the

diameter of the bar is 74 mm, calculate the dimension x.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 354

From the above diagram, 0B2  0A 2  AB2

x
where AB = 2 , 0B = 37 mm (radius) and 0A = 72 – 37 = 35 mm

Hence, AB2  0B2  0A 2  37 2  352 and AB =

 37 2
 352 
= 12 mm

Hence dimension, x = 2  12 = 24 mm

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 355

EXERCISE 83 Page 208

1. Sketch a triangle XYZ such that Y = 90, XY = 9 cm and YZ = 40 cm. Determine sin Z, cos Z,

tan X and cos X.

Triangle XYZ is shown sketched below.

By Pythagoras’ theorem, XZ = 402  92 = 41

opposite XY 9 adjacent YZ 40
 
sin Z = hypotenuse XZ = 41 cos Z = hypotenuse XZ = 41

opposite YZ 40 adjacent XY 9
  
tan X = adjacent XY 9 cos X = hypotenuse XZ = 41

2. In triangle ABC shown below, find sin A, cos A, tan A, sin B, cos B and tan B

By Pythagoras’ theorem, AC = 52  32 = 4

opposite BC 3 adjacent AC 4 opposite BC 3

   
sin A = hypotenuse AB = 5 cos A = hypotenuse AB = 5 tan A = adjacent AC 4

opposite AC 4 adjacent BC 3 opposite AC 4

  
sin B = hypotenuse AB = 5 cos B = hypotenuse AB = 5 tan B = adjacent BC = 3

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 356

 15
3. If cos A = 17 find sin A and tan A, in fraction form.

15
Triangle ABC is shown sketched below where cos A = 17

By Pythagoras’ theorem, BC = 17  15 = 8
2 2

opposite BC 8 opposite BC 8
  
sin A = hypotenuse AC = 17 and tan A = adjacent AB 15

15
4. If tan X = 112 , find sin X and cos X, in fraction form.

15
Triangle XYZ is shown sketched below where tan X = 112

By Pythagoras’ theorem, XZ = 15  112 = 113

2 2

opposite YZ 15 adjacent XY 112

  
sin X = hypotenuse XZ = 113 and cos X = hypotenuse XZ 113

5. For the right-angled triangle shown, find: (a) sin  (b) cos  (c) tan 

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 357

 opposite 15
(a) sin  = hypotenuse = 17

adjacent 15
(b) cos  = hypotenuse = 17
opposite 8
(c) tan  = adjacent = 15

7
6. If tan  = 24 , find sin  and cos  in fraction form.

7
Triangle ABC is shown sketched below where tan  = 24

By Pythagoras’ theorem, AC = 242  7 2 = 25

opposite AB 7 adjacent BC 24
  
sin  = hypotenuse AC = 25 and cos  = hypotenuse AC 25

7. Point P lies at co-ordinate (- 3, 1) and point Q at (5, - 4). Determine (a) the distance PQ, and

(b) the gradient of the straight line PQ.

(a) From the diagram below, PQ =

5 2
 82 
= 9.434 by Pythagoras

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 358

 1  4 5

(b) Gradient of PQ = 3  5 8 = - 0.625

EXERCISE 84 Page 211

1. Determine, correct to 4 decimal places, 3 sin 66 41

Using a calculator, 3 sin 66 41 = 2.7550, correct to 4 decimal places.

2. Determine, correct to 3 decimal places, 5 cos 14 15

Using a calculator, 5 cos 14 15 = 4.846, correct to 3 decimal places.

3. Determine, correct to 4 significant figures, 7 tan 79 9

Using a calculator, 7 tan 79 9 = 36.52, correct to 4 significant figures.

2
4. Determine (a) sine 3 (b) cos 1.681 (c) tan 3.672

Note that with no degrees sign, these angles are in radians

2
(a) Using a calculator, sine 3 = 0.8660

(b) Using a calculator, cos 1.681 = - 0.1010

(c) Using a calculator, tan 3.672 = 0.5865

1
5. Find the acute angle sin 0.6734 in degrees, correct to 2 decimal places

1
Using a calculator, sin 0.6734 = 42.33º

1
6. Find the acute angle cos 0.9648 in degrees, correct to 2 decimal places

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 359

 1
Using a calculator, cos 0.9648 = 15.25º

1
7. Find the acute angle tan 3.4385 in degrees, correct to 2 decimal places

1
Using a calculator, tan 3.4385 = 73.78º

1
8. Find the acute angle sin 0.1381 in degrees and minutes

1
Using a calculator, sin 0.1381 = 7.9379....º = 7º56´ correct to the nearest minute

1
9. Find the acute angle cos 0.8539 in degrees and minutes

1
Using a calculator, cos 0.8539 = 31.36157....º = 31º22´ correct to the nearest minute

1
10. Find the acute angle tan 0.8971 in degrees and minutes

1
Using a calculator, tan 0.8971 = 41.89528....º = 41º54´ correct to the nearest minute

11. In the triangle shown, determine angle , correct to 2 decimal places.

5 5
tan 1  
From trigonometric ratios, tan  = 9 from which, =  9  = 29.05

12. In the triangle shown, determine angle  in degrees and minutes.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 360

 8  8 
sin 1  
From trigonometric ratios, sin  = 23 from which, =  23  = 20.35 = 2021

4.5 cos 6734 ' sin 90

13. Evaluate, correct to 4 decimal places: 2 tan 45

4.5 cos 6734 ' sin 90

Using a calculator, 2 tan 45 = 0.3586, correct to 4 decimal places

 3sin 37.83   2.5 tan 57.48 

14. Evaluate, correct to 4 significant figures: 4.1 cos 12.56

 3sin 37.83   2.5 tan 57.48 

Using a calculator, 4.1 cos 12.56 = 1.803, correct to 4 significant figures

15. For the supported beam AB shown in the diagram, determine (a) the angle the supporting stay

CD makes with the beam, i.e. θ, correct to the nearest degree, (b) the length of the stay, CD,

correct to the nearest centimetre.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 361

 AC 4.36  4.36 
 tan 1  
(a) tan θ = AD 5.20 hence angle θ =  5.20  = 39.98º = 40º correct to nearest degree

(b) By Pythagoras, CD  4.36  5.20

2 2 2

from which, CD = 4.362  5.202 = 6.79 m

EXERCISE 85 Page 213

1. Calculate the dimensions shown as x in (a) to (f), each correct to 4 significant figures.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 362

 x
(a) sin 70º = 13.0 from which, x = 13.0 sin 70º = 12.22

x
(b) sin 22º = 15.0 from which, x = 15.0 sin 22º = 5.619

x
(c) cos 29º = 17.0 from which, x = 17.0 cos 29º = 14.87

4.30 4.30
(d) cos 59º = x from which, x = cos 59 = 8.349

x
(e) tan 43º = 6.0 from which, x = 6.0 tan 43º = 5.595

7.0 7.0
(f) tan 53º = x from which, x = tan 53 = 5.275

2. Find the unknown sides and angles in the right-angled triangles shown. The dimensions shown

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 363

 are in centimetres.

(a) By Pythagoras, AC = 3.02  5.02 = 5.831 cm

3.0  3.0 
tan 1  
tan C = 5.0 from which, C =  5.0  = 30.96º

and A =180º - 90º - 30.96º = 59.04º

(b) By Pythagoras, DE = 8.02  4.02 = 6.928 cm

4.0  4.0 
sin 1  
sin D = 8.0 from which, D =  8.0  = 30º

and F =180º - 90º - 30º = 60º

(c) J =180º - 90º - 28º = 62º

HJ
sin 28º = 12.0 from which, HJ = 12.0 sin 28º = 5.634 cm

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 364

 By Pythagoras, GH = 12.0  5.634 = 10.60 cm
2 2

(d) L =180º - 90º - 27º = 63º

LM
sin 27º = 15.0 from which, LM = 15.0 sin 27º = 6.810 cm

By Pythagoras, KM = 15.0  6.810 = 13.37 cm

2 2

(e) N =180º - 90º - 64º = 26º

NP
tan 64º = 4.0 from which, NP = 4.0 tan 64º = 8.201 cm

By Pythagoras, ON = 8.2012  4.02 = 9.124 cm

(f) S =180º - 90º - 41º = 49º

RS
tan 41º = 5.0 from which, RS = 5.0 tan 41º = 4.346 cm

By Pythagoras, QS = 4.3462  5.02 = 6.625 cm

3. A ladder rests against the top of the perpendicular wall of a building and makes an angle of 73

with the ground. If the foot of the ladder is 2 m from the wall, calculate the height of the building.

The ladder is shown in the diagram below, where BC is the height of the building.

BC
Tan 73 = 2 from which, height of building, BC = 2 tan 73 = 6.54 m

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 365

4. Determine the length x in the diagram.

From triangle ABC in the sketch above,

BC 5 5

tan 28 = AB x from which, x = tan 28 = 9.40 mm

5. A symmetrical part of a bridge lattice is shown. If AB = 6 m, angle BAD = 56º and E is the

midpoint of ABCD, determine the height h, correct to the nearest centimetre.

56
In triangle ABE, BAE = 2 = 28º

BE BE

and sin 28º = AB 6 from which, BE = 6 sin 28º = 2.817 m

Hence, height, h = 2 × 2.817 = 5.63 m

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 366

EXERCISE 86 Page 216

1. A vertical tower stands on level ground. At a point 105 m from the foot of the tower the angle of

elevation of the top is 19. Find the height of the tower.

A side view is shown below with the tower being AB.

AB
Tan 19 = 105 from which, height of tower, AB = 105 tan 19 = 36.15 m

2. If the angle of elevation of the top of a vertical 30 m high aerial is 32, how far is it to the aerial?

A side view is shown below with the aerial being AB.

30 30
Tan 32 = BC from which, distance to aerial, BC = tan 32 = 48 m

3. From the top of a vertical cliff 90.0 m high the angle of depression of a boat is 1950. Determine

the distance of the boat from the cliff.

A side view is shown below with the cliff being AB. Since the angle of depression of a boat is 1950

then ACB = 1950

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 367

 90.0 90.0
Tan 1950´ = BC from which, distance of boat to the cliff, BC = tan1950 ' = 249.5 m

4. From the top of a vertical cliff 80.0 m high the angles of depression of two buoys lying due west

of the cliff are 23 and 15, respectively. How far are the buoys apart?

In the diagram below, the two buoys are shown as A and B.

80 80
Tan 15 = AC from which, AC = tan15 = 298.56 m

80 80
Tan 23 = BC from which, BC = tan 23 = 188.47 m

Hence, distance apart, AB = AC – BC = 298.56 – 188.47 = 110.1 m

5. From a point on horizontal ground a surveyor measures the angle of elevation of the top of a

flagpole as 1840. He moves 50 m nearer to the flagpole and measures the angle of elevation as

2622. Determine the height of the flagpole.

A side view is shown below with the flagpole being AB.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 368

 h
Tan 1840´ = 50  BD from which, height, h = (tan 18º40´)(50 + BD)
= (0.337833)(50 + BD) = 16.89165 + 0.337833(BD)

h
Tan 2622´ = BD from which, height, h = (tan 26º22´)(BD)
= (0.495679)(BD) (1)

Equating the h values gives: 16.89165 + 0.337833(BD) = (0.495679)(BD)

from which, 16.89165 = 0.495679(BD) – 0.337833(BD)

i.e. 16.89165 = 0.157846(BD)

16.89165
and BD = 0.157846 = 107.01 m

Hence, from equation (1), height of flagpole = (0.495679)(BD) = 0.495679 × 107.01 = 53.0 m

6. A flagpole stands on the edge of the top of a building. At a point 200 m from the building the

angles of elevation of the top and bottom of the pole are 32 and 30 respectively. Calculate the

height of the flagpole.

In the diagram below, the flagpole is shown as AB.

AC
Tan 32 = 200 from which, AC = 200 tan 32 = 124.97 m

BC
Tan 30 = 200 from which, BC = 200 tan 30 = 115.47 m

Hence, height of flagpole, AB = AC – BC = 124.97 – 115.47 = 9.50 m

7. From a ship at sea, the angles of elevation of the top and bottom of a vertical lighthouse standing

on the edge of a vertical cliff are 31 and 26, respectively. If the lighthouse is 25.0 m high,

calculate the height of the cliff.

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 369

A side view is shown below with the lighthouse being AB.

h h
Tan 26 = DC from which, DC = tan 26 = 2.0503 h

h  25 h  25
Tan 31 = DC from which, DC = tan 31 = 1.66428(h + 25) = 1.66428 h + 41.607

Equating the DC values gives: 2.0503 h = 1.66428 h + 41.607

i.e. 2.0503 h - 1.66428 h = 41.607

i.e. 0.3860 h = 41.607

41.607
from which, height of cliff, h = 0.3860 = 107.8 m

8. From a window 4.2 m above horizontal ground the angle of depression of the foot of a building

across the road is 24 and the angle of elevation of the top of the building is 34. Determine,

correct to the nearest centimetre, the width of the road and the height of the building.

In the diagram below, D is the window, the width of the road is AB and the height of the building

across the road is BC.

In the triangle ABD, D = 90 - 24 = 66

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 370

 AB
Tan 66 = 4.2 hence, width of road, AB = 4.2 tan 66 = 9.43 m
CE CE CE
 
From triangle DEC, tan 34 = DE AB 9.43 from which, CE = 9.43 tan 34 = 6.36 m

Hence, height of building, BC = CE + EB = CE + AD = 6.36 + 4.2 = 10.56 m

9. The elevation of a tower from two points, one due west of the tower and the other due west of it

are 20 and 24, respectively, and the two points of observation are 300 m apart. Find the height

of

the tower to the nearest metre.

In the diagram below, the height of the tower is AB and the two observation points are at C and D.

AB
Tan 20 = BC from which, AB = BC tan 20
AB
Tan 24 = 300  BC from which, AB = (300 - BC) tan 24
i.e. BC tan 20 = (300 - BC) tan 24 = 300 tan 24 - BC tan 24

i.e. 0.36397 BC = 133.57 – 0.44523 BC

i.e. 0.8092 BC = 133.57

133.57
and BC = 0.8092 = 165.06 m
AB
Tan 20 = 165.06 from which, height of tower, AB = 165.06 tan 20 = 60 m, to the nearest metre

© John Bird Published by Taylor & Francis 371