N4 Maths
Trigonometry (SOHCAHTOA) Practice Questions
1. A submarine, S, dives for 300 metres at an angle of 24° to the surface.
Calculate the depth of the submarine as shown in the diagram. 3
2. Calculate the height, h metres, of the trapezium shown below. 3
3. Kate is flying a kite.
She lets out 32 metres of string, pulled tight, at 65° to the ground.
Calculate the height of the kite as shown in the diagram. 3
4. A ladder which is 5·2 metres long is placed against a wall.
The foot of the ladder is 1·6 metres from the wall.
The size of the angle between the ladder and the ground is x °.
Calculate x. 3
5. Three roads form a right angled triangle as shown in the diagram.
• Main Street is 200 metres long.
• Park Road is 170 metres long.
• The angle between Westgate and
Park Road is 90 °.
The size of the angle between Main Street and Park Road is x °.
Calculate x.
Give your answer to one decimal place. 4
6. ABCD is a rhombus.
Side AB is 7 centimetres and diagonal AC is 12 centimetres as shown.
Calculate the size of the shaded angle BAD. 3
ANSWERS
𝑜𝑝𝑝
1. sin 𝑥° =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
𝑑
sin 24° =
300
300 × sin 24° = 𝑑
𝑑 = 122 m
2. 17 – 11 = 6 m
𝑜𝑝𝑝
tan 𝑥° =
𝑎𝑑𝑗
ℎ
tan 49° =
6
6 × tan 49° = ℎ
ℎ =6∙9m
𝑜𝑝𝑝
3. sin 𝑥° =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
𝐻
sin 65° =
32
32 × sin 65° = 𝐻
𝐻 = 29 m
𝑎𝑑𝑗
4. cos 𝑥° =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
1∙6
cos 𝑥° =
5∙2
cos 𝑥° = 0 ∙ 3076923077
𝑥 = cos −1 0 ∙ 3076923077
𝑥 = 72 ∙ 1°
𝑎𝑑𝑗
5. cos 𝑥° =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
170
cos 𝑥° =
200
cos 𝑥° = 0 ∙ 85
𝑥 = cos −1 0 ∙ 85
𝑥 = 31 ∙ 8°
6. 12 ÷ 2 = 6 cm
𝑎𝑑𝑗
cos 𝑥° =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
6
cos 𝑥° =
7
cos 𝑥° = 0 ∙ 8571428571
𝑥 = cos −1 0 ∙ 85 71428571
𝑥 = 31°
Angle BAD = 2 × 31 = 62°