INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Mathematics: analysis and approaches

MAA SL

EXERCISES MAA SL 3.1-3.3

3D GEOMETRY – TRIANGLES

Compiled by Christos Nikolaidis

3D GEOMETRY

A. Practice questions

1. [Maximum mark: 7] [without GDC]

Let A(2,-3,5) and B(-1,1,5). Find

(a) the distance between A and B. [2]

(b) the distance between O and B. [1]
(c) the coordinates of the midpoint M of the line segment [AB]. [2]
(d) the coordinates of point C given that B is the midpoint of [AC]. [2]

2. [Maximum mark: 16] [without GDC]

Complete the table

Solid Volume Surface area

cuboid

3
5

cylinder

4
(diameter)

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cone

6
(diameter)

sphere

radius = 3

for each shape [1+3]

3. [Maximum mark: 7] [without GDC]

For a right pyramid of square base of side 8 and vertical height 3 find

(a) the volume [2]

(b) the surface area [5]

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TRIANGLES

A. Practice questions

4. [Maximum mark: 16] [with GDC]

Consider the following right-angled triangle, where  = 90o

5 4

B A
3

(a) Find the size of angle B̂ in three different ways:

(i) by using the definition of sin B̂
(ii) by using the definition of cos B̂
(iii) by using the definition of tan B̂ [3]
(b) Hence find the size of angle Ĉ . [1]
(c) Confirm that the sine rule holds. [3]
(d) Confirm that all three versions of the cosine rule hold. [6]
(e) Find the area of the triangle, by using all the three versions below:
1 1 1
Area = ab sin Cˆ = bc sin Aˆ = ca sin Bˆ [3]
2 2 2

5. [Maximum mark: 17] [with GDC]

In each of the following triangles one of the angles has size 40o, two of the sides have
lengths 5 and 7 respectively.

(a) For the following triangle

(i) Find the area of the triangle

(ii) Find BC
(iii) Find the size of B and hence the size of C. [7]

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(b) For the following triangle

find the size of B and hence the size of A. [4]

(c) For each of the following triangles (ambiguous case)

find the size of C and hence the size of A. [6]

B. Past paper questions (SHORT)

6. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

The following diagram shows triangle ABC.

diagram not to scale

AB = 7 cm, BC = 9 cm and AB̂C = 120°.
(a) Find AC. [3]
(b) Find BÂC . [3]

7. [Maximum mark: 4] [with GDC]

A triangle has sides of length 4, 5, 7 units. Find, to the nearest tenth of a degree, the
size of the largest angle.

8. [Maximum mark: 4] [with GDC]

The following diagram shows a triangle with sides 5 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm.

5 7
Diagram not to scale

8
Find
(a) the size of the smallest angle, in degrees; [2]
(b) the area of the triangle. [2]

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9. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

In the triangle PQR, PR = 5 cm, QR = 4 cm and PQ = 6 cm. Calculate
(a) the size of PQ̂R ; [4]
(b) the area of triangle PQR. [2]

10. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

The following diagram shows a triangle ABC, where BC = 5 cm, B̂ = 60°, Ĉ = 40°.
A

60° 40°
B C
5 cm
(a) Calculate AB. [3]
(b) Find the area of the triangle. [3]

11. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

The diagram below shows triangle PQR. The length of [PQ] is 7 cm, the length of [PR]
is 10 cm, and PQ̂R is 75°.

(a) Find PR̂Q [3]

(b) Find the area of triangle PQR. [3]

12. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

In triangle ABC, AC = 5, BC = 7, Â = 48°, as shown in the diagram.
C

5 7 diagram not to scale

48°
A B

Find B̂, giving your answer correct to the nearest degree.

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13. [Maximum mark: 4] [with GDC]

The diagrams below show two triangles both satisfying the conditions
AB = 20 cm, AC = 17 cm, AB̂C = 50°.
Triangle 1 Triangle 2
A A

Diagrams not to scale

B C B C

Calculate
(a) the size of AĈB in Triangle 2. [2]
(b) the area of Triangle 1. [2]

14. [Maximum mark: 4] [with GDC]

Town A is 48 km from town B and 32 km from town C as shown in the diagram.
C

32km

A
48km B
Given that town B is 56 km from town C, find the size of angle CÂB to the nearest
degree.

15. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

Two boats A and B start moving from the same point P. Boat A moves in a straight line
at 20 km h–1 and boat B moves in a straight line at 32 km h–1. The angle between their
paths is 70°. Find the distance between the boats after 2.5 hours.

16. [Maximum mark: 7] [with GDC]

The following diagram shows the triangle ABC.

diagram not to scale

The angle at C is obtuse, AC = 5 cm, BC = 13.6 cm and the area is 20 cm2.
(a) Find AĈB . [4]
(b) Find AB. [3]
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17. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

In a triangle ABC, AB = 4 cm, AC = 3 cm and the area of the triangle is 4.5 cm2.
Find the two possible values of the angle BÂC .

18. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

In triangle PQR, PQ is 10 cm, QR is 8 cm and angle PQR is acute. The area of the
triangle is 20 cm2. Find the size of angle PQ̂R.

19. [Maximum mark: 7] [with GDC]

There is a vertical tower TA of height 36 m at the base A of a hill. A straight path goes
up the hill from A to a point U. This information is represented by the following diagram.

The path makes a 4° angle with the horizontal.

The point U on the path is 25 m away from the base of the tower.
The top of the tower is fixed to U by a wire of length x m.
(a) Complete the diagram, showing clearly all the information above. [3]
(b) Find x. [4]

20. [Maximum mark: 8] [with GDC]

The diagram below shows a triangle ABD with AB = 13 cm and AD = 6.5 cm.
Let C be a point on the line BD such that BC = AC = 7 cm.

diagram not to scale

(a) Find the size of angle ACB. [3]

(b) Find the size of angle CAD. [5]
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21. [Maximum mark: 4] [with GDC]

The diagram shows a vertical pole PQ, which is supported by two wires fixed to the
horizontal ground at A and B.

BQ = 40 m
PB̂Q = 36°
BÂQ = 70°
36° B
30° AB̂Q = 30°

Q 70°
A
Find
(a) the height of the pole, PQ; [2]
(b) the distance between A and B. [2]

22. [Maximum mark: 7] [with GDC]

A ship leaves port A on a bearing of 030°. It sails a distance of 25 km to point B.
At B, the ship changes direction to a bearing of 100°. It sails a distance of 40 km to
reach point C. This information is shown in the diagram below.

diagram not to scale

A second ship leaves port A and sails directly to C.
(a) Find the distance the second ship will travel. [4]
(b) Find the bearing of the course taken by the second ship. [3]

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C. Past paper questions (LONG)

23. [Maximum mark: 21] [with GDC]

The following diagram shows a pentagon ABCDE, with AB = 9.2 cm, BC = 3.2 cm,
BD = 7.1 cm, AÊD =110°, AD̂E = 52° and AB̂D = 60°.

(a) Find AD. [4]

(b) Find DE. [4]
(c) The area of triangle BCD is 5.68 cm2. Find DB̂C . [4]
(d) Find AC. [4]
(e) Find the area of quadrilateral ABCD. [5]

24. [Maximum mark: 16] [with GDC]

The diagram below shows a quadrilateral ABCD. AB = 4, AD = 8, CD =12, B Ĉ D = 25°,

BÂD =θ.

(a) Use the cosine rule to show that BD = 4 5 − 4 cos θ . [2]

Let θ = 40°.
(b) (i) Find the value of sin CB̂D .
(ii) Find the two possible values for the size of CB̂D .
(iii) Given that CB̂D is an acute angle, find the perimeter of ABCD. [12]
(c) Find the area of triangle ABD. [2]

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25. [Maximum mark: 14] [with GDC]

The diagram below shows a quadrilateral ABCD with obtuse angles AB̂C and AD̂C .

diagram not to scale

AB = 5 cm, BC = 4 cm, CD = 4 cm, AD = 4 cm, BÂC = 30°, AB̂C = x°, AD̂C = y°.

(a) Use the cosine rule to show that AC = 41− 40 cos x . [1]
(b) Use the sine rule in triangle ABC to find another expression for AC. [2]
(c) (i) Hence, find x, giving your answer to two decimal places.
(ii) Find AC. [6]
(d) (i) Find y.
(ii) Hence, or otherwise, find the area of triangle ACD. [5]

26. [Maximum mark: 18] [with GDC]

A farmer owns a triangular field ABC. One side of the triangle, [AC], is 104 m, a second
side, [AB], is 65 m and the angle between these two sides is 60°.

(a) Use the cosine rule to calculate the length of the third side of the field. [3]
3
(b) Given that sin 60° = , find the area of the field in the form p 3 where p is an
2
integer. [3]
Let D be a point on [BC] such that [AD] bisects the 60° angle. The farmer divides the
field into two parts A1 and A2 by constructing a straight fence [AD] of length x metres, as
shown on the diagram below.
C

104 m

A2
30°
A D
x
30°
A1

65 m

B
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65x
(c) (i) Show that the area of Al is given by .
4
(ii) Find a similar expression for the area of A2.

(iii) Hence, find the value of x in the form q 3 , where q is an integer. [7]

(d) (i) Explain why sin AD̂C = sin AD̂B .

BD 5
(ii) Use the result of part (i) and the sine rule to show that = . [5]
DC 8

27. [Maximum mark: 16] [with GDC]

In the diagram below, the points O(0, 0) and A(8, 6) are fixed. The angle OP̂A
varies as the point P(x, 10) moves along the horizontal line y = 10.

y
P(x, 10)
y=10

A(8, 6)

O(0, 0) x

Diagram to scale

(a) (i) Show that AP = x 2 – 16 x + 80.

(ii) Write down a similar expression for OP in terms of x. [2]

x 2 – 8 x + 40
(b) Hence, show that cos OP̂A = , [3]
√ {( x 2 – 16 x + 80)( x 2 + 100)}

(c) Find, in degrees, the angle OP̂A when x = 8. [2]

(d) Find the positive value of x such that OP̂A = 60° .[4]
Let the function f be defined by
x 2 – 8 x + 40
f ( x) = cos OP̂A = , 0 ≤ x ≤ 15. [4]
√ {( x 2 – 16 x + 80)( x 2 + 100)}

(e) Consider the equation f (x) = 1.

(i) Explain, in terms of the position of the points O, A, and P, why this
equation has a solution.
(ii) Find the exact solution to the equation. [5]

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28. [Maximum mark: 14] [with GDC]

The diagram shows a triangular region formed by a hedge [AB], a part of a river bank
[AC] and a fence [BC]. The hedge is 17 m long and BÂC is 29°. The end of the fence,
point C, can be positioned anywhere along the river bank.
(a) Given that point C is 15 m from A, find the length of the fence [BC].

A 15 m C river bank
29°

17 m

B
[3]
(b) The farmer has another, longer fence. It is possible for him to enclose two
different triangular regions with this fence. He places the fence so that AB̂C is 85°
(i) Find the distance from A to C.
(ii) Find the area of the region ABC with the fence in this position. [5]

(c) To form the 2nd region, he moves the fencing so that point C is closer to point A.
Find the new distance from A to C. [4]
(d) Find the minimum length of fence [BC] needed to enclose a triangular region
ABC. [2]

29. [Maximum mark: 16] [with GDC]

The points P, Q, R are three markers on level ground, joined by straight paths PQ, QR,
PR as shown in the diagram. QR = 9 km, PQ̂R = 35°, PR̂Q = 25°.
P
Diagram not to scale
35° 25°
Q R
9 km
(a) Find the length PR. [3]
(b) Tom sets out to walk from Q to P at a steady speed of 8 km h–1. At the same time,
Alan sets out to jog from R to P at a steady speed of a km h–1. They reach P at
the same time. Calculate the value of a. [7]
(c) The point S is on [PQ], such that RS = 2QS, as shown in the diagram.
P
S

Q R
Find the length QS. [6]
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30. [Maximum mark: 20] [with GDC]

(a) Let y = –16x2 + 160x –256. Given that y has a maximum value, find
(i) the value of x giving the maximum value of y;
(ii) this maximum value of y.
The triangle XYZ has XZ = 6, YZ = x, XY = z as shown below. The perimeter of triangle
XYZ is 16. [4]

(b) (i) Express z in terms of x.

(ii) Using the cosine rule, express z2 in terms of x and cos Z.
5 x −16
(iii) Hence, show that cos Z = . [7]
3x
Let the area of triangle XYZ be A.
(c) Show that A2 = 9x2 sin2 Z. [2]
(d) Hence, show that A2 = –16x2 + 160x – 256. [4]
(e) (i) Hence, write down the maximum area for triangle XYZ.
(ii) What type of triangle is the triangle with maximum area? [3]

31. [Maximum mark: 14] [with GDC]

An office tower is in the shape of a cuboid with a square base. The roof of the tower is
in the shape of a square based right pyramid.
The diagram shows the tower and its roof with dimensions indicated. The diagram is
not drawn to scale.
O
10 m
H G

E
F

40 m

D C

A 6m B

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(a) Calculate, correct to three significant figures,

(i) the size of the angle between OF and FG; [3]
(ii) the shortest distance from O to FG; [2]
(iii) the total surface area of the four triangular sections of the roof; [3]
(iv) the size of the angle between the slant height of the roof and the plane
EFGH; [2]
(v) the height of the tower from the base to O. [2]

A parrot's nest is perched at a point, P, on the edge, BF, of the tower. A person at the
point A, outside the building, measures the angle of elevation to point P to be 79°.

(b) Find, correct to three significant figures, the height of the nest from the base of
the tower. [2]

32. [Maximum mark: 10] [with GDC]

2
The diagram shows a triangle ABC in which AC = 7 , BC = 6, AB̂C = 45°.
2
A
Diagram 2
7 2
not to scale

45°
B 6 C

2 6
(a) Use the fact that sin 45° = to show that sin BÂC = . [2]
2 7
6
The point D is on (AB), between A and B, such that sin BD̂C = .
7
(b) (i) Write down the value of BD̂C + BÂC .
(ii) Calculate the angle BCD.
(iii) Find the length of [BD]. [6]
Area of ∆BDC BD
(c) Show that = . [2]
Area of ∆BAC BA

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