Revision Topic 20: Sine and Cosine Rules and 3D Trigonometry

The objectives of this unit are to: * use the sine and cosine rules to find the length of sides and angles in triangles; * to use the formula for the area of a triangles; * to solve problems involving the sine and cosine rules; * to solve problems involving trigonometry in 3 dimensions.

Brief recap of Grade B and C material:

Pyt agoras! T eorem: This theorem, which connects the lengths of the sides in right-angled triangles, states that: a +b = c
a

where c is the length of the hypotenuse !i.e. the side opposite the right-angle" and a and b are the lengths of the other two sides. #ote that the hypotenuse is the longest side in a right-angled triangle. Trigonometry The following formulae lin$ the sides and angles in right-angled triangles: sin x = O H A cos x = H O tan x = A
H x A

where H is the length of the ypotenuse; O is the length of the side opposite the angle; A is the length of the side ad"acent to the angle. These formulae are often remembered using the acronym %&'()'T&) or by using mnemonics. 'ere is a commonly used mnemonic: %illy &ld 'arry (ouldn*t )nswer 'is Test &n )lgebra +hen finding angles, remember that you need to use the %',-T $ey. -urther notes, e.amples and e.amination /uestions relating to 0ythagoras1 theorem and trigonometry are contained in separate revision boo$lets. %ometimes you need to calculate lengths and angles in triangles which do not contain any rightangles. This is when the sine and cosine rules are useful.

#a$elling a triangle To use the sine and cosine rules, you need to understand the convention for labelling sides and angles in any triangle. (onsider a general triangle:
C a

Triangles are named after their vertices - the above triangle is called triangle )2(. The three angles are commonly referred to as angles ), 2 and (. The length of the sides are given lower case letters: %ide a is the side opposite angle ). ,t is sometimes referred to as side 2(. %ide b is the side opposite angle 2. ,t is e/uivalently called side )(. %ide c is the side opposite angle (. ,t is also $nown as side )2. ) triangle doesn1t have to be labelled using the letters ), 2 and (. -or e.ample, consider the triangle 034 below:
R p

Sine Rule
The sine rule connects the length of sides and angles in any triangle )2(:
C

,t states that: a b c = = . sin A sin B sin C

)n alternative version of the formula is often used when finding the si5e of angles:
A c

sin A sin B sin C = = a b c

%&ample: 'inding t e lengt of a side The diagram shows triangle )2(. (alculate the length of side )2.
13.2 cm 55
o

C 72
o

Solution:

To find the length of a side using the sine rule, follow these steps: %tep 6: 7abel the triangle using the conventions outlined earlier. %tep : 7oo$ to see whether any additional information can be added to the diagram !for e.ample, can you deduce the length of any other angles8" %tep 3: %ubstitute information from the diagram into the sine rule formula. %tep 9: :elete the unnecessary part of the formula. %tep ;: 4earrange and then wor$ out the length of the re/uired side. ,n our e.ample, we begin by labelling the sides and by wor$ing out the si5e of the 3rd angle !using the fact that the sum of the angles in any triangle is 6<=>.
C 13.2 cm b 55 A
o

72

a
o

53

%ubstituting into the formula

a b c = = , we get: sin A sin B sin C

a 63. c = = sin ;; sin ;3 sin ? )s we want to calculate the length c and as the middle part of the formula is completely $nown, we delete the first part of the formula: 63. c = sin ;3 sin ? 4earranging this formula !by multiplying by sin? " gives: 63. sin ? =c sin ;3 i.e. c @ 6;.? cm !to 6 decimal place".

%&ample: 'inding t e lengt of an angle The diagram shows triangle 7A#. (alculate the si5e of angle 7#A.
L 17.5 cm 6.9 cm M 134
o

Solution: %tep 6: 7abel the triangle using the conventions outlined earlier. %tep : %ubstitute information from the diagram into the sine rule formula %tep 3: :elete the unnecessary part of the formula. %tep 9: 4earrange and then wor$ out the si5e of the re/uired angle. ,n our e.ample, the labelled triangle loo$s li$e:
L 6.9 cm n M 17.5 cm m 134
o

sin A sin B sin C = = . a b c

The cosine rule formula !adjusted for our lettering" is: sin L sin M sin N = = l m n %ubstituting into this gives: sin L sin639 sin N = = l 6?.; B.C +e want to find angle # and we $now the middle part of the formula completely. +e therefore delete the first part of the formula, leaving sin639 sin N = 6?.; B.C ,f we multiply by B.C, we get: sin N = B.C sin639 = =. <3B . 6?.;

%o angle # @ %',-T sin =. <3B @ 6B.;> !to 6 d.p."

%&amination style (uestion ,n triangle )2(, angle )2( @ B;>, angle )(2 @ 3<>, 2( @ 6; cm.
A Diagram NOT accurately ra!"

65 B

38 15 cm

+or$ out the length of )2.

%&amination style (uestion: ,n triangle )2(, angle 2)( @ 66;>, )( @ ; cm and 2( @ C cm. (alculate the si5e of angle )2(.
A 115 B
o

5 cm

Diagram NOT accurately ra!"

9 cm

Cosine Rule
The cosine rule also connects the length of sides and angles in any triangle )2(: ,t states that: a = b + c bc cos A D/uivalently, we also have these formulae: b = a + c ac cos B c = a + b ab cos C
C a

Eou need to be familiar with the structure of these formulae. ,n particular note that the letter that appears as the subject of the formula also appears as the angle. #ote that the cosine rule can be considered as an e.tension of 0ythagoras1 theorem. %&ample: 'inding t e lengt of a side The diagram shows triangle )2(. (alculate the length of side )2.
17.9 cm 62 C
o

14.7 cm

Solution:

To find the length of a side using the cosine rule, follow these steps: %tep 6: 7abel the triangle using the conventions outlined earlier. %tep : +rite down the appropriate version of the cosine rule formula and substitute information from the diagram into it. %tep 3: +or$ out the length of the re/uired side. &ur labelled diagram here is:
17.9 cm b 62 C
o

14.7 cm a

)s we wish to find the length of c, we need the formula with c as the subject: c = a + b ab cos C %ubstitute in: c = 69.? + 6?.C 69.? 6?.C cos B Typing the right hand side into a calculator !in one long string and pressing @ only at the end" gives: c = <C.93B %/uare rooting gives c @ 6?.= cm

%&ample: 'inding t e lengt of an angle The diagram shows triangle 2(:. (alculate the length of angle 2:(.
11.4 cm C 1#.7 cm

Solution:

13.2 cm

To find the length of a side using the cosine rule, follow these steps: %tep 6: 7abel the triangle using the conventions outlined earlier. %tep : +rite down the appropriate version of the cosine rule formula and substitute information from the diagram into it. %tep 3: 4earrange and wor$ out the length of the re/uired angle. The labelled diagram here loo$s li$e:
C
11.4 cm d

1#.7 cm b D

13.2 cm c

+e want to find angle D. +e therefore need to write down a version of the cosine rule formula that contains angle D. The subject of the appropriate formula would therefore be d : d = b + c bc cos D %ubstituting into this formula gives: 66.9 = 6=.? + 63. 6=.? 63. cos D 6 C.CB @ 669.9C F 6?9. 9 - < .9< cos D !wor$ out the s/uares of the terms" 6 C.CB @ <<.?3 - < .9<cos D !add together the first two numbers on the right" -6;<.?? @ - < .9<cos D !subtract <<.?3 from both sides" Therefore
cos D = =.;B =B

i.e.

D @ %',-T cos =.;B =B @ ;;.<>

)or*ed %&amination +uestion ,n triangle )2(, )2 @ C cm, 2( @ 6; cm and angle )2( @ 66=>.
Diagram NOT accurately ra!". C

15 cm 11# A 9 cm
o

(alculate the perimeter of the triangle. Give your answer correct to the nearest cm. Solution: ,n order to calculate the perimeter, we need to wor$ out the length of the third side. 7abelling the triangle:
b

C
a

15 cm 11# A 9 cm c
o

Hsing the cosine rule: b = a + c ac cos B b = 6; + C 6; C cos66= b = 3C<.39; b @ = cm !to nearest cm"

i.e.

%o perimeter @ = F 6; F C @ 99 cm !to nearest cm" Past e&amination (uestion ,%de&cel-: ,n triangle )2(, )2 @ ?cm, 2( @ 6 cm and angle )2( @ 6 ;>. (alculate the length of )(.

B 7 cm A 125
o

12 cm

Past e&amination (uestion ,S%G-: The diagram shows triangle )2(. )2 @ <.B cm, 2( @ 3.6 cm and )( @ C.? cm.
N$t t$ %cale 8.6 cm B 3.1 cm C A 9.7 cm

(alculate angle )2(.

) en do you use t e sine rule and . en do you use t e cosine rule/

,n an e.amination, you will need to decide whether to use the sine rule or the cosine rule. ,t is helpful to remember that you will need to use the sine rule unless 6" you are told all three sides, in which you can use the cosine rule to find any angle; " you are given sides and the angle in between, in which case you can find the final side using the cosine rule. )or*ed e&ample:
A 7 cm 3# B
o

13 cm 1##
o

12 cm

(alculate a" the length )(; b" angle ):(. Solution (onsider first triangle )2(. ,n this triangle we $now two sides and the included angle !i.e. the angle in between". +e can therefore use the cosine rule to find the third side, )(.

A
c b

7 cm 3# B
o

12 cm a

Hsing the cosine rule: b = a + c ac cos B b = ? + 6 ? 6 cos 3= b = 9?.;=?? b @ B.<CI cm Therefore )( @ B.C cm !to 6 d.p." !b" To find angle ):(, we now consider triangle ):(:
A 6.89 cm d
c 13 cm

D
a

1##

+e are not in either of the situations where the cosine rule can be used, so here we will be using the sine rule: sin D sin A sin C = = d a c %ubstituting into this formula gives: sin D sin A sin6== = = B.<C a 63 4earranging gives: sin D = %o B.<C sin6== = =.; 6C 63

D @ 36.;>

%&amination +uestion ,%de&cel 0une 2001C 8 cm 8#

o

:iagram #&T accurately drawn.

1# cm

a" (alculate the length of )2. Give your answer in centimetres correct to 3 significant figures. b" (alculate the si5e of angle )2(. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

%&amination +uestion ,%de&cel 2ovem$er 1334,n the /uadrilateral )2(:, )2 @ B cm, 2( @ ? cm, ): @ 6 cm, angle )2( @ 6 =>, angle )(: @ ?=>. (alculate the si5e of angle ):(. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
B 6 cm 12#
o

7 cm C 7#
o

A 12 cm D

5rea of a triangle
The area of a triangle can be found using this alternative formula:
C

)rea of a triangle @ )lternative versions are: 6 )rea @ ac sin B

ab sin C 6

or

)rea @

bc sin A

This can e/uivalently be thought of as )rea @ J K product of two sides K sine of the included angle. %&ample: -ind the area of the triangle:

8.7 cm 112
o

+e can use the above formula to find the area of this triangle as we have two sides and the included angle !i.e. the angle in between the given sides": )rea @ 6 <.? C.< sin66 = 3C.;cm !to 3 s.f."

9.8 cm

)or*ed e&amination (uestion

C 15#
o

Diagram NOT accurately ra!". 6# m

)ngle )(2 @ 6;=>. 2( @ B= m. The area of triangle is 9;= m . (alculate the perimeter of triangle )2(. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

+e can use the formula for the area of a triangle to find the length of )(:
C & 15#
o

6# m a B

)rea @ %o 9;= =

6 6

ab sin C

B= b sin6;=

%o

9;= = 3=b sin6;= 9;= = 6;b as sin6;= @ =.; b @ 3= m.

To find the perimeter, we also need the length )2. +e can use the cosine rule: c = a + b ab cos C c = 3= + B= 3= B= cos6;= c = ?B6?.BC... c @ <?.3 m to 3 %-.

%o

Therefore the perimeter is 3= F B= F <?.3 @ 6??.3 @ 6?? m %&amination (uestion ,0une 2006A 3.2 cm

Diagram NOT accurately ra!".

8.4 cm

)2 @ 3. cm. 2( @ <.9 cm. The area of triangle )2( is 6= cm . (alculate the perimeter of triangle )2(. Give your answer correct to 3 %-.

%&amination style (uestion

( 9 cm
o

67

6# '

,n triangle 034, 03 @ C cm, angle 034 @ B?> and angle 304 @ B=>. (alculate the area of triangle 034.

Pro$lem style (uestions

3uestions are often set involving bearings or angles of elevation. ,f a diagram has not been drawn in the /uestion, you will need to begin by s$etching a diagram to illustrate the situation. There will usually be several steps re/uired in order to get to the solution.

)or*ed e&amination (uestion ,%de&cel 0une 2007The diagram shows a vertical tower :( on hori5ontal ground )2(. )2( is a straight line. The angle of elevation of : from ) is <>. The angle of elevation of : from 2 is ;9>. )2 @ ; m.
D Diagram NOT accurately ra!".

28 A

54 B

25 m

(alculate the height of the tower. Give your answer to 3 significant figures. Solution: %tep 6: Hse triangle ):2 to find the length :2. %tep : Hse triangle :2( to find the height :(. %tep 6: -rom the original diagram, we can deduce that angle )2: @ 6 B> and angle ):2 @ B>.
D

&
o o

Hsing the sine rule: a b ; = = sin < sin6 B sin B ;sin < a= = B.??m %o sin B

28 A

126 B

25 m

%tep :

Hsing trigonometry for right-angled triangles:

26.77 m

54 B

CD B.?? CD = B.?? sin ;9 CD = 6.? m sin ;9 =

%o the tower is 6.? m tall.

%&amination (uestion ,2%5B) helicopter leaves a heliport ' and its measuring instruments show that it flies 3. $m on a bearing of 6 <> to a chec$point (. ,t then flies 9.? $m on a bearing of =BB> to its base 2.
B 128
o

3.2 *m C

66

4.7 *m

a" %how that angle '(2 is 66<>. b" (alculate the direct distance from the heliport ' to the base.

3D trigonometry
Grade )L )* /uestions often involve you finding distances and angles in 3 dimensional objects. The $ey to these /uestions is to identify and draw the relevant dimensional triangle. %&ample 1: )2(:D-G' is a cuboid with dimensions <cm, Bcm and ;cm !as shown in the diagram". M is the midpoint of side 'G.
+ , 5 cm D 6 cm A 8 cm B / . C

a" -ind length )(. )( is length diagonally across the base of the cuboid. * +e start by s$etching the base )2(: and we mar$ on the length we want to find:
D C 6 cm

8 cm

* +e identify a relevant right-angled triangle !here obviously triangle )2(". * +e can then use 0ythagoras1 theorem to find )(: )( @ )2 F 2( )( @ B F < )( @ 6== )( @ 6= cm

%o

b" -ind the length )G * +e begin by identifying a relevant right-angled triangle. 'ere we use triangle )G( !we use this triangle because ( is vertically below G". +e mar$ on the diagram all the lengths we $now:

+e now use 0ythagoras1 theorem to find )G: )G @ )( F (G )G @ 6= F ; )G @ 6 ; )G @ 66. cm

%o

c" -ind angle G)(. The letters mentioned in the name of the angle tell you which triangle to draw !i.e. triangle G)(". This is the triangle drawn in part !b". +e can use trigonometry to find angle G)(.

tanN @ i.e d" -ind the length )M.

; 6= N @ B.B>

* )M is a diagonal length across the cuboid. #et 8 $e t e point vertically $elo. 9. +e draw triangle )ME:

* There is not yet enough information in the diagram to find length )M. * +e can wor$ out length )E however if we draw out the base )2(::

+e can use 0ythagoras1 theorem to find )E: )E @ ): F :E )E @ B F 9 )E @ ; %o )E @ ?. 666 cm !note that we don1t round too early".

#ow we can find )M from triangle )ME:

?. 666cm )M @ )E F ME )M @ ?. 666 F ; )M @ ?? )E @ <.??; cm @ <.< cm !to 6 :0"

%o

e" -ind angle )M2 +e begin by drawing out triangle )M2 !i.e. the triangle with the same letters as the angle we want". This is an isosceles triangle as )M @ M2.

+e begin by finding O: sin = 9 <.< O @ ?>

%o angle )M2 @ ;9>

%&ample 2: )2(:D is a s/uare-based pyramid. The length )2 is <cm. 0oint D is vertically above point M, the centre point of s/uare )2(:. The height of the pyramid, DM, is ?cm. a" (alculate length )(. * )( lies along the base of the pyramid. +e therefore begin by drawing out the base. Triangle )2( is a right-angled triangle. +e can therefore use 0ythagoras1 theorem to find )(: )( @ < F < )( @ 6 < )( @ 66.3 cm b" (alculate length )D. * The point below D is point M. +e therefore draw out triangle )DM. 2ote: )M is half of )(, i.e. ;.B; cm. +e can find )D using 0ythagoras1 theorem: )D @ ? F ;.B; )D @ <6 )D @ C.== cm

c" (alculate angle D)(. * This angle is the same as angle D)M. +e can calculate this angle using the diagram in !b". Hsing trigonometry tan!EAX " = ? ;.B; EAX = ;6.6o

%o angle D)( @ ;6.6> d" (alculate the area of face )D2. * +e begin by drawing out triangle )D2, an isosceles triangle !)D @ D2". D C cm

C cm

< cm

* &ne way to find the area of triangle )D2 would be to find the height of this triangle !by splitting it into right-angled triangles" and then using the formula J bKh. )lternatively, we could find angle )D2 !for e.ample using the cosine rule" and then using the formula: area @ J absinC. ,f we use the first method, then we must begin by finding the height h of the triangle. Hsing 0ythagoras1 theorem:
,

hPF 9P @ CP hPF 6B @ <6 hP @ B; h @ <.=B cm Therefore the area is 6

A

9 cm 0

B 4 cm

< <.=B = 3 . cm

%&amination (uestion ,%de&cel 2ovem$er 2006The diagram represents a cuboid )2(:D-G'. (: @ ; cm, 2( @ ? cm, 2- @ 3 cm. a" (alculate the length of )G. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. b" (alculate the si5e of the angle between )G and the face )2(:. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
, 3 cm B A 5 cm 7 cm C + . D

%&amination (uestion ,%de&cel 2ovem$er 200:The diagram shows a pyramid. The base, )2(:, is a hori5ontal s/uare of side 6= cm. The verte. Q is vertically above the midpoint, A, of the base. QA @ 6 cm. (alculate the si5e of angle Q)A.
A 1# cm

D M B

C 1# cm

%&amination (uestion ,%de&celThe diagram represents a prism. )D-: is a rectangle. )2(: is a s/uare. D- and -( are perpendicular to plane )2(:. )2 @ ): @ B= cm. )ngle )2D @ C= degrees. )ngle 2)D @ 3= degrees.
D

o 3# B

6# cm 6# cm A

(alculate the si5e of the angle that the line :D ma$es with the plane )2(:.