A Help Guide On

PROPERTIES OF TRIANGLES
A Help Guide By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner)
Q01. In a triangle ABC, if a = 18, b = 24 and c = 30, find cos A, cos B and cos C.
Sol. We have a = 18, b = 24 and c = 30
b2 c2 a 2
242 302 182 4
cos A
cos A

2bc
2 24 30
5
3
Similarly, cos B and cos C 0 .
5
Q02. In a ABC , if a = 18, b = 24 and c = 30, find sin A, sin B and sin C.
Sol. We have a = 18, b = 24 and c = 30
sin A sin B sin C
sin A sin B sin C

k (say)
a
b
c
18
24
30
sin A 18k, sin B 24k and sin C 30k .
Since 302 = 182 + 242 that means ABC is a right angled triangle such that C = 90o ,
which is the angle opposite to the biggest side c.
1
sin C sin 90o 30k 1 30k k =
30
1 3
1 4
So, sin A 18 = , sin B 24 .
30 5
30 5
A B
cos

ab
2

Q03. For any triangle ABC, prove that

.
C
c
sin
2
Sol. See Q17 (e).
A B
sin

a b
2 .
Q04. For any triangle ABC, prove that

C
c
cos
2
a b k sin A k sin B

Sol. LHS :
[By Sine rule
c
k sin C
A B
AB
sin A sin B 2 cos 2 sin 2

sin C
sin C

C
A
B

C
A B
2 cos 90o sin
sin sin
2
2

2
2
[ A B C 180o

C
C
C
C
2sin cos
sin cos
2
2
2
2
AB
sin

2 RHS .

C
cos
2
A
B C b c
Q05. For any triangle ABC, prove that sin
cos .

a
2
2
Sol. See Q17 (h).
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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

Q06. For any triangle ABC, prove that a b cos C c cos B b2 c 2 .

Sol. See Q17 (o).
Q07. For any triangle ABC, prove that a cos C cos B 2 b c cos 2
Sol.

See Q17 (j).

Q08. For any triangle ABC, prove that

Sol.

A
.
2

b 2 c 2 sin B C
.

a2
sin B C

See Q17 (f).

BC
BC
a cos
.
2
2
BC
BC
B C
A
Sol. LHS : (b c) cos
[ A B C
a cos
(b c) cos a cos
2
2
2
2 2
A
BC
a cos
b c sin . Now see Q17 (k).
2
2
Q10. For any triangle ABC, prove that a cos A b cos B c cos C 2a sin B sin C .
Sol. LHS : a cos A b cos B c cos C
[By Sine rule
k sin A cos A k sin B cos B k sin C cos C
k
2 sin A cos A 2 sin B cos B 2 sin C cos C
2
k
sin 2 A sin 2 B sin 2C
2
k
2 sin( A B) cos( A B) 2 sin C cos C
2
k sin( C ) cos( A B ) sin C cos C

Q09. For any triangle ABC, prove that (b c) cos

k sin C cos( A B ) cos[ ( A B )]

k sin C cos( A B ) cos( A B )
k sin C 2 sin A sin( B )
2 k sin A sin B sin C
2a sin B sin C RHS .

cos A cos B cos C a 2 b2 c 2

Q11. For any triangle ABC, prove that

.
a
b
c
2abc
Sol. See Q17 (p).
Q12. For any triangle ABC, prove that b2 c 2 cot A c 2 a 2 cot B a 2 b2 cot C 0 .
Sol.

See Q17 (v).

Q13. For any triangle ABC, prove that

b2 c2
c2 a 2
a 2 b2
sin
2
A

sin
2
B

sin 2C 0 .
a2
b2
c2

Sol. See Q17 (s).

Q14. A tree stands vertically on a hill side which makes an angle of 15o with the horizontal. From
a point on the ground 35m down hill from the base of the tree, the angle of elevation of the
top of the tree is 60o . Find the height of the tree.
Sol. Let PQ = h (in metres) be the tree on the hill QR.
In triangle AQR ,
QR
sin15o QR 35sin15o
AQ
and, AR AQ cos15o 35cos15o .
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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

In triangle APR,
PR
tan 60o PR 3 AR
AR
PQ QR 3 35cos15o

h 35sin15o 3 35cos15o

h 35
h 35

3 cos15o sin15o

3 cos[45o 30o ] sin[45o 30o ]

3 1
3 1
h 35 3

2 2
2 2

3 3 3 1
h 35

2 2

h 35 2 .
Hence the height of the tree is 35 2m .
Q15. Two ships leave a port at the same time. One goes 24kmph in the direction N 45o E and other
goes 32kmph in the direction S 75o E. Find the distance between the ships at the end of
3hours.
Sol. Let two ships A and B start from the port O with speed 24kmph and 32kmph in the direction
of OA and OB respectively.
When OA = N 45o E and OB = S 75o E.
AOB AOE EOB 45o 15o 60o .
The distance raveled by ship A in 3 hours

3 24 72km = OA

The distance raveled by ship B in 3 hours

= 3 32 96km = OB

OA 2 OB2 AB2
In OAB, cos O
2.OA.OB
2
72 962 AB2
o
cos 60
2 72 96
AB 86.5km .
Q16. Two trees A and B are on the same side of a river. From a point C in the river, the distance
between the trees A and B is 250m and 300m respectively. If the angle C is 45o , find the
distance between the trees. [ Use 2 1.414 ].
Sol. As shown in the figure, A and B are the trees and
C is the point in the river.
So AC = 250m, BC = 300m and C 45o .

BC 2 CA 2 AB2
2.BC.CA
2
300 250 2 c 2
cos 45o =
2 300 250
2 300 250
3002 250 2 c 2
2
c 215.49m
The distance between the two tress is 215.5m (Approx.)
In ABC, cos C =

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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

Q17. In any ABC , prove that :

a 2 c 2 sin A C

(a)
b2
sin A C

(b) b cos B c cos C a cos B C

(c) a sin A b sin B c sin A B

A B
cos

ab
2

(e)
C
c
sin
2
A B
tan

ab
2
(g)

A B
ab
tan

2
A
B
tan tan
c
2
2

(i)
a b tan A tan B
2
2
B

C
A

(k) a cos
b c sin

2
2
C
C
2
2
(m) a b cos 2 a b sin 2 c 2
2
2
2

(o) a b cos C c cos B b c

(d)

a 2 b 2 1 cos A B cos C

a 2 c 2 1 cos A C cos B

(f)

b 2 c 2 sin B C

a2
sin B C

A
BC bc
(h) sin
cos

a
2
2

(j) a cos C cos B 2 b c cos 2

A
2

C
B

(l) 2 b cos 2 c cos2 a b c

2
2

c b cos A cos B
(n)

b c cos A cos C

cos A cos B cos C a 2 b2 c 2

(p)
a
b
c
2abc

A
2
A
B
C
(r) b c cot c a cot a b cot 0
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
b c
c a
a b
sin 2 A
sin 2 B
sin 2C 0
(s)
2
2
a
b
c2
(t) a (sin B sin C ) b(sin C sin A) c(sin A sin B) 0
2

(q) a 2 b c 4bc cos 2

(u) 2 bc cos A ca cos B ab cos C a 2 b 2 c 2

(v) b2 c 2 cot A c 2 a 2 cot B a 2 b2 cot C 0
Solution :

a 2 c 2 k 2 sin 2 A k 2 sin 2 C

(a) LHS :
[By Sine rule
b2
k 2 sin 2 B
sin 2 A sin 2 C
sin(A C)sin(A C)

2
sin 2 [ (A C)]
sin B
sin(A C)sin(A C)
sin(A C)

RHS .
2
sin (A C)
sin(A C)
(b) LHS : b cos B c cosC k sin Bcos B k sin Ccos C [By Sine rule
k
k

2 sin Bcos B 2 sin C cos C

sin 2B sin 2C
2
2
k
2B 2C
2B 2C

k sin(B C) cos(B C)

2sin
cos
2
2
2
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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

k sin Acos(B C)

k sin( A) cos(B C)

a cos(B C) RHS .
(c) LHS : a sin A b sin B k sin A sin A k sin Bsin B
[By Sine rule
2
2

k [sin A sin B]

k [sin(A B) sin(A B)]

k sin( C)sin(A B)

k sin Csin(A B)

c sin(A B) = RHS .
1 cos A B cosC 1 cos A B cos (A B)
(d) RHS :

1 cos A C cos B 1 cos A C cos (A C)

1 cos A B cos A B
1 cos A C cos A C

1 cos2 A sin 2 B
1 cos2 A sin 2 C
k 2 sin 2 A k 2 sin 2 B

2 2
k sin A k 2 sin 2 C
a 2 b2

2
LHS .
a c2
a b k sin A k sin B

(e) LHS :
c
k sin C

k [sin A sin B]
k sin C

AB
C
sin cos
2
2 2

C
C
sin cos
2
2
AB
cos
2 RHS .

C
sin
2
2
2
b c
k 2 sin 2 B k 2 sin 2 C

(f) LHS :
a2
k 2 sin 2 A
k 2 [sin 2 B sin 2 C]

k 2 sin 2 A
sin(B C)sin(B C)

sin 2 (B C)
a b k sin A k sin B

(g) LHS :
a b k sin A k sin B

sin A sin B

sin A sin B

cot

AB
AB
tan
2
2

1 [cos2 A sin 2 B]
1 [cos2 A sin 2 C]

sin 2 A sin 2 B
sin 2 A sin 2 C

[Multiplying Nr & Dr by k 2

[By Sine rule

AB
AB
cos
2
2

C
C
2sin cos
2
2
C
AB
cos cos
2
2

C
C
sin cos
2
2
2sin

[By Sine rule

sin(B C)sin(B C)
sin 2 [ (B C)]
sin(B C)

RHS .
sin(B C)

AB
AB
sin
2
2

AB
AB
2sin
cos
2
2
A B
tan

2 RHS .

A B
tan

2
2 cos

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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

(h) RHS :

A k sin B k sin C
A
bc
cos
cos
a
2
k sin A
2
sin B sin C
A
cos
sin A
2

BC
BC
sin
2
2 cos A

A
A
2
2sin cos
2
2
A
BC
sin sin
2
2

A
sin
2
2cos

BC
A
cos sin
2
2 2

A
sin
2
BC

sin
LHS .
2
A
B
B
A
sin cos sin cos
2
2
2
2
A
B
A
B
tan tan
cos cos
2
2
2
2
(i) RHS :
A
B
A
B
B
A
tan tan
sin cos sin cos
2
2
2
2
2
2
A
B
cos cos
2
2
A B
A
B
B
A
sin
sin cos sin cos
2 2
2
2
2
2

A
B
B
A
A B
sin cos sin cos
sin
2
2
2
2
2 2
C
C
sin
cos
2 2
2

A
B

sin
sin

2
2
C
C
2 sin cos
sin C
2
2

C A B
A B A B
2 sin sin
2 sin

sin

2
2 2
2
2
sin C
sin C

sin A sin B
A B A B
2 cos
sin

2 2
k sin C

[Multiply Nr & Dr by k
k sin A k sin B
c

LHS .
ab
(j) LHS : a cosC cos B k sin A cos C cos B

CB
C B

k sin A 2sin
sin
2
2

A
A

A C B
k 2sin cos 2sin sin
2
2
2

2 2
A
A
A
C B

2k 2sin cos cos sin

2
2
2
2

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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

2k cos2

A
C+ B C B
2sin
sin

2
2
2
2

A
C+B
C B
2 cos
sin

2
2
2
A

2k cos2 sin C sin B

2
A

2 cos 2 k sin B k sin C

2
A

2 b c cos2 RHS .
2
A
A
(k) RHS : b c sin k sin B k sin C sin
2
2
A

k sin B sin C sin

2
BC
BC
A

k 2sin
cos
sin

2
2
2

2k cos 2

k cos

BC
A A
2sin sin

2
2
2 2

BC
A
A
2cos sin

2
2
2
BC

k cos
sin A
2
BC

k sin A cos
2
BC

a cos
LHS .
2
C
B
C
B

(l) LHS : 2 b cos2 c cos2 b 2 cos2 c 2 cos2

2
2
2
2

b 1 cosC c 1 cos B

k cos

b b cos C c c cos B
[By Projection formula, a b cosC c cos B
b c b cos C c cos B
a b c RHS .
C
C
2
2
(m) LHS : a b cos 2 a b sin 2
2
2
C
C
C
C
C
C

a 2 cos2 b2 cos2 2ab cos2 a 2 sin 2 b2 sin 2 2ab sin 2

2
2
2
2
2
2
C
C
C
C
C
C

a 2 cos2 sin 2 b 2 cos 2 sin 2 2ab cos 2 sin 2

2
2
2
2
2
2

2
2

a (1) b (1) 2ab cos C

c 2 RHS .
c b cos A a cos B b cos A b cos A
(n) LHS :

b c cos A c cos A a cos C c cos A

a cos B cos B

RHS .
a cos C cosC

[By Projection formulae

(o) LHS : a b cos C c cos B ab cos C ac cos B

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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

a 2 b2 c2
a 2 c 2 b2
ab

ac

2ab
2ac

2
2
2
2
2
2
a b c
a c b

2
2
2
2
2
2
a b c
a c 2 b2

2
2
2
2
2
2
a b c a c 2 b2

2
2
2
2(b c )

2
2
(b c 2 ) RHS .

cos A cos B cos C 1 c 2 b2 a 2 1 a 2 c 2 b2 1 a 2 b2 c 2

a
b
c
a
2bc
2ac
2ab
b
c

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
c b a
a c b a b c

2abc
2abc
2abc
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
c b a a c b a b2 c2

2abc
2
2
2
a b c

RHS .
2abc
A
A
2
(q) RHS : b c 4bc cos 2 b2 c 2 2bc 4bc cos2
2
2
A

b 2 c 2 2bc 2 cos 2 1
2

2
2

b c 2bc cos A

a 2 LHS .
A
A
(r) Consider, b c cot k sin B k sin C cot
2
2
BC
BC
A
B C
A

A
sin
cot

k 2 cos

k 2cos sin
cot

2
2
2
2
2

2 2

A
A
B C cos 2
BC

B C

k 2sin sin

k 2sin
cos

2
2 sin A
2
2

B C B C
B C B C

k 2sin sin

k 2sin sin
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2

(p) LHS :

B
C

k cos cos

2
2

A
C
B

So, b c cot k cos cos (i)

2
2
2

B
A
C

Similarly c a cot k cos cos (ii)

2
2
2

B
B
A

And, a b cot k cos cos (iii)

2
2
2

Now adding (i), (ii) & (iii), we get :

C
B

k cos cos
2
2

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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

A
B
B
C
B
A
C

c a cot a b cot k cos cos k cos cos

2
2
2
2
2
2
2

B
A

k cos cos
2
2

C
B
A
C
B
A

k cos cos cos cos cos cos

2
2
2
2
2
2

A
B
B
b c cot c a cot a b cot 0 .
Hence Proved.
2
2
2
b2 c2
b2 c 2
sin
2A
[2sin A cos A]
=
(s) Consider,
a2
a2
b 2 c 2 b2 c 2 a 2

= 2(ak )

2
2bc
a

b c cot

(b2 c 2 )( b2 c 2 ) a 2b 2 a 2c 2
=k

2abc

i.e.,

b 4 c 4 a 2 b2 a 2 c 2
b2 c2
sin
2A
=
k

(i)
a2
2abc

Similarly,

c 4 a 4 c 2b 2 a 2 b 2
c2 a 2
sin
2B

(ii)
b2
2abc

a 4 b 4 c 2 a 2 c 2 b2
a 2 b2

sin
2C
k

(iii)
c2
2abc

Now adding (i), (ii) & (iii), we get :

b 4 c 4 a 2b 2 a 2 c 2
b2 c2
c2 a2
a 2 b2

sin
2A
sin
2B
sin
2C
k

a2
b2
c2
2abc

And,

c 4 a 4 c 2 b 2 a 2b 2
a 4 b 4 c 2 a 2 c 2b 2
k

2abc
2abc

k
b 4 c 4 a 2b2 a 2 c 2 c 4 a 4 c 2 b2 a 2b 2 a 4 b4 c 2 a 2 c 2b 2
2abc
k

0 0
2abc
b2 c 2
c2 a2
a 2 b2

sin
2A

sin
2B

sin 2C 0 .
Hence Proved.
a2
b2
c2
(t) LHS : a (sin B sin C) b(sin C sin A) c(sin A sin B)

a sin B a sin C b sin C b sin A c sin A c sin B

k sin A sin B k sin A sin C k sin Bsin C k sin Bsin A k sin Csin A k sin Csin B

0 RHS .
(u) LHS : 2 bc cos A ca cos B ab cos C

b2 c 2 a 2
a 2 c 2 b2
b2 a 2 c 2
2 bc

ca

ab

2bc
2ac
2ba

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

b c a a c b b a c

a 2 b 2 c 2 RHS .
cos A
(v) Consider, b2 c 2 cot A b2 c 2
sin A

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Top Solved Questions - Class 11 Compiled By OP Gupta (Indira Award Winner | M.+91-9650350480)

b2 c 2

1 b2 c 2 a 2

2bc
ka

b 4 c 4 a 2 b2 a 2 c 2
i.e., b c cot A
(i)
2kabc
c 4 a 4 c 2b 2 a 2b 2
Similarly, c 2 a 2 cot B
(ii)
2kabc
a 4 b 4 c 2 a 2 c 2b 2
And, a 2 b 2 cot C
(iii)
2kabc
Now adding (i), (ii) & (iii), we get :
b 4 c 4 a 2 b2 a 2 c 2
2
2
2
2
2
2
b c cot A c a cot B a b cot C
2kabc
4
4
c a c 2 b 2 a 2b 2 a 4 b 4 c 2 a 2 c 2b 2

2kabc
2kabc
4
4
2 2
2 2
4
4
2 2
2 2
4
4
2 2
2 2
b c a b a c c a c b a b a b c a c b

2kabc
0

2kabc
2
2
b c cot A c 2 a 2 cot B a 2 b2 cot C 0 .
Hence Proved.
2

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