3D TRIGONOMETRY PROBLEMS

QUESTION PAPER (QP)

1 (a) Andrei stands on level horizontal ground, 294 m from the foot of a vertical tower which is 55 m high.

(i) Calculate the angle of elevation of the top of the tower.

wer
I tane 7 10.596
Answer(a)(i) ................................................. [2]

A
le F e tan 525
94 10.596
294
(ii) Andrei walks a distance x metres directly towards the tower.
The angle of elevation of the top of the tower is now 24.8°. 2 119 03 294
tan248 x 174.969
Calculate the value of x. 517
tan24.8 55
55 AF
18 48Answer(a)(ii) x = ................................................. [4]
A say
1249.03 TF AF 19.03
(b) The diagram shows a pyramid with a horizontal rectangular base.

NOT TO
y SCALE

4m

D C
5.66 2.83
3m
2.83
A 4.8 m

The rectangular base has length 4.8 m and width 3 m and the height of the pyramid is 4 m.

Calculate
4 42 42 2.832
4
(i) y, the length of a sloping edge of the pyramid,
2.83 4 24
AC 32 4.82
7 4.8999
Answer(b)(i) y = ............................................. m [4]

A 4.8
(ii)
1453884
the angle between a sloping edge and the rectangular base of the pyramid.

5ᵗʰ
4.8999 4 99 Answer(b)(ii) ................................................ [2]
4
x x sin 0580/41/M/J/15
4 99
2.83 A 54.72
 2
F

6m NOT TO
SCALE C
D C
23.43

23.43 A B
ye 15 m 18
A 18 m B AC 182 152
The diagram shows a rectangular playground ABCD on horizontal ground.
A vertical flagpole CF, 6 metres high, stands in corner C.
ÉÉÉÉÉ3
AB = 18 m and BC = 15 m.

Calculate the angle of elevation of F from A.

F

Tim 14.36
Answer ................................................ [4]

a a'in s 0580/22/F/M/15

e 14.36
3 (a)
T

Tn T

60
60 m NOT TO
33.166 SCALE33166

A 50 B
B
18
50 m
602 502 TB 130°
B
A 70 m C
1100 TB
A tame 33,161
TB 33.166
C
tai
A, B and C are points on horizontal ground.
BT is a vertical pole.
e
33ft
AT = 60 m, AB = 50 m, BC = 70 m and angle ABC = 130°. e 25.35
(i) Calculate the angle of elevation of T from C.

25.35
Answer(a)(i) ................................................ [5]
 Cos 30 502 702 ACZ
2150 701
(ii) Calculate the length AC.

Answer(a)(ii) AC = ............................................ m [4]

(iii) Calculate the area of triangle ABC. sin 130

2151
Answer(a)(iii) ........................................... m2 [2]

Y
(b)
Y
12 cm 50.09

A NOT TO
SCALE
XYZ 5009 122
22 cm
Y 2653
X
45 cm B
A cuboid has length 45 cm, width 22 cm and height 12 cm.
Y 52653

Calculate the length of the straight line XY. 7 51.507

A 22
1125 Answer(b) XY = .......................................... cm [4]

is Ax 50.09 0580/41/O/N/15

4
A

44 1.9
NOT TO
1.25m SCALE
B 1.6
168
D
µ
1.2m A
2.3
C
0568
The diagram shows a tent ABCD.
The front of the tent is an isosceles triangle ABC, with AB = AC. 568
ABCO 0.6
The sides of the tent are congruent triangles ABD and ACD.
equal
AB Bra
(a) BC = 1.2 m and angle ABC = 68°. 8 o.ge
AB 1.6017
Find AC.
AC 1.6017
 AT
1 6017
Answer(a) AC = ............................................ m [3]

(b) CD = 2.3 m and AD = 1.9 m.

Find angle ADC. COSD 192 2.321.60172

A 2119112.31
1.9 COSD 0.724778Answer(b) 43.55
Angle ADC = ............................................... [4]
1.60
C D D 0510.724778 43.55
2.3
(c) The floor of the tent, triangle BCD, is also an isosceles triangle with BD = CD.
D
Calculate the area of the floor of the tent.

2.3 23
12.22 1.3322
Answer(c) ...........................................m2 [4]
B 1.27 c
(d) When the tent is on horizontal ground, A is a vertical distance 1.25 m above the ground.

Calculate the angle between AD and the ground.

A sink
1.9 12 41.1395
Answer(d) ............................................... [3]
125 a sin
xp 0580/42/O/N/15
41 1395 H
7.61577
5
7 cm
3
DT
E F
p c

32 72
5 cm A B NOT TO
HC
SCALE

HC 58
H G
3 cm 7161577
D C
HC 558
The diagram shows a cuboid. HC 7.61577
HD = 3 cm, EH = 5 cm and EF = 7 cm.
CE 52 7.615772
Calculate

(a) the length CE,

H 7.61577
EEE 9.1104
CE = ............................................ cm [4]

(b) the angle between CE and the base CDHG.

tank
7 517 33.286
.................................................. [3]

7.61579 a K tan 33.286

g
0580/23/M/J/16
6 The diagram shows a cuboid.

F G

E H
30 cm NOT TO
SCALE

B
DR C
35 cm AG 302
69.46

A 60 cm D
G AGE5725
AG 75.663
AD = 60 cm, CD = 35 cm and CG = 30 cm.
30
Calculate

(i) the length AG, A

F A 69.4622 C
AC 6029352
At 4825 75.6637
AG = ............................................ cm [4]
AC 69.4622
(ii) the angle between AG and the base ABCD.

a tank 6394622
30 23 359
.................................................. [3]

0516974622
189.4622 c
0580/42/M/J/16
A
7
23.359
S R

P Q NOT TO
8 cm SCALE

S SB 87111.31371
D C
33 8 cm 8
SBE 192
A 8 cm B SB 592
711.343
The diagram shows a cube of side length 8 cm.
7 B SB 13.8564

(a) Calculate the length of the diagonal BS.

P DB2 82 82
13.8564
BE 1
BS = ......................................... cm [3]
78
(b) Calculate angle SBD.
B 11.3137

tank Angle SBD = ................................................ [2]

3137
tant
0580/21/O/N/16
x
1 37
35.2644
8
A B
NOT TO
SCALE
5 cm D
13 cm
C
A
F
13
E
5
4 cm
21 a
H G
E G
The diagram shows a cuboid ABCDEFGH.
AE = 5 cm, EH = 4 cm and AG = 13 cm.
sink
x sin
5
Calculate the angle between the line AG and the base EFGH of the cuboid. F
22.6199
.............................................. [3]

0580/21/M/J/17

G
9 The diagram shows a cube ABCDEFGH of side length 26 cm.
26
H 26 G

E F NOT TO
SCALE A 36.77 C
20
26
D
tank 3677
C

4m
A B x
tant o
Calculate the angle between AG and the base of the cube.
a 35.264
C

................................................... [4]

A 26 0580/23/M/J/17

ALL 2627262
AC 1352
AC 36.77
10 O

O NOT TO
10
7 x SCALE
10 cm

3 cm
P

The cone is cut along the line OP and is opened out into a sector as shown in the diagram.

Calculate the sector angle x.

circumferenceofcomebase Arclengthofsector
ZAV 2 AV
x = ................................................. [4]
2A 3 20 10
10 0580/42/M/J/17

39 108
11
P
7.5 NOT TO
SCALE

9 cm

D
C

3
N 6 cm
M

3
A 8 cm B

The diagram shows a pyramid on a rectangular base ABCD.

AC and BD intersect at M and P is vertically above M.
AB = 8 cm, BC = 6 cm and PM = 9 cm.

(a) N is the midpoint of BC. tann

Calculate angle PNM.
a tan 9 66.0375
PNM = .................................................. [2]

(b) Show that BM = 5 cm. DB 82 62 BM IDB [1]

D
f 10 DB 00 10 5
A
7
B
DB 10
 246.9475
16.94

5 3
p

PB 92 52 Sink 132.2956

PB 106 x sai 1032956 1012996

PB 10.2956 33.88 7.5210.29562 Bx

16.94 cos
2 75 10.29561

B 128.20935 7.52 10.2958 BX

2 10.29562 128.20935
13 7.52
BX 34.0400
BX 5.834
 (c) Calculate the angle between the edge PB and the base ABCD.

P tank
9 x tañ 9 60.945 60.945
................................................... [2]

m 5 8 B
(d) A point X is on PC so that PX = 7.5 cm.

Calculate BX.

BX = ........................................... cm [6]

0580/42/M/J/17

12 Q

525 m 104°
872 m NOT TO
SCALE
A

ABC is a triangular field on horizontal ground.

There is a vertical pole BQ at B.
AB = 525 m, BC = 872 m and angle ABC = 104°.

(a) Use the cosine rule to calculate the distance AC.

= .............................................. m [4]

(b) The angle of elevation of Q from C is 1.0°.

Showing all your working, calculate the angle of elevation of Q from A.

................................................... [4]

0580/43/M/J/17
13 The diagram shows a pyramid with a square base ABCD.
All the sloping edges of the pyramid are 20 cm long and AC = 17 cm.

V
NOT TO
SCALE
20 cm

D
C
17 cm
A B

Calculate the height of the pyramid.

............................................ cm [3]

0580/22/F/M/17

14
E

NOT TO
SCALE

9 cm

D C

M 12 cm

A B
12 cm

The diagram shows a square-based pyramid ABCDE.

The diagonals of the square meet at M.
E is vertically above M.
AB = BC = 12 cm and EM = 9 cm.

Calculate the angle between the edge EC and the base, ABCD, of the pyramid.

................................................... [4]

0580/21/O/N/17
15
P Q

NOT TO
2 cm
SCALE

D C

3 cm

A 4 cm B

The diagram shows a prism of length 4 cm.

The cross section is a right-angled triangle.
BC = 3 cm and CQ = 2 cm.

Calculate the angle between the line AQ and the base, ABCD, of the prism.

.............................................. [4]

0580/22/O/N/17

16
S R

P Q
5 cm
NOT TO
SCALE
D C

4 cm
A 8 cm B

The diagram shows a cuboid.

AB = 8 cm, BC = 4 cm and CR = 5 cm.

(i) Write down the number of planes of symmetry of this cuboid.

................................................ [1]

(ii) Calculate the angle between the diagonal AR and the plane BCRQ.

................................................ [4]
0580/43/M/J/18
17
B

8 cm NOT TO
SCALE

5.5 cm
A 16.2 cm

The diagram shows a cuboid with dimensions 5.5 cm, 8 cm and 16.2 cm.

Calculate the angle between the line AB and the horizontal base of the cuboid.

................................................ [4]
0580/22/O/N/18

18
Q P

4 cm NOT TO
SCALE

D
C

6 cm

A 12 cm B

The diagram shows a triangular prism.

AB = 12 cm, BC = 6 cm, PC = 4 cm, angle BCP = 90° and angle QDC = 90°.

Calculate the angle between AP and the rectangular base ABCD.

................................................. [4]

0580/23/O/N/18
19
D

80°

NOT TO
8 cm SCALE

C
13 cm

4 cm
A
11 cm B

(a) Calculate angle ACB.

Angle ACB = ................................................. [4]

(b) Calculate angle ACD.

Angle ACD = .................................................. [4]

0580/43/O/N/18

20
V

NOT TO
SCALE

10 cm
D C

A 8 cm B

The diagram shows a pyramid with a square base ABCD of side length 8 cm.
The diagonals of the square, AC and BD, intersect at M.
V is vertically above M and VM = 10 cm.

Calculate the angle between VA and the base.

............................................ [4]
0580/21/M/J/19
21
H G

E F
12 cm
NOT TO
SCALE
D C
7 cm
A 18 cm B

ABCDEFGH is a cuboid.
AB = 18 cm, BC = 7 cm and CG = 12 cm.

Calculate the angle that the diagonal AG makes with the base ABCD.

............................................... [4]

0580/22/M/J/19

22

x NOT TO
cm
2 SCALE

x cm

27x
cm
2

A prism with a right-angled triangle as its cross-section.

x = .................................................... [4]

0580/41/M/J/19
23 The diagram shows a pyramid with a P
square base ABCD.
DB = 8 cm. NOT TO
P is vertically above the centre, X, of SCALE
the base and PX = 5 cm.

D C

A B

Calculate the angle between PB and the base ABCD.

.................................................... [3]

0580/41/O/N/19

24
A B

NOT TO
5.2 cm SCALE
10 cm
F C

E 18 cm D

The diagram shows a prism ABCDEF.

The cross-section is a right-angled triangle BCD.
BD = 10 cm, BC = 5.2 cm and ED = 18 cm.

(i) (a) Work out the volume of the prism.

............................................. cm3 [6]

(b) Calculate angle BEC.

BEC = ................................................... [4]

(ii) The point G lies on the line ED and GD = 7 cm.

Work out angle BGE.

Angle BGE = ................................................... [3]
0580/42/O/N/19
25
H G
NOT TO
SCALE

E F
6 cm

D C

6 cm

A 8 cm B

The diagram shows a cuboid.

AB = 8cm , AD = 6 cm and DH = 6 cm .

Calculate angle HAF.

Angle HAF = ................................................. [6]

0580/22/M/J/20

26
V

NOT TO
SCALE
18.6 cm

D C
M

A B
11 cm

The diagram shows a pyramid with a square base ABCD�

The diagonals AC and BD intersect at M�
The vertex V is vertically above M�
AB = 11 cm and AV = 18�6 cm�

Calculate the angle that AV makes with the base�

������������������������������������������������� [4]

0580/23/M/J/20
27
X

H
G

E F NOT TO
SCALE

16 cm D C

18 cm

A 20 cm B

The diagram shows an open box ABCDEFGH in the shape of a cuboid.

AB = 20 cm, BC = 18 cm and AE = 16 cm .
A thin rod AGX rests partly in the box as shown.
The rod is 40 cm long.

(i) Calculate GX, the length of the rod which is outside the box.

GX = ............................................ cm [4]

(ii) Calculate the angle the rod makes with the base of the box.

................................................. [3]
0580/42/F/M/20

28

P Q

S R NOT TO
SCALE
U
T

W V

The diagram shows a cuboid PQRSTUVW.

PV = 17.2 cm
The angle between the line PV and the base TUVW of the cuboid is 43°.

Calculate PT.
PT = ........................................... cm [3]
0580/21/O/N/20
29
H 5 cm G
NOT TO
D SCALE
C

E F
70° 12 cm
A B
8 cm

The diagram shows a prism with a rectangular base, ABFE.

The cross-section, ABCD, is a trapezium with AD = BC.
AB = 8 cm, GH = 5 cm, BF = 12 cm and angle ABC = 70°.
The perpendicular from G onto EF meets EF at X.

(i) Show that EX = 6.5 cm. [1]

(ii) Calculate AX.

AX = ........................................... cm [2]

(iii) Calculate the angle between the diagonal AG and the base ABFE.

................................................. [2]

0580/42/O/N/20

30
H G

E F

11 cm NOT TO
SCALE

D
C
5 cm
A 8 cm B

ABCDEFGH is a cuboid.
AB = 8 cm, BC = 5 cm and CG = 11 cm.
(a) Ivana has a pencil of length 13 cm.

Does this pencil fit completely inside the cuboid?

Show how you decide. [4]
 (b) (i) Calculate angle CAB.

CAB = ................................................ [2]

(ii) Calculate angle GAC.

Angle GAC = ................................................ [2]

0580/43/O/N/20

D
31

NOT TO
A SCALE

13 cm 20 cm E F

24 cm

B
C

The diagram shows a prism, ABCDEF.

AB = 13 cm, AC = 20 cm, CF = 24 cm and angle ABC = 90°.

Calculate the angle that AF makes with the base BCFE.

................................................. [4]

0580/41/M/J/21
32
E

NOT TO
SCALE
24 cm

D C

15 cm

A 18 cm B

The diagram shows a solid pyramid with a rectangular base ABCD.

E is vertically above D.
Angle EDC = angle EDA = 90°.
AB = 18 cm, BC = 15 cm and EC = 24 cm.

(i) The pyramid is made of wood and has a mass of 800 g.

Calculate the density of the wood.

Give the units of your answer.
1
[The volume, V, of a pyramid is V = # area of base # height.]
3
[Density = mass ' volume]

................................. .............. [5]

(ii) Calculate the angle between BE and the base of the pyramid.

................................................. [4]

0580/42/M/J/21
33
B

NOT TO
SCALE

The diagram shows a cube.

The length of the diagonal AB is 8.5 cm.

(i) Calculate the length of an edge of the cube.

............................................ cm [3]

(ii) Calculate the angle between AB and the base of the cube.

................................................. [3]

0580/43/M/J/21

34
V

NOT TO
14 cm SCALE

D
C

M 10 cm
A 12 cm B

The diagram shows a pyramid VABCD with a rectangular base.

V is vertically above M, the intersection of the diagonals AC and BD.
AB = 12 cm, BC = 10 cm and VC = 14 cm.

Calculate the angle that VC makes with the base ABCD.

................................................... [4]

0580/22/F/M/21
35
E

NOT TO
SCALE

9 cm
D C

O 5 cm

A 5 cm B

The diagram shows a pyramid ABCDE.

The pyramid has a square horizontal base ABCD with side 5 cm.
The vertex E is vertically above the centre O of the base.
The height OE of the pyramid is 9 cm.

Calculate the angle that EC makes with the base ABCD.

................................................. [4]
0580/21/O/N/21

36

D C

4 cm

Q P

5 cm NOT TO
SCALE
A B
12 cm

The diagram shows a triangular prism.

Angle BPC = 90°.

(a) Calculate AC.

AC = ........................................... cm [3]

(b) Calculate the angle between AC and the base ABPQ.

................................................. [3]

0580/23/O/N/21
37
M
H
G

E F NOT TO
14.5 cm
SCALE

D C
9 cm
A 18.6 cm B

The diagram shows an open rectangular box ABCDEFGH.

AB = 18.6 cm, BC = 9 cm and CG = 14.5 cm.
A straight stick AGM rests against A and G and extends outside the box to M.

(a) Calculate the angle between the stick and the base of the box.

................................................. [4]

(b) AM = 30 cm.

Show that GM = 4.8 cm, correct to 1 decimal place. [3]

0580/22/F/M/22

38
F

NOT TO
SCALE

D
E C

A B

The diagram shows a solid triangular prism ABCDEF of length 15 cm.

AB = 6.4 cm, EB = 5.7 cm and the volume of the prism is 145 cm 3 .

(a) Show that angle EBA = 32° , correct to the nearest degree. [3]
 (b) Find the length of EA.

.......................................... cm [3]

(c) Calculate the shortest distance from E to AB.

............................................ cm [3]

(d) Calculate the angle BF makes with the base, ABCD, of the prism.

................................................. [4]

(e) The prism is made of plastic with density 938 kg/m 3 .

Calculate the mass of the prism in grams.

[Density = mass ' volume ]

.............................................. g [3]

0580/41/M/J/23

39 (a)

H G

E F

NOT TO
SCALE

D C
x cm
A x cm B

ABCDEFGH is a cuboid with a square base of side x cm.

CG = 20 cm and AG = 28 cm .

Calculate the value of x.

x = ................................................ [4]
 (b)
R Q

N P
NOT TO
SCALE

M L

J K

The diagram shows a different cuboid JKLMNPQR.

MR = 30 cm correct to the nearest centimetre.
KR = 37 cm correct to the nearest centimetre.

Calculate the lower bound of the angle between KR and the base JKLM of the cuboid.

................................................. [4]

0580/42/M/J/23

40 (a)
X

NOT TO
SCALE

4.8 m
A
20.4° C
5.6 m
B

ABC is a scalene triangle on horizontal ground.

AYX is a straight vertical post, held in place by two straight wires XB and YC.
AC = 4.8 m, BC = 5.6 m and angle ACB = 20.4°.

(i) Calculate AB.

AB = ............................................ m [3]

(ii) Angle XBA = 64°.

Calculate AX.
AX = ............................................ m [2]
 (iii) AY = 2.9 m.

Calculate the area of triangle YAC.

........................................... m 2 [2]

(b)
R

30°

NOT TO
SCALE
8 cm

75°
P Q
M

In triangle PQR, M is the midpoint of PQ.

RM = 8 cm, angle PRM = 30° and angle RMQ = 75°.

Calculate PQ.

PQ = ........................................... cm [5]

0580/43/M/J/23

41
Q

NOT TO
SCALE
P
D C

4 cm
7 cm

A 5 cm B

The diagram shows a triangular prism ABCDQP of length 7 cm�

The cross-section is triangle PAB with PA = 4 cm , AB = 5 cm and angle PAB = 90° �

Calculate the angle between the line PC and the base ABCD�
������������������������������������������������� [4]
0580/22/F/M/23
 spin31 913
42
D
CB 6.335
sink
16.5 cm NOT TO
8079
SCALE0 10.9978
10.9978
10.99
cosx 6335716.74782
A 141.80
31° 12.3 cm
pp8 26.335 16.74781

C
COSH
05
10.54 2 1978
126.335

B cos31
13
The diagram shows a quadrilateral ABCD. 131 AB 12.310531
AC = 12.3 cm and AD = 16.5 cm . 12.3
Angle BAC = 31° , angle ABC = 90° and angle ACD = 90° . AB 10.54316
(a) Show that AB = 10.54 cm, correct to 2 decimal places. B AB 10.54 2dp [2]
P cosse
(b) Show that angle DAC = 41.80° correct to 2 decimal places.
16.5 1 [2]
A 172.3 c
05172.801 165410.542 Bp
(c) Calculate BD.

2 16.5710.54 16.7478
BD = ............................................cm [3]

(d) Calculate angle CBD.

CBD = ................................................ [4]

(e) Calculate the shortest distance from C to BD.

............................................ cm [4]
6.335 10.9978
0580/42/F/M/23
11978
D
sin1978
6 35
d 2.144
43
H G

E
F
9.2 cm
NOT TO
SCALE

D C
4.5 cm
A 15.1 cm B

The diagram shows a cuboid ABCDEFGH.

AB = 15.1 cm, BC = 4.5 cm and CG = 9.2 cm.

Calculate the angle that the diagonal BH makes with the face ADHE.

................................................. [4]

0580/21/O/N/23

44
H M G

NOT TO
E F SCALE
8 cm

D C
5 cm
A 14 cm B

The diagram shows a cuboid ABCDEFGH.

AB = 14 cm, BC = 5 cm and CG = 8 cm.
M is the midpoint of HG.

(a) Calculate BM.

............................................ cm [3]

(b) Calculate the angle that BM makes with the base ABCD.

................................................. [3]

0580/23/O/N/23
45
E 9.1 cm F

6.5 cm A B NOT TO
SCALE

H G
4 cm
D C

The diagram shows a cuboid.

HD = 4 cm, EH = 6.5 cm and EF = 9.1 cm.

Calculate the angle between CE and the base CDHG.

................................................. [4]

0580/21/M/J/24

46
W V

4 cm NOT TO
SCALE
D C

5 cm

A 15 cm B

The diagram shows a triangular prism with cross-section triangle BCV.

Angle BCV = 90° , BC = 5cm , CV = 4cm and AB = 15cm .

Calculate the angle between AV and the base ABCD.

................................................. [4]

0580/23/M/J/24
47
H G

E
F

15 cm
NOT TO
SCALE

D
C
12 cm
A 8 cm B

The diagram shows a cuboid, ABCDEFGH.

Calculate the angle that AG makes with the base of the cuboid.

................................................. [4]

0580/42/M/J/24