Lesson 20 of 20 5 MC + 3 Short Answer MAS-TRG-C-01 / MAS-GEO-C-01

Revision and Problem Solving

The final challenge. Every concept from Unit 3 in mixed problems. Test yourself, find gaps, and master trigonometry and geometry.

Worksheet

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Think First

Before we begin: Look back at all 20 lessons. Which topic do you feel most confident about? Which topic do you find most challenging? What specific skill would you like to improve before the unit quiz?

Type your initial response below. You will revisit this at the end of the lesson.

Write your initial response in your book. You will revisit it at the end of the lesson.

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Learning Intentions

Know

  • All key formulas and theorems from Unit 3.
  • Common problem types and strategies.

Understand

  • How different topics connect.
  • When to apply each technique.

Can Do

  • Solve mixed problems from any topic.
  • Identify the appropriate method quickly.
  • Prepare effectively for assessment.

Success Criteria

  • I can solve problems involving right-angled and non-right triangles.
  • I can apply congruence, similarity and circle theorems.
  • I can choose between sine rule, cosine rule and area formula.
  • I am ready for the Unit 3 quiz.

Key Terms - Unit 3 Summary

SOHCAHTOAsin = opp/hyp, cos = adj/hyp, tan = opp/adj
Sine rule$\frac{a}{\sin A} = \frac{b}{\sin B} = \frac{c}{\sin C}$
Cosine rule$c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab \cos C$
Area$A = \frac{1}{2}ab \sin C$
CongruenceSSS, SAS, AAS, RHS
SimilaritySSS, SAS, AA
Circle theoremsCentre, semicircle, segment, cyclic quad, tangent
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Complete Formula Summary

All formulas from Unit 3 in one place.

TopicFormulaWhen to use
Right trigsin, cos, tan ratiosRight triangles
Inverse trigsin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, tan⁻¹Finding angles
Pythagoras$c^2 = a^2 + b^2$Two sides, want third
Sine rule$\frac{a}{\sin A} = \frac{b}{\sin B}$AAS, ASA, SSA
Cosine rule$c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab\cos C$SAS, SSS
Area$A = \frac{1}{2}ab\sin C$SAS
Heron$A = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}$SSS
Worked Example 1 — Mixed Problem
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Given: A cyclic quadrilateral ABCD has AB = 8, BC = 10, angle ABC = 70°. Find AC, then show triangle ABC is not congruent to triangle ADC.
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Step 1 (Cosine rule): $AC^2 = 8^2 + 10^2 - 2(8)(10)\cos 70° = 64 + 100 - 160 \times 0.342 = 164 - 54.7 = 109.3$. $AC = \sqrt{109.3} \approx 10.5$
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Step 2: In cyclic quadrilateral, opposite angles sum to 180°. Angle ADC = $180 - 70 = 110°$.
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Step 3: Triangle ABC has sides 8, 10, 10.5 and angle 70°. Triangle ADC has side AC = 10.5, angle ADC = 110°, but we don't know AD or DC. Even if AD = 8 and DC = 10, the included angle is 110°, not 70°, so the triangles are not congruent.

Interactive: Unit 3 Revision Quiz

Your Turn

Question 1: A tower stands on a hill. From a point 50 m downhill, the angle of elevation to the base is 15° and to the top is 35°. Find the height of the tower.

Question 2: Two circles of radii 5 cm and 12 cm touch externally. Find the length of their common external tangent.

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Copy Into Your Books

Right triangle SOHCAHTOA / Pythagoras
Any triangle Sine / Cosine / Area
Congruence SSS, SAS, AAS, RHS
Similarity SSS, SAS, AA

Revisit Your Thinking

Look back at your Think First response. Now that you have worked through all 20 lessons, review your self-assessment. Which topics do you still need to practice? Make a study plan for the unit quiz.

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Multiple Choice

Select the best answer for each question.

1 mark A triangle with sides 9, 40, 41 is:

1 mark The angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference. If the circumference angle is 35°, the centre angle is:

1 mark Two similar triangles have sides in ratio 2:5. Their areas are in ratio:

1 mark Given SSA with a = 8, b = 10, A = 30°. The number of possible triangles is:

1 mark A tangent to a circle makes angle 50° with a chord. The angle in the alternate segment is:

Short Answer

Show all working and justify your answers.

Question 6

3 marks Apply

A quadrilateral ABCD has AB = 8 cm, BC = 10 cm, CD = 12 cm, DA = 15 cm, and diagonal AC = 14 cm.

(a) Find angle ABC using the cosine rule.

(b) Find angle ADC using the cosine rule.

(c) Is ABCD a cyclic quadrilateral? Justify your answer.

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Question 7

4 marks Analyse

From a cliff 80 m high, the angle of depression to a boat is 25°. From the same point, the angle of depression to a second boat is 40°. The two boats are on the same bearing from the cliff.

(a) Find the distance from the cliff to each boat.

(b) Find the distance between the two boats.

(c) If a third boat is midway between them, what is its angle of depression from the cliff?

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Question 8

5 marks Evaluate

Three points A, B, C on a map form a triangle. AB = 15 km, angle BAC = 50°, angle ABC = 60°.

(a) Find all sides and angles of the triangle.

(b) Find the area of the triangle.

(c) A new road is built from A to the midpoint M of BC. Find the length of AM.

(d) A surveyor claims that AM can be found using Apollonius's theorem: $AB^2 + AC^2 = 2(AM^2 + BM^2)$. Verify this.

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Model Answers

(a) $\cos B = \frac{8^2 + 10^2 - 14^2}{2(8)(10)} = \frac{64 + 100 - 196}{160} = \frac{-32}{160} = -0.2$. $B = \cos^{-1}(-0.2) \approx 101.5°$.

(b) $\cos D = \frac{15^2 + 12^2 - 14^2}{2(15)(12)} = \frac{225 + 144 - 196}{360} = \frac{173}{360} = 0.481$. $D = \cos^{-1}(0.481) \approx 61.3°$.

(c) $B + D = 101.5 + 61.3 = 162.8° \neq 180°$. No, ABCD is not cyclic (opposite angles do not sum to 180°).

Marking guidance: 1 mark each for (a), (b), (c).

(a) Distance to first boat = $80/\tan 25° = 80/0.466 = 171.7$ m. Distance to second boat = $80/\tan 40° = 80/0.839 = 95.4$ m.

(b) Distance between boats = $171.7 - 95.4 = 76.3$ m.

(c) Midway distance = $(171.7 + 95.4)/2 = 133.55$ m. Angle = $\tan^{-1}(80/133.55) = \tan^{-1}(0.599) \approx 30.9°$.

Marking guidance: 1 mark for (a), 1 mark for (b), 2 marks for (c).

(a) Angle C = $180 - 50 - 60 = 70°$. $\frac{AC}{\sin 60°} = \frac{15}{\sin 70°}$. $AC = \frac{15 \times 0.866}{0.940} = 13.8$ km. $\frac{BC}{\sin 50°} = \frac{15}{\sin 70°}$. $BC = \frac{15 \times 0.766}{0.940} = 12.2$ km.

(b) Area = $\frac{1}{2}(15)(13.8)\sin 60° = 103.5 \times 0.866 \approx 89.6$ km squared.

(c) $BM = BC/2 = 6.1$ km. Using cosine rule in triangle ABM: $AM^2 = 15^2 + 6.1^2 - 2(15)(6.1)\cos 60° = 225 + 37.2 - 91.5 = 170.7$. $AM = \sqrt{170.7} \approx 13.1$ km.

(d) LHS = $15^2 + 13.8^2 = 225 + 190.4 = 415.4$. RHS = $2(13.1^2 + 6.1^2) = 2(171.6 + 37.2) = 2(208.8) = 417.6$. Small difference due to rounding. The theorem is verified.

Marking guidance: 1 mark for (a), 1 mark for (b), 2 marks for (c), 1 mark for (d).

Consolidation Game

Test your knowledge from this lesson and previous lessons.