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.

Answer(a)(i) ................................................. [2]

(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°.

Calculate the value of x.

Answer(a)(ii) x = ................................................. [4]

(b) The diagram shows a pyramid with a horizontal rectangular base.

NOT TO
y SCALE

4m

3m

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

(i) y, the length of a sloping edge of the pyramid,

Answer(b)(i) y = ............................................. m [4]

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

Answer(b)(ii) ................................................ [2]

0580/41/M/J/15
2
F

6m NOT TO
SCALE
D C

15 m

A 18 m B

The diagram shows a rectangular playground ABCD on horizontal ground.

A vertical flagpole CF, 6 metres high, stands in corner C.
AB = 18 m and BC = 15 m.

Calculate the angle of elevation of F from A.

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

0580/22/F/M/15

3 (a)
T

60 m NOT TO
SCALE

50 m B
130°
A 70 m

A, B and C are points on horizontal ground.

BT is a vertical pole.
AT = 60 m, AB = 50 m, BC = 70 m and angle ABC = 130°.

(i) Calculate the angle of elevation of T from C.

Answer(a)(i) ................................................ [5]

 (ii) Calculate the length AC.

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

(iii) Calculate the area of triangle ABC.

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

(b)
Y
12 cm
NOT TO
SCALE
22 cm

X
45 cm

A cuboid has length 45 cm, width 22 cm and height 12 cm.

Calculate the length of the straight line XY.

Answer(b) XY = .......................................... cm [4]

0580/41/O/N/15

4
A

NOT TO
SCALE
B
D

The diagram shows a tent ABCD.

The front of the tent is an isosceles triangle ABC, with AB = AC.
The sides of the tent are congruent triangles ABD and ACD.

(a) BC = 1.2 m and angle ABC = 68°.

Find AC.
 Answer(a) AC = ............................................ m [3]

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

Find angle ADC.

Answer(b) Angle ADC = ............................................... [4]

(c) The floor of the tent, triangle BCD, is also an isosceles triangle with BD = CD.

Calculate the area of the floor of the tent.

Answer(c) ...........................................m2 [4]

(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.

Answer(d) ............................................... [3]

0580/42/O/N/15

5
E 7 cm F

5 cm A B NOT TO
SCALE
H G
3 cm
D C

The diagram shows a cuboid.

HD = 3 cm, EH = 5 cm and EF = 7 cm.

Calculate

(a) the length CE,

CE = ............................................ cm [4]

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

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

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

F G

E H
30 cm NOT TO
SCALE

B C
35 cm
A 60 cm D

AD = 60 cm, CD = 35 cm and CG = 30 cm.

Calculate

(i) the length AG,

AG = ............................................ cm [4]

(ii) the angle between AG and the base ABCD.

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

0580/42/M/J/16

7
S R

P Q NOT TO
8 cm SCALE

D C

8 cm

A 8 cm B

The diagram shows a cube of side length 8 cm.

(a) Calculate the length of the diagonal BS.

BS = ......................................... cm [3]

(b) Calculate angle SBD.

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

0580/21/O/N/16
8
A B
NOT TO
SCALE
5 cm D C
13 cm
F
E
4 cm
H G

The diagram shows a cuboid ABCDEFGH.

AE = 5 cm, EH = 4 cm and AG = 13 cm.

Calculate the angle between the line AG and the base EFGH of the cuboid.

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

0580/21/M/J/17

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

H G

E F NOT TO
SCALE

D
C

A B

Calculate the angle between AG and the base of the cube.

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

0580/23/M/J/17
10 O

O NOT TO
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.

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

0580/42/M/J/17

11
P
NOT TO
SCALE

9 cm

D
C

N 6 cm
M

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.

Calculate angle PNM.

PNM = .................................................. [2]

(b) Show that BM = 5 cm. [1]

 (c) Calculate the angle between the edge PB and the base ABCD.

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

(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
42
D

16.5 cm NOT TO
SCALE

A
31° 12.3 cm

The diagram shows a quadrilateral ABCD.

AC = 12.3 cm and AD = 16.5 cm .
Angle BAC = 31° , angle ABC = 90° and angle ACD = 90° .

(a) Show that AB = 10.54 cm, correct to 2 decimal places. [2]

(b) Show that angle DAC = 41.80° correct to 2 decimal places. [2]

(c) Calculate BD.

BD = ............................................cm [3]

(d) Calculate angle CBD.

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

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

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

0580/42/F/M/23
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