Trigonometry summary notes:
Key Concepts:
1. Right-Angled Triangle Trigonometry:
o Trigonometric Ratios:
sin(θ) = Opposite / Hypotenuse
cos(θ) = Adjacent / Hypotenuse
tan(θ) = Opposite / Adjacent
2. Using Trigonometric Ratios to:
o Find missing sides or angles in right-angled triangles.
o Use inverse trigonometric functions:
θ = sin⁻¹(value), cos⁻¹(value), tan⁻¹(value)
3. The Sine Rule:
o
o Used in non-right-angled triangles
4. The Cosine Rule:
o Finding a side:
o Finding an angle:
o
5. Area of a Triangle (using Trig):
6. Angles of Elevation and Depression:
o Apply trigonometric ratios to real-life scenarios.
Worksheet 1: Right-Angled Triangle Trigonometry
Q1. In a right-angled triangle, one angle is 35°, and the hypotenuse is 10 cm. Find the length
of the:
(a) opposite side
(b) adjacent side
Q2. A ladder leans against a wall. The ladder is 5 m long and makes an angle of 60° with the
ground. How high does it reach on the wall?
Q3. Find angle A in a right triangle where:
Opposite = 7 cm, Adjacent = 9 cm.
Worksheet 2: Sine Rule and Cosine Rule
Q1. In triangle ABC,
angle A = 45°, angle B = 60°, side a = 7 cm.
Find side b using the sine rule.
Q2. Triangle PQR has sides PQ = 8 cm, QR = 6 cm, and angle Q = 70°.
Find side PR using the cosine rule.
Q3. Use the cosine rule to find the largest angle in a triangle with sides: 9 cm, 12 cm, 15 cm.
Worksheet 3: Real-Life Trigonometry & Word Problems
Q1. A 20 m tall building casts a 15 m shadow. Find the angle of elevation of the sun.
Q2. From a point on the ground, the angle of elevation to the top of a tower is 28°. If the tower is 40
m tall, how far is the observer from the base?
Q3. An airplane climbs at an angle of 18° to the horizontal. How far has it flown when it reaches a
height of 3000 m?
Section A: Right-Angled Triangle Applications
Q1.
A ladder of length 8 m leans against a vertical wall, making an angle of 56° with the ground.
Calculate how high up the wall the ladder reaches.
([0580/11/O/N/2013])
Q2.
In triangle ABC, AB = 6 cm, BC = 4 cm and angle BCA = 65°.
(a) Calculate angle CAB.
(b) Find the area of triangle ABC.
([0580/22/O/N/2013])
Section B: Sine Rule and Cosine Rule
Q3.
In triangle DEF, D = 140°, E = 15°, and side DF = 6 m.
Calculate:
(a) The size of angle F
(b) The lengths of sides DE and EF.
Q4.
In triangle PQR:
angle Q = 120°,
side PQ = 8 cm,
side PR = 13 cm
Calculate:
(a) angle P
(b) angle R
(c) the length of side QR
(Give answers to nearest whole number)
Section C: Bearings and Real-World Problems
Q5.
Two ships leave port P at the same time.
Ship A sails 60 km on a bearing of 030° to A.
Ship B sails 100 km on a bearing of 110° to B.
(b) Find angle ∠APB
(a) Find the distance AB.
(c) Find the bearing of B from A.
([0580/23/O/N/2012])
Q6.
A mountain climber walks:
380 m along a slope inclined at 65°,
240 m along a slope inclined at 60°
Calculate the total vertical distance climbed.
(Application of sin θ = opposite / hypotenuse)
IGCSE Trigonometry Worksheet Set 1: Right-Angled Triangles
Q1. A ramp is 12 meters long and rises to a height of 5 meters. Calculate the angle the ramp
makes with the horizontal.
Q2. A building casts a shadow of 18 meters when the angle of elevation of the sun is 35°.
Find the height of the building.
Q3. A ladder 10 m long rests against a vertical wall. The foot of the ladder is 6 m from the
wall. Calculate the angle between the ladder and the ground.
IGCSE Trigonometry Worksheet Set 2: Sine Rule and Cosine Rule
Q1. Triangle ABC: angle A = 40°, angle B = 65°, side a = 7.2 cm. Calculate side b.
Q2. Triangle XYZ has sides XY = 8.5 cm, YZ = 6.4 cm, and angle Y = 75°. Find side XZ
using the cosine rule.
Q3. Triangle DEF: sides d = 6.2 cm, e = 9.4 cm, f = 10.1 cm. Find angle E.
IGCSE Trigonometry Worksheet Set 3: Application and Word Problems
Q1. From a point on level ground, the angle of elevation to the top of a building is 22°. If the
building is 45 m tall, how far is the point from the base of the building?
Q2. A plane flies 200 km on a bearing of 045° and then 250 km on a bearing of 120°.
Calculate the distance between the starting and ending point.
Q3. A cable is fixed from the top of a tower 50 m high to a point 30 m from the base.
Calculate the angle the cable makes with the ground.
IGCSE Trigonometry Worksheet Set 4: Mixed Exam-Style Problems
Q1. Triangle ABC: AB = 8 cm, BC = 10 cm, AC = 7 cm. Calculate angle B using cosine rule.
Q2. Triangle PQR: angle P = 32°, angle Q = 88°, side p = 12 cm. Find side q using sine rule.
Q3. A lighthouse 90 m tall is observed at an angle of elevation of 27°. How far is the
observer from the base of the lighthouse?
IGCSE Trigonometry Worksheet Set 5: Past Paper Type Consolidation
Q1. A radio mast of height 80 m casts a shadow of 46 m. Calculate the angle of elevation of
the sun.
Q2. Triangle LMN: angle L = 55°, angle M = 48°, side MN = 10.2 cm. Find side LN using
sine rule.
Q3. From a boat, the angle of elevation of the top of a cliff is 36°. If the boat is 120 m from
the base, find the height of the cliff.
Section A: Right-Angled Triangle Trigonometry (SOHCAHTOA)
1. A tower is 25 m tall. A cable is attached from the top to the ground at an angle of 40°.
Calculate the length of the cable.
2. A kite string is 18 m long and makes an angle of 36° with the horizontal. Find the height of
the kite.
3. A man stands 20 m from a building. The angle of elevation to the top is 48°. Find the height
of the building.
Section B: Sine Rule
1. In triangle XYZ, angle X = 50°, angle Y = 60°, side x = 8 cm. Calculate side y.
2. Triangle ABC: side AB = 10 cm, side AC = 7 cm, angle B = 45°. Find angle C.
3. Triangle DEF: angle D = 72°, angle F = 46°, side d = 9.6 cm. Find side f.
Section C: Cosine Rule
1. Triangle PQR: sides PQ = 5 cm, QR = 7 cm, PR = 9 cm. Find angle Q.
2. In triangle ABC, angle B = 78°, sides a = 12 cm, b = 10 cm. Find side c using cosine rule.
3. Triangle XYZ has side lengths x = 11 cm, y = 14 cm, and angle Z = 63°. Find side z.
Section D: Elevation and Depression
1. From a lighthouse 70 m tall, a boat is seen at an angle of depression of 18°. How far is the
boat from the base of the lighthouse?
2. A drone is flying at 50 m above the ground. A camera on the ground views it at an angle of
elevation of 25°. How far is the camera from the drone horizontally?
3. A person on a hill 40 m high sees a car on the road at an angle of depression of 30°. Find the
horizontal distance to the car.
Section E: Bearings and Navigation
1. A ship sails 150 km on a bearing of 060° and then 100 km on a bearing of 135°. Calculate the
total distance from the starting point.
2. Two towns are 120 km apart on a bearing of 145°. A plane flies between them. Find the
angle turned and displacement.
3. A pilot flies 300 km on a bearing of 030°, then 200 km on a bearing of 120°. Find the total
displacement from the origin.
Section F: Problem Solving and Mixed Word Problems
1. A tree casts a shadow 22 m long. If the angle of elevation of the sun is 33°, find the height of
the tree.
2. A communication tower stands on a hill. The angle of elevation to the top of the tower from
a point 40 m down the slope is 18°. Find the height of the tower if the slope makes an angle
of 10° with the horizontal.
3. A triangular plot of land has sides 120 m, 95 m, and 80 m. Calculate the largest angle in the
triangle.
Worksheet 2: Sine Rule and Cosine Rule
Q1. In triangle ABC,
angle A = 45°, angle B = 60°, side a = 7 cm.
Find side b using the sine rule.
Q2. Triangle PQR has sides PQ = 8 cm, QR = 6 cm, and angle Q = 70°.
Find side PR using the cosine rule.
Q3. Use the cosine rule to find the largest angle in a triangle with sides: 9 cm, 12 cm, 15 cm.
Worksheet 3: Real-Life Trigonometry & Word Problems
Q1. A 20 m tall building casts a 15 m shadow. Find the angle of elevation of the sun.
Q2. From a point on the ground, the angle of elevation to the top of a tower is 28°. If the tower is 40
m tall, how far is the observer from the base?
Q3. An airplane climbs at an angle of 18° to the horizontal. How far has it flown when it reaches a
height of 3000 m?
IGCSE Trigonometry Worksheet Set 1: Right-Angled Triangles
Q1. A ramp is 12 meters long and rises to a height of 5 meters. Calculate the angle the ramp
makes with the horizontal.
Q2. A building casts a shadow of 18 meters when the angle of elevation of the sun is 35°.
Find the height of the building.
Q3. A ladder 10 m long rests against a vertical wall. The foot of the ladder is 6 m from the
wall. Calculate the angle between the ladder and the ground.
