NSS Mathematics in Action - 5A06 - Exercise - E

6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems
6 Applications of
Trigonometry in 3-
dimensional Problems
Review Exercise 6 (p. 6.5)
1. Area of △ABC
2.
∴ Area of △ABC
3. ( sum of △)
By the sine formula,
4. By the cosine formula,
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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 5A Full Solutions
8. (a) With the notations in the figure,
7. (a) With the notations in the figure, In △PAB, by the sine formula,
(alt. s, QA // BP)
The compass bearing of B from A

∴ The compass bearing of P from B is N38.7°E.
(b) (alt.∠s, AB // PT)

∴ The true bearing of B from P is (180° + 38.6851°),
(b) With the notations in the figure, i.e. 219° (cor. to 3 sig. fig.).
9. With the notations in the figure,
(alt. s, RC // BP)
(
sum of △) (alt.∠s, PR // SH)

The true bearing of A from C In △HPR,
205
By the cosine formula,
∴ The angle of elevation of H from the man at Q is 56.7°.

(adj.∠s on st. line)
Activity
In △HPQ, by the cosine formula, Activity 6.1 (p. 6.12)

1. (a) yes
(b) YP
(c) Slope of PF , ,
2. PX. Since FD = XY = EC and YP is the shortest in length

among the line segments DP, CP and YP, the value of
is the greatest. PX has the greatest slope.
Maths Dialogue
Maths Dialogue (p. 6.22)

1. yes
2. yes.
Let X and Y be the mid-points of CD and BE respectively.
∵ and
∴ (prop. of isos. △)
∵ DEYX is a rectangle.
∴
∵ and
∴ The angle between planes and is ∠AXY.
Classwork
Classwork (p. 6.9)

(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
(f) 
Quick Practice
Quick Practice 6.1 (p. 6.8)

(a) The angle between the lines AB and BC is∠ABC.
(b) The angle between the lines DF and EF is∠DFE.
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(c) Join AF.
∴ The angle beteween the planes MAB and ABCD is

26.6°.
∵ AF and EF intersect at F.
∴ The angle between the lines AF and EF is∠AFE. Quick Practice 6.4 (p. 6.14)
∵ BF is the line of greatest slope of the plane ABFE.
Quick Practice 6.2 (p. 6.10) ∴ ∠CBF is the inclination of the line of greatest slope of the
(a) Join CE and CA. plane ABFE.
EF = AB = 32 cm
Consider △BEF.
∵ CA is the projection of CE on the plane ABCD.

∴ The angle between the line CE and the plane ABCD is Consider △BCF.
∠ACE.
(b) Consider △ABC.

∵ ABCDHEFG is a cube.
∴ ABCD is a square.
i.e. ∠ABC = 90°
∴ The inclination of the line of greatest slope of the plane

ABFE to the horizontal is 47.9°.

Consider △ACE. (a) ∵ N is a point on CD and the distance between N and the
horizontal plane is 23 cm.
∴ CE = 23 cm
Consider △BCE.
∴ The angle between the line CE and the plane ABCD is

35.3°.

(a) Let P and Q be the mid-points of AE and DH respectively. (b) Let M be a point on AB such that NM⊥AB.
Join MP and PQ. It is noted that AE is the line of ∴ The distance between N and the line AB is MN.
intersection of the planes AME and ADHE. Consider △BCE.
∵ MP⊥AE and PQ⊥AE
∴ The angle between the planes AME and ADHE is
∠MPQ.
Consider △MPQ.
∵ BCNM is also a rectangle.

∴ MN = BC
∴ The distance between N and the line AB is 37.8 cm.
∴ The angle between the planes AME and ADHE is 45°.
(b) Join AM and BM. It is noted that AB is the line of

intersection of the planes MAB and ABCD.
∵ BM⊥AB and BC⊥AB
∴ The angle between the planes MAB and ABCD is
∠CBM.
Consider △BCM.
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Quick Practice 6.6 (p. 6.20) (b) AB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB and ABCD.
The angle between the planes ADFC and BEFC is ACB. Let M be the mid-point of AB.
Consider △ABC. By the cosine formula, we have
∵ △VAB and △OAB are isosceles triangles.

∴ VM  AB and OM  AB
∴ The angle between the planes ADFC and BEFC is 28.1. ∴ The angle between the planes VAB and ABCD is
VMO.
Let N be the projection of A on the plane BCFE. Then, the angle
between the line AE and the plane BCFE is∠AEN and
AN⊥BC. Consider △VOM.
∵ AB = AC and AN⊥BC
∴ BN = CN (prop. of isos. △)
Consider △ABN.
∴ The angle between the planes VAB and ABCD is

62.3.
Consider △ABE.
(c) VO is the line of intersection of the planes VAO and VBO.
∵ AO  VO and BO  VO
∴ The angle between the planes VAO and VBO is
AOB.
Consider △AOB.
Consider △AEN.
(property of rectangle)
By the cosine formula, we have
∴ The angle between the line AE and the plane BCFE is 37.9°.

(a) The angle between the line VA and the plane ABCD is
VAO. ∴ The angle between the planes VAO and VBO is
Consider △ABC. 87.2.

(a) Consider △ABC.
Consider △ACD.
Consider △VOA.
Consider △ABD.
∴ The angle between the line VA and the plane ABCD is

54.1.
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(b) Consider △BCD.

(b)
Consider △AOH.
∴
∴ ∠BCD = 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
∵ CD is the line of intersection of the planes ACD and
BCD with BC⊥CD and AC⊥CD.
∴ ∠ACB is the angle between the planes ACD and BCD.
∴ The student is correct.
(c) With the notations in the figure,
(a) Consider △LOA.
Consider △LOB.
Consider △OAB.
Consider △ACB.
(b) Consider △OAB.

∴ The angle of the aeroplane descent from A to B is 8.74.

(a) (i) Consider △ADF.
∴ The true bearing of B from A is

(90 + 22.8253) = 113 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.).

(a) Consider △BOK. ∴ The distance between D and F is 11.4 m.
(Pyth. theorem) (ii)
Consider △HOK.
∵ K is due east of H.
∴ KHO  90
With the notations in the figure,

(vert. opp.∠s)
∴ The compass bearing of B from O is N53.9E. ∠BDF = 90° + 22° = 112°
(adj.∠s on st. line)
Consider △ABD.
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∵ D is the projection of A on the horizontal ground.

∴ ∠ADB = 90° ∴ New height of the shadow
∵ The area of the shadow of the plate on the ground is

two times that obtained in (a).
i.e. The height of the shadow of the plate on the ground is
two times its original height.
∴
Area of the shadow FBC
(a)
Consider △ABP in Figure (b).

Alternative Solution
(vert. opp.∠s)
∴ The distance between A and B is 4.23 cm.
(b) Consider △APQ.
Height of △FBC
Similarly,
Consider △ABQ in Figure (b).
Area of the shadow FBC By the cosine formula, we have
(b) When the angle of elevation of the sunshine has changed to

(c) Let M be a point on AB such that QM⊥AB. Join QM and
, . PM.
∵ AQ = BQ and QM⊥AB
∵ The area of the shadow of the plate on the ground is ∴ AM = BM (prop. of isos. △)
two times that obtained in (a). ∵ AP = BP and AM = BM
∴ ∴ PM⊥AB (prop. of isos. △)
∵ AB is the line of intersection of the planes QAB and the
horizontal table with QM⊥AB and PM⊥AB.
∴ The angle between the plane QAB and the horizontal
table is∠PMQ.
Consider △AMP.
Alternative Solution
When the angle of elevation of the sunshine has changed to
 
Consider △PMQ.
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Further Practice
Further Practice (p. 6.26)

1. (a)
∴ The angle between the plane QAB and the horizontal

table is 69.3°.
(b) Consider △AMB.
(a) With the notation in the figure,
Let M be the mid-point on BD. Join CM and extend AM to

N.
∵ BD is the line of intersection of the plane CBD and the
horizontal table with CM⊥BD and AN⊥BD.
∴ The angle between the plane CBD and the horizontal
table is∠CMN.
Consider △ABM. (c) ∵ BC is the line of intersection of the planes DBC and
BCFE with DM⊥BC and MN⊥BC.
∴ The angle between the planes DBC and BCFE is
DMN.
Consider △DMN.
Similarly,
Consider △ABC.
∴ The angle between the planes DBC and BCFE is

23.6.
Consider △ACM.
By the cosine formula, we have 2. (a) Let N be a point on VB such that AN⊥VB.
∵ VA = AB and AN⊥VB
∴ VN = BN (prop. of isos. △)
Consider △ABN.
∴ The perpendicular distance between A and VB is

10.4 cm.
(b) Join CN.

∴ The angle between the plane CBD and the horizontal ∵ VC = BC and VN = BN
table is 70.5°. ∴ CN⊥VB (prop. of isos. △)
∵ VB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB
(b) Let P be the projection of C on the horizontal table. and VBC with AN⊥VB and CN⊥VB.
Consider △CMP. ∴ The angle between the planes VAB and VBC is
∠ANC.
Also,
Consider △ABC.
∴ The shortest distacne between the point C and the

horizontal table is 6.53 cm.
Consider △ACN.
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By the cosine formula, we have ∴ The angle between the planes VAB and VBC is
109°.
Further Practice (p. 6.41)

1. (a) Consider △DCQ.
Area of BPQC
(b)
Consider △ABP.
Let F be a point on BC such that BC  FP.

Consider △BFP.
Area of BPQC
2. (a) Consider △BCD.
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Consider △FDB.
(b) The angle of inclination of the plane ABEF is∠EBC.

Consider △EBC.
∴ The angle of inclination of the plane ABEF is

75.4°.
(c) Let H be the projection of G on the plane ABCD.

∴ H is the mid-point of CD.
Consider △BCH.
∴ The compass bearing of G from B is N16.1°W.
3. (a)
Consider △BFC.
(b) (Pyth. theorem)
(Pyth. theorem)
213
EFGH is AHE.
(e) Join BE and CH.

BC is the line of intersection of the planes BCGF and
BCHE.
∵ FB  BC and EB  BC (or GC  BC and
HC  BC)
Consider △BCE.
(c) Let G be a point on BC such that EG  BC and

FG  BC.
The angle between the planes BCE and BCF is EGF.
Consider △BGE.
Consider △EGF.
∴ The angle between the planes BCE and BCF is

75.3.
Exercise
Exercise 6A (p. 6.16)

Level 1
1. (a) Join AH and CH.
∵ AH and CH intersect at H.
∴ The angle between the lines AH and CH is AHC.
(b) Join AG and DG.

∵ AG and DG intersect at G.
∴ The angle between the lines AG and DG is AGD.
(c) Join AH.

∵ DH is the projection of AH on the plane CGHD.
∴ The angle between the line AH and the plane
CGHD is AHD.
(d) ∵ EH is the projection of AH on the plane EFGH.

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∴ The angle between the planes BCGF and BCHE is

EBF or HCG. 4. (a) (Pyth. theorem)
(f) Join AC and EG.

AE is the line of intersection of the planes ACGE and
ABFE.
∵ EG  AE and EF  AE (or AC  AE and
AB  AE)
∴ The angle between the planes ACGE and ABFE
is GEF or CAB.
2. (a) Join AH. (b) (i) The angle between the lines BH and BA is ABH.
∵ The projection of H on the plane ABCD is D.
∴ AD is the projection of AH on the plane ABCD.
(b) (i) ∵ AH and AD intersect at A.

∴ The angle between the lines AH and AD is
∠DAH.
Consider △ADH.
∴ The angle between the lines BH and BA is

54.7.
(ii) The angle between the line BH and the plane
CGHD is BHC.
∴ The angle between the lines AH and AD is

26.6°.
(ii) ∵ AD is the projection of AH on the plane
ABCD.
ABCD is∠DAH, i.e. 26.6°.
3. (a) In △ABC, ∴ The angle between the line BH and the plane
CGHD is 35.3.
5. (a) The angle between the lines AG and GC is AGC.

In △ACG, In △ABC,
In △AGC,
(b) (i) The angle between the lines AG and GH is∠AGH.
∴ The angle between the lines AG and GC is 63.4°.
(b) The angle between the line AG and the plane ADHE is
∴ The angle between the lines AG and GH is GAH.
42.0°. In △HAD,
(ii) The angle between the line AG and the plane
EFGH is∠AGE.
In △GAH,
∴ The angle between the line AG and the plane

EFGH is 21.8°.

215
ADHE is 45.7°. is∠FBD.

Consider △EBC.
6. (a) ∵ The projection of B on the plane CGHD is C.

∴ The projection of HB on the plane CGHD is HC.
∴ The length of the projection of HB on the plane

CGHD is .
(b) (i) The angle between the lines HB and DB is HBD.

In △ABD,
In △HBD,
∴ The angle between the lines HB and DB is

24.9°.
(ii) The angle between the line HB and the plane
CGHD is BHC.
In △BHC,
∴ The angle between the line HB and the plane

CGHD is 31.8°.
7. (a) BE (or AF)
(b) Consider △FAD.
∴ The inclination of the line of greatest slope of the

plane ABEF is 38.7°.
8. (a) Consider △FBE.
(b) The angle between the line FB and the plane ABCD
216
Consider △FDB.
∴ The distance between the point M and the line AB

is 7.07 cm.
∴ The angle between the line FB and the plane (b) Let P be the projection of M on the plane ABCD.
ABCD is 22.6°. The distance between the point M and the plane ABCD
is MP.
9. (a) Consider △BDF. ∠APM = 90°
(b) ∵ BC is the line of greatest slope of the hillside

ABCD.
∴ The distance between the point M and the plane
∴ ∠CBE is the inclination of the line of greatest
ABCD is 5 cm.
slope of the hillside ABCD.
Consider △BDF.
Level 2
11. (a) The angle between the planes AFGD and ABCD is
∠FAB.
Consider △FAB.
Consider △BCD.
∴ The angle between the planes AFGD and ABCD is

20.6°.
(b) Let RS be the line of intersection of the planes AFGD

and EPQH.
Consider △BCE. ∵ ER⊥RS and AR⊥RS
∴ ∠ERA is the angle between the planes AFGD and
EPQH.
Consider △EAP.
∴ The inclination of the line of greatest slope of the

hillside ABCD is 36.6°.
Consider △APR.
10. (a)
∴ The angle between the planes AFGD and EPQH is

57.4°.
12. Join BD, BG and DG.

Let M be the mid-point of BD.
∵ CB = CD and BM = DM
∴ CM⊥BD (prop. of isos. △)
Similarly, ∵ BG = DG and BM = DM
∴ GM⊥BD (prop. of isos. △)
Let N be the mid-point of AB. ∵ BD is the line of intersection of the planes BDG and
∵ and ABCD with CM⊥BD and GM⊥BD.
∴ MN⊥AB (prop. of isos. △) ∴ The angle between the planes BDG and ABCD is
∴ The distance between the point M and the line AB ∠CMG.
is MN.
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Consider △CGM. ∵ Area of △CPQ = 18 cm2
∴ The angle between the planes BDG and ABCD is 54.7°. Consider △CGM.
13. (a) The angle between the planes ABGH and ABCD is
HAD.
Consider △HAD.
∴ The angle between the planes ABGH and ABCD is

45. ∴ The angle between the planes GPQ and ABCD is 70.5°.
(b) The angle between the planes ABGH and PQGH is 15. (a) Consider △EFG.
∠BGQ.
∵ Consider △AEG.
and
∵ ABGH is a rectangle.
∴ (property of rectangle)
Consider △BGQ.
Consider △KGH.
∴ The angle between the planes ABGH and PQGH is

26.6°.
14. Let M be the mid-point of PQ.

∵ and
∴ GM⊥PQ (prop. of isos. △)
∵ and
∴ CM⊥PQ (prop. of isos. △)
∵ PQ is the line of intersection between the planes GPQ
and ABCD with GM⊥PQ and CM⊥PQ.
∴ The angle between the planes GPQ and ABCD is
∠GMC. (b) ∵ The angle between the planes KGH and EFGH 
the angle between the planes ABGH and EFGH
∴ The angle between the planes KGH and EFGH is
BGF.
Consider △BFG.
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Consider △BCE.
∵ CDFE is a rectangle.
∴ The angle between the planes KGH and EFGH is
∴ MN = CE = 5.28 cm
37.9°.
∴ The shortest distance between the point N and the
horizontal plane is 5.28 cm.
16. (a) Exercise 6B (p. 6.26)

Level 1
1. The angle between the planes ACFD and BCFE is ACB.
(a) In △ABC, by the sine formula, we have
∴ The angle between the planes ACFD and BCFE is

44.5°.
(b) In △ABC, by the cosine formula, we have
(b) The angle between the lines PE and EC is∠CEP.

Consider △CEP.
∴ The angle between the planes ACFD and BCFE is

41.4°.
∴ The angle between the lines PE and EC is 37.7°.
2. (a) The angle between the planes ABQP and ACRP is
17. (a) Let BC = x cm. BAC.
Consider △BCN. Consider △ABC.
Consider △ADN.
∵ CN + DN = 20 cm
∴ The angle between the planes ABQP and ACRP is

∴ 106°.
(b) Let M be the projection of N on the horizontal plane.

The shortest distance between the point N and the
horizontal plane is MN.
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(b) 4. (a) Let M be the mid-point of QR.

∵ AQ = AR and QM = RM
∴ AM⊥QR (prop. of isos. △)
∵ PQ = PR and QM = RM
∴ PM⊥QR (prop. of isos. △)
∵ QR is the line of intersection of the planes AQR
and PQR with AM⊥QR and PM⊥QR.
∴ ∠AMP is the angle between the planes AQR and
PQR, i.e.∠AMP = 65°.
Consider △PQM.
Let M be the mid-point of QR.
i.e. Consider △AMP.
∵ △AQR and △PQR are isosceles triangles.

∴ AM  QR and PM  QR
∴ The angle between the planes AQR and PQR is
AMP.
Consider △PQM.
Consider △APM.
∴ The angle between the planes AQR and PQR is

73.3°.
3. (a) Let P be the projection of D on the plane BCFE.

The shortest distance between D and the plane BCFE is
DP.
Consider △DFP.
∴ The shortest distance between D and the plane

BCFE is 7.52 cm.
(b) The angle between the line CD and the plane BCFE is
∠DCP.
Consider △CDP.
∴ The angle between the line CD and the plane

BCFE is 26.2°.
220
(b) Volume of the prism Similarly,
Consider △VBC.
5. (a) The angle between the line VA and the plane ABCD is
VAN.
∴
∴ The angle between the lines VB and VC is 67.0°.
7. (a) Join AC and BD. Let AC and BD intersect at P.

Consider △VAN.
The shortest distance between V and the plane ABCD is
VP.
Consider △ABC.
∴ The angle between the line VA and the plane

ABCD is 67.4°.
(b)
Consider △VAP.
∴ The shortest distance between V and the plane

AB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB and
ABCD is 7.07 cm.
ABCD.
Let M be the mid-point of AB.
(b) The angle between the lines VM and VN is∠MVN.
∵ △VAB and △NAB are isosceles triangles.
∴ VM  AB and NM  AB
VMN.
Similarly,
Consider △VMN.
Consider △VMN.

76.0°.
6. (a) The angle between the line VB and the plane ABC is
∠VBA.
Consider △VAB.
∴ The angle between the lines VM and VN is 70.5°.
8. (a) The angle between the line VC and the plane ABCD is
VCM.
∴ The angle between the line VB and the plane ABC
is 38.7°.
Consider △BCM.
(b) The angle between the lines VB and VC is∠BVC.
221
Consider △VCM. Consider △DCG.
Consider △DBG.
∴ The angle between the line VC and the plane
ABCD is 56.1°.
(b) Let N be the mid-point of CD.
∴ The angle between the line BD and the plane

BCEF is 14.3°.
10. (a) Join AM.

∵ AB = AC and BM = CM
∴ ∠BAM =∠CAM and AM⊥BC
(prop. of isos. △)
∵ DC is the line of intersection of the planes VDC ∴ ∠BAM
and ABCD with VN  DC and MN  DC.
∴ The angle between the planes VDC and ABCD is Consider △ABM.
VNM.
Consider △VNM.
∴ The angle between the planes VDC and ABCD is

(b) ∵ AB = AC and AD is perpendicular to the plane
63.4°.
DBC.
∴ The length of the projection of AB on the plane
9. (a) The angle between the covers ABCD and BCEF is
DBC = the length of the projection of AC on the
DCE. plane DBC,
Consider △DCE. i.e. DB = DC.
∵ DB = DC and BM = CM
∴ DM⊥BC (prop. of isos. △)
∵ BC is the line of intersection of the planes ABC
and DBC with AM⊥BC and DM⊥BC.
∴ The angle between the planes ABC and DBC is
∠AMD.
Consider △ADM.
∴ The angle between the covers ABCD and BCEF is

18.4°.
(b)
∴ The angle between the planes ABC and DBC is

32.1°.
11. (a) Consider △BCD.
The angle between the line BD and the plane BCEF is

DBG.
Consider △BCD.
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Consider △VBK. ∴ ∠VCB = 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)

In △ABC,
∴
Height of the cottage ∴ ∠ACB = 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
∵ BC is the line of intersection of the planes VBC
and ABC with VC⊥BC and AC⊥BC.
∴ ∠VCA is the angle between the planes VBC and
ABC.
(b)
Level 2
13. (a) Let M be the mid-point of AB.
∵ VA = VB and AM = BM
∴ VM⊥AB (prop. of isos. △)
∵ NA = NB and AM = BM
∴ NM⊥AB
∵ AB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB
and ABCD with VM⊥AB and NM⊥AB.
∠VMN.
Let M and N be the mid-points of AD and FE

respectively.
∵ AD is the line of intersection of the planes VAD Consider △VMN.
and ADEF with VM  AD and MN  AD.
∴ The angle between the planes VAD and ADEF is
VMN.
(b) The angle between the lines VA and VC is∠AVC.

Consider △VMK. In △ABC,
In △VAN,
∴ The angle between the planes VAD and ADEF is

114°.
Similarly,
12. (a) In △VBA,
Consider △AVC.
In △VCA,
∴ The angle between the lines VA and VC is 49.4°.

(b) In △VBC,
14. (a)
Consider △ABM.
223
(b) Let N be the mid-point of AF.
Consider △ANM.
(c) BC is the line of intersection of the planes ABC and

BFC.
∵ AM  BC and FM  BC
∴ The angle between the planes ABC and BFC is
AMF.
Consider △AFM.
∴ The angle between the planes ABC and BFC is

109.
15. (a) Consider △VBC.
∵ △ABC is an equilateral triangle.
∵
∴
∵ and
∴
224
Consider △VBM. By the cosine formula, we have
Consider △HMA.
(b) ∵ AB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB

and CAB with VM⊥AB and CM⊥AB.
∴ The angle between the planes VAB and CAB is
∠VMC.
Consider △VMC.
∴ The angle between the line HM and the plane ABC
is 43.6°.
17. (a) The angle between the planes ABFE and ACDE is
∠BAC (or∠FED) and the angle between the planes
ACDE and BCDF is∠ACB (or∠EDF).
∴ ∠BAC =∠FED = 100°
∴ The angle between the planes VAB and CAB is ∠ACB =∠EDF = 30°
44.1°. In △ABC,
16. (a) Consider △ABH.
Consider △ABC.
By the sine formula, we have
Consider △ACH.
(b) Let N be the projection of M on the plane DEF.

The angle between the line MD and the plane DEF is
∠MDN.
∵ M is the mid-point of AB.
∴
Consider △ABC.
By the cosine formula, we have ∴
Consider △DEN.
Consider △DMN.
(b) The angle between the line HM and the plane ABC is
HMA.
Consider △AMC.
∴ The angle between the line MD and the plane DEF
is 34.2°.
225
18. (a) The angle between the line DC and the plane ABC is
DCB.
Consider △DCB.
∴ The angle between the line DC and the plane ABC

is 53.1°.
(b) ∵
(property of square)
∴
Let M be the mid-point of AC. In △ABM,
∵ △ADC and △ABC are isosceles triangles.

∴ DM  AC and BM  AC
∴ The angle between the planes ADC and ABC is
BMD.
Consider △DCB.
(b) (i) The angle between the lines AB and BF is ABF.

Consider △ABF.
Consider △BCM. By the cosine formula, we have
Consider △DBM.
∵ cos ABF is independent of a.

∴ The angle between the lines AB and BF, i.e.
ABF, will not change if the value of a
∴ The angle between the planes ADC and ABC is changes.
62.1°. (ii) Let N be the mid-point of BC.
19. (a) In △BCD,
Let M be the mid-point of AF.
∵ BC is the line of intersection of the planes

ABC and FBC with AN  BC and FN  BC.
∴ The angle between the planes ABC and FBC
is ANF.
226
Consider △ANF.
∵ cos ANF is independent of a.

∴ The angle between the planes ABC and FBC,
i.e. ANF, will not change if the value of a
changes.
20. (a) Consider △ABC.

Consider △ABD.
Consider △ACD.
(b) (i) Let .
i.e. .
Area of △BCD
Volume of the tetrahedron
227
(ii) Let h cm be the shortest distance between the point

D and the plane ABC.
Area of △ABC Exercise 6C (p. 6.41)
Level 1
1. (a) ∵ DF is perpendicular to the ground BCFE.
∴ F is the projection of D on the ground BCFE.
∴ The projection of BD on the ground BCFE is BF.
∵ Volume of the tetrahedron
∴ (b) Consider △CDF.
∴ The shortest distance between the point D and

the plane ABC is 4.63 cm.
Consider △BFD.
21. (a) Let M be the mid-point of AB.
∵ VA = VB and AM = BM
∴ VM⊥AB (prop. of isos. △)
∵ CA = CB and AM = BM
∴ CM⊥AB (prop. of isos. △)
∵ AB is the line of intersection of the planes ABV and ∴ The distance the car travelled is 40.8 m.
ABC with VM⊥AB and CM⊥AB.
∴ ∠VMC is the angle between the planes ABV and 2. (a) Consider △ACB.
ABC.
In △VAM,
Consider △TBA.
Similarly,
Consider △VMC.
∴ The height of the tower TA is 31.5 m.
(b) Consider △ACB.
∴ The angle between the planes ABV and ABC is

70.5°.
(b) Let N be the projection of V on the plane ABC.

The height of the tetrahedron is VN.
Consider △VMN.
Consider △TCA.
∴ The height of the tetrahedron is 4.90 cm.
∴ The angle of elevation of T from C is 32.2.
228
3. (a) (i)
Consider △TAC.
(ii)
Consider △TAB.
(iii) Consider △ACB.
(b)
With the notation in the figure, consider △ACB.
∴ The compass bearing of B from C is N64.2W.
229
Consider △XAC. By the sine formula, we have
∴ The angle of elevation of X from A is 14.3.
(b) Consider △ABC.

Consider △BQP.
Consider △ABQ.
Consider △XBC.
∴ The angle of elevation of A from Q is 17.1.
∵ The angle of depression of B from X 7. Let h m be the height of the tower TO.
 the angle of elevation of X from B Consider △TAO.
∴ The angle of depression of B from X is 22.2.
5. Consider △PQR.
Consider △TBO.
Consider △TPQ.
Consider △OAB.
Consider △TPR.
∴ The angle of elevation of T from R is 43.0°.
6. (a) Consider △ABP.
∴ The height of the tower AB is 69.9 m.
(b)
∴ The height of the tower TO is 258 m.
230
8. (a) Consider △OAB.
Consider △ODC.
Consider △ACB.
∴ The distance between A and B is 75.9 m.

Consider △AOD.
(b)
∴ The compass bearing of C from O is N50.9E.
(b) Distance travelled by the helicopter

Consider △AOD.
Consider △ACB.
9. (a) Consider △TAC. Reflex
∴ The true bearing of A from B is 335.
10. (a) Consider △TAO.
Consider △TBC.
Consider △OAC.
231
∴ The true bearing of C from A is 039.7.
(b) Consider △OAC.

(c) ED is the line of intersection of the plane PSDE and the
horizontal ground.
∵ , i.e. ED is not perpendicular to
DR.
∴ θ is not the angle between the plane PSDE and
the horizontal ground.
Consider △TCO. 12. (a) Let M be the mid-point of BC.
∵ DB = DC and BM = CM
∴ DM⊥BC (prop. of isos. △)
∵ AB = AC and BM = CM
∴ AM⊥BC (prop. of isos. △)
∵ BC is the line of intersection of the plane DBC and
the horizontal table with DM⊥BC and AM⊥BC.
∴ The angle between the plane DBC and the
∴ The angle of elevation of T from C is 34.8. horizontal table is∠AMD.
(c) Consider △OAB.
Consider △TBO.
∴ The angle of elevation of T from B is 41.8.
11. (a) (i) Consider △EPQ.
(ii) Consider △DSR.
(b) ∵ The area of the shadow =
232
Consider △ABM.
(b) Consider △FDB.
Consider △ABD.
∠ADB = 90° (prop. of isos. △)
∴ The angle of inclination of FB is 47.5.
(c) ∵ G is the mid-point of EF.
Consider △GBE.
Consider △BDM.
Let H be the projection of G on the plane ABCD.
Consider △ADM.
Consider △BGH.
∴ The angle between the plane DBC and the

horizontal table is 56.1°.
(b) ∵ AD is the line of intersection of the planes ADB

and ADC with AD⊥BD and AD⊥CD.
∴ ∠BDC is the angle between the planes ADB and
ADC. ∴ The angle of inclination of GB is 51.5.
14. (a) (i) Consider △TAG.
Level 2
13. (a) (i) Consider △EBC.
(ii) Consider △BCD.
Consider △TBG.
(iii) Consider △EBF.
(ii) Consider △ABG.
233
∠ACP =∠CAQ = 38° (alt.∠s, CP // QA)
∴ The true bearing of B from C is 152°.

(b)
(b) Consider △ACX.
With the notation in the figure,
∴ The compass bearing of B from A is S29.9E.
15. (a) (i) ∠BAC = 85° – 38° = 47°

Consider △ABC.
(ii)

234
Consider △BCX.
(corr. sides,
∴ The angle of elevation of X from B is 41.5°. ~△s)

16. (a)
(cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
With the notation in the figure, ∴ The shortest length of Tom’s shadow is
Let AR be the length of Tom’s shadow. 2.54 m.
∴ I agree with Tom’s claim.
(corr. sides, ~△s)
17. (a) (i)
∴ The length of Tom’s shadow is 4.8 m.
(b) (i)

Consider △CDF. Consider △TPQ.
∴ The length of his shadow CD is 2.82 m. Consider △TPR.

(ii) The shortest length of Tom’s shadow is attained
when the distance between the lamppost and Tom
is the shortest.
Suppose Tom stands at a point G on AB with
.
Consider △OAB. Consider △PQR.
Consider △OGB.
(ii) By the cosine formula, we have
Let GH be the length of Tom’s shadow when he is

at G.
235
(b) Let C be a point on QR such that PC⊥QR.

Then, PC is the shortest distance between P and QR.
∴ The greatest angle of elevation of T along QR is
∠TCP.
Consider △CPQ.
∴ The compass bearing of R from Q is Consider △TPC.

N19.2°E.
∴ It is impossible for Vicky to find a point X on QR

such that the angle of elevation of T from X is
greater than 65°.
18. (a) (i) Consider △PAO.
∴ The distance between O and A is .

(ii) Consider △PBO.
∴ The distance between O and B is .
(iii) Consider △PCO.
∴ The distance between O and C is h m.
236
(b) (i) Consider △OAB.

19. (a)
Consider △QBC in Figure (b).

(b) Consider △QBC in Figure (b).

(ii) Consider △OAC.
(c) Let D be a point on BC such that PD  BC and

QD  BC.
(c) ∵ OAB = OAC

∴
The angle between the planes BCP and BCQ is PDQ.

Consider △PQB.
Consider △QBD.
Consider △OAC.
Consider △PQD.
∴ The compass bearing of C from O is N52.5E. ∴ The angle between the planes BCP and BCQ is
61.4.
237
20. (a)
(b) (i)
 △PBC is an equilateral triangle.
(ii) Let D be a point on BC such that and

.
The angle between the plane ABC and the
horizontal table is ADP.
Consider △BPD.
Consider △ADP.
∴ The angle between the plane ABC and the

horizontal table is 63.4, which is a constant.
∴ Ken’s claim is correct.
21. (a) Let .
i.e.
Area of △MPQ
Volume of the prism
238
(b) (i) Consider △MPQ. (ii)

(ii) Volume of the prism

22. (a) (i) Consider △TAO. Consider △OAB.

∴ The distance between O and A is .

(ii) Consider △TBO.
∴ The compass bearing of B from A is N39.5°E.
(c) (i) Consider △AOP.
∴ The distance between O and B is .
(b) (i) Consider △OAB.
Consider △TOP.
239
(ii)

ABFE is 31.0°.
6. (a)

∵ The angle of elevation of T from Q is .
∴ OP = OQ
∴ ∠OPQ =∠OQP (base∠s, isos. △)
(b) ∵ AH is the projection of AG on the plane ADHE.

ADHE is∠GAH.
∴ The compass bearing of Q from O is

N78.9°E.
Check Yourself (p. 6.50)

1. (a)  (b) 
(c)  (d) 
(e) 
2. ∠VAO
3. ∠VMO
4. VO
5. (a) (i)
(ii) The angle between the lines AG and AC is∠CAG.

Consider △ACG.
∴ The angle between the lines AG and AC is

31.0°.
(b) (i)

ABFE is∠FAG.
Consider △AFG.
240
Consider △AGH. Consider △TOB.

ADHE is 35.3°. ∴ The height of the tower TO is 110 m.
7. (a) ∵ AB is a line of greatest slope of the hillside. (b) Consider △OAB.

∴ The angle between a line of greatest slope of the
hillside and the horizontal plane BCFE is∠ABE.
Consider △ABC.
Consider △TOA.
Consider △ABE.
∴ The angle of elevation of T from A is 50.2°.
Revision Exercise 6 (p. 6.52)

∴ The angle between a line of greatest slope of the Level 1
hillside and the horizontal plane BCFE is 13.6°. 1. (a) The angle between the lines AF and FG is∠AFG.
∵ ABFE and EFGH are perpendicular to each other.
(b) ∵ EC is the projection of AC on the horizontal plane ∴ ∠AFG = 90°
BCFE. ∴ The angle between the lines AF and FG is 90.
∴ The angle between the line AC and the plane
BCFE is∠ACE. (b) The angle between the lines AH and HC is∠AHC.
Consider △ABC.
Similarly, and
∴ △ACH is an equilaterial triangle.
∴ ∠AHC = 60°
∴ The angle between the lines AH and HC is 60°.
(c) ∵ AB is the projection of AF on the plane ABCD.

Consider △ACE. ∴ The angle between the line AF and the plane
ABCD is∠BAF.
∴ The angle between the line AC and the horizontal ∴ The angle between the line AF and the plane
plane BCFE is 11.5°. ABCD is 45°.
8. (a) Consider △OAB. (d) ∵ AD is the line of intersection of the planes AHD
and ABCD with HD⊥AD and CD⊥AD.
∴ The angle between the planes AHD and ABCD is
∠CDH, i.e. 90.
2. (a) Consider △AGF.
241
Consider △GHE. Consider △NPX.
∴ The shortest distance between the point P and the

line AB is 9.43 cm.
(b) ∵ AF is perpendicular to the plane EFGH.
(b)
∴ The shortest distance between the point A and the
plane EFGH is AF, i.e. 4 cm.
(c) Let M be a point on EG such that FM⊥EG.

The shortest distance between the point F and the line
EG is FM.
Area of △EFG
Let Q be the projection of P on the plane ABCD.
The angle between the line PA and the base ABCD is
PAQ.
Consider △ABC.
∴ The shortest distance between the point F and the

line EG is 2.68 cm.
3. (a) The angle between the lines BD and BA is ABD.

Consider △ABD.
Consider △PQA.
∴ The angle between the lines BD and BA is 51.3.
(b) The angle between the line BD and the horizontal plane
BCEF is DBE. ∴ The angle between the line PA and the base ABCD
Consider △CDE. is 26.6.
5. ∵ △DEF is an equilateral triangle.

∴
Let M be a point on EF such that XM  EF and DM  EF.
Consider △ABD.
Consider △BDE.
Consider △DFM.
∴ The angle between the line BD and the horizontal
plane BCEF is 6.23.
4. (a) Let N be a point on AB such that PN⊥AB.

The shortest distance between the point P and the line Consider △XDM.
AB is PN.
Let X be the projection of P on the plane ABCD.
and
242
(prop. of isos. △)
∠RPM =
Consider △MPR.

(
sum of △)
(b) Consider △DPR.
(c) ∵ PD is perpendicular to the horizontal ground and

PQ = PR.
∴ The length of the projection of PQ on the ground
= the length of the projection of PR on the ground
i.e. DQ = DR
∵ DQ = DR and QM = RM
Consider △PBA. ∴ DM⊥QR (prop. of isos. △)
∵ QR is the line of intersection of the plane PQR and
the horizontal ground with PM⊥QR and
DM⊥QR.
∴ The angle between the plane PQR and the
horizontal ground is∠PMD.
Consider △MPR.
(b) Area of △ABC
Consider △DMP.
(c) Volume of the tetrahedron PABC

∴ The angle between the thin metallic sheet PQR and
the horizontal ground is 26.0°.
8. (a) (i) One of the longest line segments is AG.

In △ABC,
In △AEG,
7. (a) Let M be the mid-point of QR.
Join PM.
∵ and
∴ ∠QPM =∠RPM and PM⊥QR
243

ABCD is GAC.
Consider △BAP.
∴ The required angle is 54.2. BPA = 200 150
= 50
(b) (i) By the cosine formula, we have
(b)
One of the longest line segments is AV.
In △ABC,
In △OAV,
(ii) The angle between the line AV and the plane Consider △BAP.
ABCD is VAO. By the cosine formula, we have
∴ The required angle is 62.1.
9. (a) Consider △TBP.
∴ The true bearing of A from B is 107.
10. (a) Consider △ABP.
Consider △TAP.
244
(b) (c) (i) Consider △BCP.
Consider △ABD.
∴ The angle of elevation of P from C is 38.5°.
(ii) In △BCD,

Consider △BDP.
∴ The compass bearing of P from D is S41.3°W.
∴ The angle of elevation of P from D is 33.5°.
11. (a)

AG  BH  800 m
Consider △ACG.
Consider △CHG.
∴ The speed of the aeroplane
245
(b) Consider △CHG. ABCD is∠VAN, i.e. ∠VAN = .
Consider △BCH.
∴ The angle of elevation of B from C is 22.2°.
12. (a) Area of △PQR
(b) Let M be a point on QR such that PM⊥QR and

TM⊥QR.
The shortest distance between the point T and the line
QR is MT.
Consider △PMT.
∴ The shortest distance between the point T and the

line QR is 6.18 cm.
13. (a) (i) Consider △ABC.
(ii) Let N be the projection of V on the plane ABCD.

∵ VN is perpendicular to the plane ABCD.
∴ VN is the height of the pyramid.
Also, the angle between the line VA and the plane
246
Consider △VAN.
(b) ∵ Volume of the pyramid = 144 cm3
14. (a) With the notations in the figure,
Consider △AOX.
(b)
Area of base ABCDE
247
Volume of the right pyramid formed ADC.
15. (a) Consider △DCE.
(b)
Let Q be the projection of P on the plane BCEF.

The angle between CP and the plane BCEF is PCQ.
Consider △PCD.
Consider △PCQ.
∴ The angle between CP and the plane BCEF is

12.7°.
16. (a) Consider △ABD.
∵
∴ ∠ADB = 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
Consider △ACD.
∵
∴ ∠ADC = 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
∵ AD is the line of intersection of the planes ADB
and ADC with BD⊥AD and CD⊥AD.
∴ ∠BDC is the angle between the planes ADB and
248
(b) Consider △BCD.

18. (a) (i)
∵
∴
∴ ∠ADB is not the angle between the planes CDB
and CDA.
In △VOB,
17. (a) (i) Consider △ADF.
(ii) Consider △VAB.

Consider △AHK.
Consider △BHK.
(b)
(c) ∵ △VAB  △VCB

∴ CN  VB and CN = AN
The angle between the planes VAB and VBC is
ANC.
(ii) Consider △ABH.
Consider △NAC.
(b) Time required for the blue toy car to reach H

∴ The angle between the planes VAB and VBC is
106°.
19. (a) Let E be a point on CD such that AE  CD and

BE  CD.
Time required for the green toy car to reach H
∴ The two toy cars will not reach H at the same time.
Level 2
249
The angle between the planes ACD and BCD is AEB.
In △BCE,
Consider △ABE.
∴ The angle between the planes ACD and BCD is

53.4°.
(b) Let F be a point on MN such that AF  MN and

BF  MN.
AFE is a straight line.
The angle between the planes AMN and BMN is AFB.
Consider △BFE.
250
Consider △AFB. ∴ The angle between the path XY and the horizontal
By the cosine formula, we have ground is 13.6°.
∴ The angle between the planes AMN and BMN is

107°.
20. (a)
Total distance travelled by the man
(b) Let G and H be the projections of X and Y on the plane

BCFE respectively.
Let Z be a point on YH at the same horizontal level as
X.
The angle between the path XY and the horizontal

ground is YXZ.
Consider △XCG.
Consider △YBH.
Consider △XYZ.
251
21. (a) (i) Consider △ABF. Consider △HPK.

(ii) Consider △BFC.

By the cosine formula, we have (ii) Consider △HPK.
(iii) Consider △ABF.
Consider △ABC.
(b) Consider △APH.
Consider △AFC.
Consider △BPK.
(b) Let  be the angle of elevation, where 60° <  < 90°.
Then .
(c)
When  increases, tan increases.
∴ BF decreases when  increases,
i.e. CF increases when  increases.
∴ William’s claim is not correct.
22. (a) (i) With the notation in the figure,
Consider △ABR.
∵ The angle of depression of B from A
252
 the angle of elevation of A from B

∴ The angle of depression of B from A is 25.7°.
23. (a) Let M be the mid-point of BC and N be the projection

of M on AP.
∴ The angle that the sheet makes with the horizontal
ground is AMN.
Consider △ABM.
Consider △AMN.
The angle that the sheet makes with the vertical wall
(b) In △AMN,
Area of the shadow of the sheet at noon
(c) The area of the shadow of the sheet is equal to the area
of △PQR, as the height and the base of the triangular
shadow do not change, even though the sun shines from
the west at a certain angle of elevation.
∴ Gloria’s claim is incorrect.
24. (a) Consider △DOC.
Consider △DAC.
253
Consider △COA.
(b) Consider △DBC.
Consider △COB.
(c) ∵ COA = COB

∴ cos COA  cos COB
(d)
∴ The compass bearing of B from O is N19.5°E.
25. (a) Consider △ABD.
254
Consider △ACD.
Consider △CAE in Figure (b).
(b) (i) Let .
i.e.
Area of △ABC
∴ The angle between the line AC and the
(ii) Consider △CAE in Figure (b).
(ii) Let h cm be the shortest distance between D and

the plane ABC.
Let .
i.e.
Area of △BCD Consider △ACB in Figure (b).

Area of △ABC
Also, volume of ABCD
∴ The shortest distance between D and the 27. (a) The angle between the lines DF and BF is DFB.
plane ABC is 22.9 cm. Consider △BFG.
26. (a) Consider Figure (a).
Consider △DFE.
∵ △ABD ~ △ACE (AAA)
∴ (corr. sides, ~△s)

Consider △DAB.
(b) (i) The angle between the line AC and the horizontal Consider △DFB.
table is CAE. By the cosine formula, we have
Consider △DAE in Figure (b).
255
∴ The angle between the lines DF and BF is 68.9°.
(b) Let N be the projection of M on the plane EFGH.
The angle between the line FM and the plane EFGH is

MFN. Consider △DCF.
Consider △MFN.
∴ The required angle of inclination

∴ The angle between the line FM and the plane
EFGH is 46.7°.
(c) DB is the line of intersection of the planes BDF and

BCD.
∵ △DFB and △BCD are isosceles triangles. (b)
∴ FM  DB and CM  DB (prop. of isos. △)
∴ The angle between the planes BDF and BCD is
FMC.
Consider △MFN. Let K be the projection of D on the horizontal table.
∴ The angle between the planes BDF and BCD is

133°.
28. (a) With the notation in the figure,
256
∴ The angle of inclination of DE is 20.2°.
29. (a)
Consider △EXQ.
Let M be the projection of Q on CD.

∵
∴
∴
Consider △PEQ.
Consider △CMQ.
(b) (i)
Let X and Y be the mid-points of PQ and AC

respectively.
Let Z be the projection of Y on the plane EFGH.
The angle between the planes ACQP and ACD is
∠XYD, i.e. .
Consider △BCD.
257
Consider △XYZ.
∴ The shortest distance between X and GH is

4.66 cm.
∵ The radius of the sticker is greater than the shortest
distance between X and GH.
∴ The circular sticker of radius 5.5 cm cannot be
∴
stuck onto the inclined surface EFGH so that the
(ii) ∵ XY is a line of greatest slope of the inclined circular sticker completely lies in the region
plane ACQP. EFGH.
∴ The angle between the planes ACQP and
ACD, i.e. is greater than the angle 31. (a) (i) Area of △BDC
between the line QC and the plane ACD.
∴ Tom’s claim is agreed.
30. (a) Let N be a point on BG such that HN⊥BG.
Consider △GHN.
(ii) ∵ and
i.e.
Consider △ABD.
(b) ∵ and E and G are vertically above D
and B respectively.
∴
Consider △BCD.
Volume of tetrahedron DABC
Let .
i.e.
Area of the rhombus EFGH

(b) Volume of tetrahedron DABC
(c) Let EG and FH intersect at X.

When the centre of the circular sticker coincides with X,
the area of the sticker lying in EFGH is the maximum. When  increases from 30° to 90°, sin  increases.
Consider △EGH. ∴ When  increases from 30° to 90°, the volume of
By the cosine formula, we have the tetrahedron DABC increases.
When  increases from 90° to 150°, sin  decreases.
∴ When  increases from 90° to 150°, the volume of
the tetrahedron DABC decreases.
32. (a) Consider △AMD.
Let Y be a point on GH such that XY⊥GH.

Consider △GXY.
258
Let E be the projection of D on the plane ABC.
In △ABC,
Consider △DEM.
∴ The height of D above the plane ABC is 5.20 cm.
(b) The angle between AD and the plane ABC is DAE.

Consider △DAE.
(b) (i) Let M be the mid-point of BD.
∵ BC = DC and BM = DM
∴ CM⊥BD (prop. of isos. △)
∵ AB = AD and BM = DM
∴ AM⊥BD (prop. of isos. △)
∵ The projection of AC on the horizontal table
lies on AM.
∴ The angle between AD and the plane ABC is 25.7°. ∴ The angle between the line AC and the
horizontal table is ∠CAM.
(c) In △CMD,
∠BAM (prop. of isos. △)
Consider △ABM.
Let F be the projection of C on the plane ABD.
The angle between BC and the plane ABD is CBF.

∵ MC < MD
∴ CF < DE
∴ (∵ )
i.e. sin CBF < sin DAE

∴ CBF < DAE Consider △BCM.
∴ The angle between BC and the plane ABD is less
than that in (b).
33. (a) Join AC.
∠BAC =∠DAC Consider △ACM.

∠BAC
Consider △ABC.
259
Volume of the tetrahedron CABD
∴ The angle between the line AC and the

34. (a) (i) Consider △ADF.
(ii) Height of tetrahedron CABD
Consider △BCG.
(ii) Let N be a point on AF such that BN⊥AF.

The height of trapezium ABGF is BN.
Consider △ABN.
Area of the shadow ABGF
(b) Similar to (a)(ii), when the sun shines from N50°W

with an angle of elevation 60°,
area of the shadow ABGF
∴ Philip’s claim is disagreed.
(c) When the sun shines from NW with an angle of

260
elevation 40°, (ii) Consider △ACP.

consider △ABN.
∴ The angle of elevation of P from the cat at C

is 29.7°.
(iii) Let X be the position of the cat.
Similar to (a)(ii), for ,
When the cat moves from B to C along the circular
area of the shadow ABGF when the sun shines from path, AX is the longest when AX is a diameter of
N W the circle.
i.e. The angle of elevation of P from X is the
smallest when AX is a diameter of the circle.
Let r m be the radius of the circle and O be the
centre of the circle.
= area of the shadow ABGF when the sun shines from

N50W
i.e. the area of the shadow of the wall on the
horizontal ground is greater than the area obtained
in (a).
∴ Sam’s claim is agreed.
35. (a) (i) Join AC.

Consider △ACD.
(ii) Let AB = x m.
(opp. ∠s,
cyclic quad.)
Consider △ABC.
(b) (i) Consider △ABP.
∴ The angle of elevation of P from the cat at B

is 27.5°.
261
∠AOC = 2 × 60° = 120° (∠ at centre twice ∠ 4. Answer: B

at ⊙ce) Let a be the length of the side of square ABCD.
Consider △OAC. Consider △DCB.
Consider △CBE.
When AX is a diameter of the circle,

Consider △DBF.
∴ The angle of elevation of P from the cat first

decreases from 27.5° to 26.3°, then increases 5. Answer: A
to 29.7° when the cat moves from B to C Let N be the mid-point of DE.
along the circular path.
Multiple Choice Questions (p. 6.62)

1. Answer: C
FG is the line of intersection of the planes AFGD and
EFGH.
∵ AF  FG and EF  FG, DG  FG and HG  FG
∴ The angles between the planes AFGD and EFGH are
AFE or DGH.
∴ The answer is C.
N is the projection of M on the plane CHED.
2. Answer: A
The angle between the line MH and the plane CHED is
∵ The plane EMF is a part of the plane ABFE.
∴ The angle between the planes EMF and ABCD is the MHN.
angle between the planes ABFE and ABCD.
∵ The angle between the planes ABFE and ABCD is
∠CBF.
∴ The angle between the planes EMF and ABCD is
∠CBF. Consider △NHE.
3. Answer: D
Consider △MHN.
Let M be the point of intersection of AG and BH.

∵
Consider △MAB.
∴ The angle between the line MH and the plane CHED is
32.
6. Answer: A
Let J be the mid-point of BC.
∴ The answer is D.
The angle between the planes HBC and ABCD is HJK.
262
Consider △HAK.
With the notations in the figure, let w m and h m be the

width and the height of the wall respectively.
Consider △HJK.
Consider △ABE.
∴ The angle between the planes HBC and ABCD is 29.

∠BAZ =∠XAY = (vert. opp.∠s)
7. Answer: C Area of ABCD
Total surface area of a regular tetrahedron
8. Answer: D
Let AB = h.
Consider △ABC.
10. Answer: A
Consider △ABD.
Consider △ABQ.
Consider △BCD.
Consider △ABP.
Consider △PQB.
9. Answer: C
∴ The bearing of A from Q is S30.4E.
263
In △PRC,
11. Answer: B
In △QRC,
In △PQC,
Consider △PQR.
Let .
i.e.
Area of the base PQR
12. Answer: B
Consider △ABD.
∵ AB = AD and BP = DP
∴ AP⊥BD and ∠BAP =∠DAP (prop. of isos. △)
Consider △ABP.
∠BAP
Similarly,
Consider △ABC.
∵ P and Q are mid-points of BD and CD respectively.
∴ (mid-pt. theorem)
264
Consider △APQ.
Exam Focus
Exam-type Questions (p. 6.66)

1. (refer to Amendment List in Sept 2016)
(a) (i) Consider △ABC.
∴
(ii) In △BCX,
(b) (i) Suppose BX is produced to a point T such that

and .
Consider △ATX.
(adj. ∠s on st.
line)
265
Consider △CXT.
(adj. ∠s on st.
line)
Consider △ACT.
(ii) The tetrahedron ABXC has a maximum height

when △AXB is perpendicular to the horizontal
plane.
i.e. The tetrahedron ABXC has a maximum
volume when △AXB is perpendicular to the
horizontal plane.
∴ When AC increases from 15 cm to 18.7 cm,
the volume increases; when AC increases
from 18.7 cm to 25 cm, the volume decreases.
2. (a) (i) Consider △CPQ.

(ii) Consider △ACP.
Consider △BCQ.
266
Let N be a point on BQ such that PN⊥BQ.
Consider △NPQ.
Consider △ABC.
(b)
Consider △ACD.
Consider △ADP.
∴ DP is shorter than CP.

∴ Simon’s claim is disagreed.
3. (a) Let M be the mid-point of FD.

∵ AF = AD and EF = ED with DM = FM
∴ AM⊥DF and EM⊥DF (prop. of isos. △)
∵ DF is the line of intersection of the planes AFD
and EFD with AM⊥DF and EM⊥DF.
∴ The angle between the planes AFD and EFD is
∠AME.
Consider △EFM.
Consider △AEM.
267
(b) (i) Distance between XY and BC
(ii) ∵ XF is not a line of greatest slope on the plane

XFDY.
∴ The angle between the planes XFDY and
EFD must be greater than that between the
line XF and the plane EFD.
4. Answer: C
5. Answer: B
Let M be the mid-point of BC and N be the projection of V
on the plane ABCD.
MN = 2 cm
Consider △VMN.
∵ Volume of the pyramid = 16 cm3
6. Answer: A
Let BG = h.
Consider △ABG.
Consider △BCG.
268
8. Answer: D
For I:
∵ CF = DE and BF = AE
Consider △ABC.
∴ I is true.
For II:
Consider △ACG.
∵ BC is a line of greatest slope of the inclined plane
ABCD and DG is not a line of greatest slope of the
inclined plane ABCD.
∴ The angle between BC and the horizontal ground is

greater than the angle between DG and the horizontal
ground.
i.e.
∴ II is true.
7. Answer: B
For III:
Consider △ADE.
∵ BF = AE and AG < HB
∴ EG < HF
Consider △AMD.
∵ DM = CM ∴ III is true.
∴ ∴ The answer is D.
Consider △CDE.
Investigation Corner (p. 6.73)
1.
Let .
Consider △BEC.
269
Consider △ABE.
2. Let .
∴
Consider △OBE.
3. Consider △OAB.
∴ The bond angle of the diamond is 109.
270

NSS Mathematics in Action - 5A06 - Exercise - E

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6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Review Exercise 6 (p. 6.5)

By the sine formula,

4. By the cosine formula,

5. By the cosine formula,

6. By the cosine formula,

8. (a) With the notations in the figure,

(alt. s, QA // BP)

The compass bearing of B from A

(b) (alt.∠s, AB // PT)

9. With the notations in the figure,

(alt. s, RC // BP)

sum of △) (alt.∠s, PR // SH)

By the cosine formula,

∴ The angle of elevation of H from the man at Q is 56.7°.

In △HPQ, by the cosine formula, Activity 6.1 (p. 6.12)

2. PX. Since FD = XY = EC and YP is the shortest in length

is the greatest. PX has the greatest slope.

Maths Dialogue (p. 6.22)

Classwork (p. 6.9)

Quick Practice 6.1 (p. 6.8)

(b) The angle between the lines DF and EF is∠DFE.

(c) Join AF.

∴ The angle beteween the planes MAB and ABCD is

∵ CA is the projection of CE on the plane ABCD.

(b) Consider △ABC.

∴ The inclination of the line of greatest slope of the plane

Quick Practice 6.5 (p. 6.16)

∴ The angle between the line CE and the plane ABCD is

Quick Practice 6.3 (p. 6.12)

∵ BCNM is also a rectangle.

∴ The angle between the planes AME and ADHE is 45°.

(b) Join AM and BM. It is noted that AB is the line of

∵ △VAB and △OAB are isosceles triangles.

∴ The angle between the planes VAB and ABCD is

By the cosine formula, we have

Quick Practice 6.8 (p. 6.24)

Quick Practice 6.9 (p. 6.25)

∴ The angle between the line VA and the plane ABCD is

(b) Consider △BCD.

(b) Consider △OAB.

Quick Practice 6.12 (p. 6.36)

∴ The true bearing of B from A is

Quick Practice 6.11 (p. 6.34)

With the notations in the figure,

∵ D is the projection of A on the horizontal ground.

∵ The area of the shadow of the plate on the ground is

Quick Practice 6.13 (p. 6.38)

Consider △ABP in Figure (b).

(b) Consider △APQ.

(b) When the angle of elevation of the sunshine has changed to

Further Practice (p. 6.26)

∴ The angle between the plane QAB and the horizontal

Let M be the mid-point on BD. Join CM and extend AM to

∴ The angle between the planes DBC and BCFE is

∴ The perpendicular distance between A and VB is

(b) Join CN.

∴ The shortest distacne between the point C and the

Further Practice (p. 6.41)

Let F be a point on BC such that BC  FP.

2. (a) Consider △BCD.

(b) The angle of inclination of the plane ABEF is∠EBC.

∴ The angle of inclination of the plane ABEF is