Source: Questions from Complete International Mathematics For Cambridge IGCSE - David

Rayner, Jim Fenson

1. A ladder of length 8 m rests against a wall so that the angle 

    between the ladder and the wall is 31°. 
    How far is the base of the ladder from the wall? 

Let the base of ladder be x m

from the wall
The ladder, the wall and the
floor form a triangle

   The base of the ladder is 4.1 m from the wall.

2. A ship sails 200 km on a bearing of 243.7°.

    a) How far south has it traveled?
    b) How  far west has it traveled? 

Let OA be the line traveled by the ship.

N, E, S and W represent the North,
East, south and West directions respectively
Bearing of ship = 243.7°( The line of travel of
ship makes an angle of 243.7° measured
clockwise from North)
North-South is a straight line = 180°
   The Ship has traveled 88.6 km to the south and 179.3 km to the west.

3. An aircraft flies 500 km on a bearing of 100° and then 600 km on a bearing of 160°. 
    Find the distance and bearing of the finishing point from the starting point.
       
Let the starting point be O. Bearing is 100° i.e the total angle
The aircarft flies 500 km on bearing of 100°. measured
It reaches point A clockwise from North is 100°.
Then 600 km on a bearing of 160°.  The horizontal at O represents West.
Let the finishing point be X Therefore the angle between the line
of travel of ship and West = 100°-90°=10°

The bearing of aircraft is now 160°.

Hence the angle it makes with the
horizontal at point A is 160°-90°=70°

The total distance traveled along

horizontal axis is a+b
The total distance traveled along
vertical axis is c+d
The Aircraft is at a distance of 953.8 km from the starting point. 
The bearing of the finishing point is 180 - 47 = 133°

4. For the points P(2,5), Q(5,1) and R(0,-3), Calculate the angle PQR

 
5. From the top of a tower 75 m, a man sees two goats, both due west of him. 
   If the angle of depression of the two goats are 10° and 17° respectively, 
   Calculate the distance between them.

Angle of depression of goat G1 = 17°

Angle of depression of goat G2 = 10°

The distance between the goats is 180 m

6. A Chord of length 12 cm subtends an angle of 78.6°at the center of the circle. 

    Find the radius of the circle.
Radius of circle = 9.5 cm

7. A rocket flies 10 km vertically, then 20 km at an angle of 15° to the vertical and finally 60 km at
an angle of 26° to the vertical. Calculate the vertical height of the rocket at the end of the third
stage.

Vertical height of the rocket at the end of third stage =  83.2 km

8. Find x:
  

9. Diagram A  shows a kitchen floor tiled with regular octagons and squares. 
    Diagram B shows and enlarged view of one octagon.

   The smaller green squares have sides of length 12 cm. 

   Find the width of the octagons.
Interior Angle of a regular Octagon = 135°
Hence angle in triangle = 45°

Width of Octagon = (8.5

X 2) + 12
                             = 29 cm
10. A farm gate is 1.3 m high. 
     The diagonal crossbar has a width of 15 cm and makes an angle of 24° with the horizontal. 

     Find the length of x and y in the diagram. 

     Hence find the width of the gate.
  POINT A

y = 113.6 cm
Width of gate = 255 cm

11. A rectangular paving stone 3 m by 1 m rests against a vertical wall as shown. 

What is the height of the highest point of the stone above ground?

 Point B:
 

Point A:

Highest point of stone above ground = 2.7 + 0.45 = 3.13 m

12. The diagram shows the cross section of a rectangular fish tank. 

    When AB is inclined at 40°, the water just comes up to A. 

    The tank is then lowered so that BC is horizontal. 
    What is now the depth of the water in the tank?

 Figure 1: The area in cross section of  Figure 1 and

area in cross section of figure 2 will be equal
as the volume of water is the same.
 Figure 2:

The depth of water when BC is horizontal = 27.12 cm