NAME: _____________________________ GRADE 10 ______

SCHOOL: GRADE 10
INVESTIGATION : TRIGONOMETRY
SECTION A

❑=❑
MARKS :
50 10

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

1. This paper consists of 5 Questions. Answer ALL the questions on the question paper.
2. Clearly show ALL calculations, diagrams, graphs, et cetera that you have used in
determining your answers.
3. You may use an approved scientific calculator (non-programmable and non-graphical),
unless stated otherwise.
4. If necessary, round off answers to TWO decimal places, unless stated otherwise.
5. Only the diagrams for question 2 is drawn to scale, other diagrams are NOT necessarily
drawn to scale.

BACKGROUND:
Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that deals with triangles. It examines especially right-
angled triangles, and especially the relationships between the angles and the lengths of the sides
of the triangle.

The following terminology is very important:

In a rectangular triangle there are 3 sides:

• Hypotenuse (r )
• Opposite side ( y ) (this is the side opposite the given other angle, besides the 90° angle)
• Adjacent side ( x ) (the side on which the other angle lies.)
A
Opposite side ( y )

Hypotenuse (r )

40
°
Adjacent side (x )
GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

QUESTION 1

Name the sides in the following right-angled triangles:

(Say what it is adjacent-, hypotenuse and opposite.)

A
1.1 Hypotenuse (r ) F
1.2 1.3

50° 60°
C F E
B Adjacent side (x ) 1.4

Opposite side

K
L P
1.8
1.7
1.5
1.6

20°

M
θ
Q R
1.9

[9]

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 GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

QUESTION 2
Consider the following right-angled triangles.

Hypotenuse (r )

Opposite side ( y )

Adjacent side ( x )

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 GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

2.1 Calculate the length of the hypotenuse in each triangle using the theorem
of Pythagoras
AE¿ AF¿ AH¿

(3)

Question 2.2 Complete the table using the diagram:

∆ ABE ∆ AFC ∆ ADH

opposite side( y ) BE 4 FC 8 4 ❑ =¿
= = = AH
hypotenuse(r ) AE ❑ AF 10 5

adjacent side ( x) AB 3 AC AD
= =¿ =¿
hypotenuse(r ) AE ❑ ❑ AH

opposite side( y ) EB ❑ FC 8 ❑ = HD
= =
adjacent side ( x) AB 3 AC 6 AD AD

What conclusion can you make from this table?

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 GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

(4)

[7]

THE MEANING OF sin , cos AND tan

In triangulation (trigonometry) we use "short names" to refer to specific ratios of the sides for a
particular angle:

opposite side( y ) adjacent side ( x) opposite side( y )

¿ sinθ ¿ cosθ ¿ tanθ
hypotenuse(r ) hypotenuse(r ) adjacent side ( x)

Opposite side ( y ) =
A
3cm

Hypotenuse (r ) = 5 cm

θ
B C
Adjacent side (x )= 4cm

For the triangle above :

opposite side( y ) adjacent side(x) opposite side( y )

sinθ= cosθ= tanθ=¿
hypotenuse(r ) hypotenuse (r ) adjacent side ( x)

3 4 3
¿ ¿ ¿
5 5 4

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 GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

Know this by heart !

To remember sin , cos and tan :
o y
sin : “sin oh” → sin θ = sin θ = shelter your rear
h r
a x
cos : “cos ah” → cos θ = cos θ = cos x -rays
h r
o y
tan: “tan oa” → tanθ = tan θ = tan your exterior
h x

QUESTION 3
3.1 Name the sides of the triangle. (Opposite, adjacent, hypotenuse) and then
answer the following questions for the triangle.
8

B A

6 10

3.1.1 opposite side( y ) 8

sinθ=¿ ¿ (1)

3.1.2 (1)
cosθ=¿ ¿
hypotenuse( r) 10

3.1.3
tanθ = ¿ (1)

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GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

3.2 Now do the same for the next three triangles:

Only give the final answer. (Leave your answer in fraction form.)

3.2.1 3.2.2

D
12
B A
A

13 12 9

F 5 AE C
First, determine the length of
AC (or r ) using Pythagoras:
(i) sinθ=¿
r ² =( )² + ( )²

(ii) cosθ ¿ r² = +

r² =
(iii) tanθ ¿
∴ r=¿

(3)

(i) sinθ =

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GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

(ii) cosθ =

(iii) tanθ =

(5)

3.2.3

17
A C

15
A

B
First, determine the length of AB
(or x ) using Pythagoras:
(i) sinθ=¿
x ² ¿( )² −¿ ( )²

x² ¿ −¿ (ii) cosθ=¿

x² ¿
(iii) tanθ=¿
∴ x=¿

(5)

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GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

3.2.4 3.2.5
D D

E A 1 F F AE

First, determine the length of DF First, determine the length of

(or r ) using Pythagoras: EF (or x ) using Pythagoras:

(i) sin 60 °=¿ (i) sin 45 ° =¿

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GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

(ii) cos 60 °=¿ (ii) cos 45 °=¿

(iii) tan60 ° =¿ (iii) tan 45 °=¿

(5) (5)

[26]

QUESTION 4
4.1 If it is given that:

 sin30° =
1
cos 30° =
√3 tan 30° =
√3
2 2 3

Use your knowledge of trigonometry to determine the following:

Peter stands at C with his Kite. The string of the kite is 20m long. How high
is the kite above the ground?
(Determine thelength of AB .)

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GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

Answer:

(4)

[4]

QUESTION 5
5.1 Use the sketch below to give three possible answers for each of the
following:

In ∆ ABD In ∆ ABC In ∆ CBD

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GRADE 10: INVESTIGATION

sinθ BD
AB

cosθ AB
AC

(4)

[4]

TOTAL 50

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