6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

6 Applications of
Review Exercise 6 (p. 6.6)
1
1. Area of ːABC (5)(8)sin 95q cm 2
Trigonometry in 2
19.9 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
3-dimensional Problems
2. Join AC.
Basic Knowledge Review AB AD (given)
Let’s try (p. 6.3) BC DC (given)
1. (a) Area of ːXYZ AC AC (common side)
1 ɺ ːABC ؆ ːADC (SSS)
u 6 u 11 u sin108q cm 2 ɺ Area of quadrilateral ABCD
2
Area of ːABC  area of ːADC
31.4 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
§1 ·
2 u ¨ u 7 u 15 u sin100q ¸ cm2
© 2 ¹
XY  YZ  ZX
(b) Let s , 103 cm2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2
768
then s cm 10.5 cm.
2 AB  BC  CA
3. Let s .
Area of ːXYZ 2
10.5(10.5  7)(10.5  6)(10.5  8) cm 2 4  9  10
ġ ɺġ s cm
2
20.3 cm2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
11.5 cm
ɺ Area of ːABC
2. (a) In ːPQS, by the sine formula, we have
s ( s  AB)( s  BC )( s  CA)
QS PQ
11.5(11.5  4)(11.5  9)(11.5  10) cm 2
sin ‘QPS sin ‘QSP
QS 5 cm 18.0 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
sin110q sin 40q
5sin110q AB  BC  CA AD  DC  CA
QS cm 4. Let s .
sin 40q 2 2
| 7.3095 cm 6  9  13
ġ ɺġ s cm
7.31 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 2
14 cm
ɺ Area of quadrilateral ABCD
(b) ‘SQR ‘QSP (alt.ɳs, PS // QR)
= Area of ːABC + Area of ːADC
40q
In ːQRS, by the cosine formula, we have s ( s  AB)( s  BC )( s  CA)
SR 2 QS 2  QR 2  2(QS )(QR)cos ‘SQR  s ( s  AD)( s  DC )( s  CA)
SR | 7.30952  122  2(7.3095)(12)cos 40q cm 2 u 14(14  6)(14  9)(14  13) cm 2
7.94 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 47.3 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

3. (a) The compass bearing of C from D is N78ιE. 5. ‘BAC  55q  45q 180q (‘ sum of ː)
‘BAC 80q
(b) With the notations in the figure,
By the sine formula,
AB BC
sin C sin A
20 cm a
sin 55q sin 80q
a 24.0 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

‘QCD  ‘PDC 180q (int. –s, CQ//PD)

6. By the sine formula,
‘QCD  78q 180q AC BC
‘QCD 102q sin B sinA
‘QCD  reflex‘QCD 360q (ɳs at a pt.) 8 cm 6 cm
102q  reflex‘QCD 360q sin 72q sin T
reflex‘QCD 258q T | 45.5034q or 180q  45.5034q
ɺ The true bearing of D from C is 258°. 45.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) or 134q (rejected)

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

7. By the cosine formula, A  B  C 180q (‘ sum of ː)

BC 2
AB  AC  2( AB)( AC )cos ‘BAC
2 2 C | 180q  55.7711q  41.4096q
82.8q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
a 82  92  2(8)(9)cos93q cm
12.4 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
12. By the sine formula,
a b
8. By the cosine formula, sin A sin B
15 cm 8 cm
PQ 2  QR 2  PR 2
cos ‘PQR sin105q sin B
2( PQ)(QR) B | 31.0082q or 180q  31.0082q
7 2  6 2  52 B 31.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) or 149q (rejected)
cosT
2(7)(6)
A  B  C 180q (‘ sum of ː)
T 44.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
C | 180q  105q  31.0082q
43.9918q
9. By the cosine formula,
44.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
b2 a 2  c 2  2ac cos B By the sine formula,
b 7 2  42  2(7)(4) cos 45q m a c
| 5.0400 m sin A sin C
5.04 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 15 cm c
|
sin105q sin 43.9918q
b2  c2  a 2
cos A c 10.8 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2bc
5.0400 2  4 2  7 2
| 13. (a) With the notations in the figure,
2(5.0400)(4)
A | 100.8625q
101q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
A  B  C 180q (‘ sum of ː)
C | 180q  100.8625q  45q
34.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

10. A  B  C 180q (‘ sum of ː)

C 180q  65q  30q ‘BAQ ‘ABP (alt. ‘s, QA // BP)
85q 32q
The compass bearing of B from A
By the sine formula,
S(90q  32q)W
a b c
sin A sin B sin C S58qW
a 13 cm c
sin 65q sin 30q sin 85q (b) With the notations in the figure,
a 23.6 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
c 25.9 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

11. By the cosine formula,

b2  c2  a 2
cos A
2bc
‘RCB ‘PBC (alt. ‘s, RC // BP)
82  12 2  102
2(8)(12) 18q
‘ACB 180q  70q  (32q  18q) (‘ sum of ː)
A | 55.7711q
60q
55.8q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
The true bearing of A from C
a2  c2  b2 270q  ‘RCB  ‘ACB
cos B
2ac 270q  18q  60q
10  12 2  82 348q
2(10)(12)
B | 41.4096q
41.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

14. (a) With the notations in the figure, By the cosine formula,
HQ 2  PQ 2  HP 2
cos ‘HQP
2( HQ)( PQ)
95.70852  102  90.60562
|
2(95.7085)(10)
‘HQP 56.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle of elevation of H from the man at Q is 56.7°.

Activity

Activity 6.1 (p. 6.12)

‘PAR  ‘PAB 180q (adj. ‘s on st. line) 1. (a) yes
65q  ‘PAB 180q
(b) YP
‘PAB 115q
In ːPAB, by the sine formula, ED XY
(c) Slope of PE , slope of PX ,
sin ‘ABP sin ‘PAB DP YP
AP BP FC
slope of PF
sin ‘ABP sin115q CP
20 km 29 km
20sin115q 2. PX. Since ED = XY = FC and YP is the shortest in length
sin ‘ABP among the line segments DP, CP and YP, the value of
29
XY
‘ABP | 38.6851q or 180q  38.6851q is the greatest. PX has the greatest slope.
YP
38.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
or 141q (rejected) Activity 6.2 (p. 6.23)
ɺ The compass bearing of P from B is N38.7°E. 1. (a) AC x2  y 2

(b) ‘ABP ‘BPT | 38.6851q (alt.ɳs, AB // PT)

(b) CD z2  y2
ɺ The true bearing of B from P is (180° + 38.6851°),
i.e. 219° (cor. to 3 sig. fig.).
(c) AD x2  z 2
15. With the notations in the figure,
2. ɻ AC 2  CD 2 x2  y 2  z 2  y 2
x2  z 2
AD 2
ɺ ɳACD 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
ɺ ACʄDC

Maths Dialogue

Maths Dialogue (p. 6.26)

1. yes
‘HPR ‘PHS 62q (alt.ɳs, PR // SH)
In ːHPR, 2. yes
HR Let O be the projection of A on S 3 and X be a point on
sin ‘HPR
HP CD such that AXʄCD.
80 m ɻ OX is the projection of AX on S 3 and AXʄCD.
sin 62q
HP ɺ OXʄCD (theorem of three perpendiculars)
80 ɻ AXʄCD and OXʄCD
HP m
sin 62q ɺ The angle between planes S 3 and S 4 is ɳAXO.
| 90.6056 m
‘HPQ  ‘HPR 180q (adj.ɳs on st. line)
‘HPQ  62q 180q
‘HPQ 118q
In ːHPQ, by the cosine formula,
HQ 2 PQ 2  HP 2  2( PQ)( HP)cos ‘HPQ
HQ | 102  90.60562  2(10)(90.6056)cos118q m
| 95.7085 m

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Classwork Quick Practice

Classwork (p. 6.10) Quick Practice 6.1 (p. 6.9)

1. (a) (i) H (a) The angle between the lines AB and BC isɳABC.
(ii) HF
(iii) DH (b) The angle between the lines DE and DF isɳEDF.

(b) (i) ɳCFH (c) Join AD.

(ii) ɳAHD
2. (a) 8
(b) 9
(c) 9
(d) 9
(e) 9
(f) 9

Classwork (p. 6.15)

1. (a)
ɻ AD and DF intersect at D.
ɺ The angle between the lines AD and DF isɳADF.

Quick Practice 6.2 (p. 6.11)

(a) Join CF and CA.

(b)

ɻ CA is the projection of CF on the plane ABCD.

ɺ The angle between the line CF and the plane ABCD is
ɳACF.

(b) Consider ːABC.

ɻ ABCDEFGH is a cube.
(c) ɳYXZ is the angle between the planes ABEF and ɺ ABCD is a square.
ABCD. i.e. ɳABC = 90°
AC AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
2. (a) ɻ The planes ABFE and CBFD intersect at BF,
ABʄBF and CBʄBF (or EFʄBF and DFʄBF). 62  62 cm
ɺ ɳABC (or ɳEFD) is the angle between 72 cm
planes ABFE and CBFD. Consider ːACF.
AF
(b) ɻ The planes AEDC and BFDC intersect at DC, tan ‘ACF
AC
ACʄCD and BCʄCD (or EDʄCD and
6 cm
FDʄCD).
ɺ ɳACB (or ɳEDF) is the angle between 72 cm
planes AEDC and BFDC. ‘ACF 35.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the line CF and the plane ABCD is
(c) AB is the line of intersection of planes ABC and 35.3°.
ABFE.
In ːABC, CMʄAB. Quick Practice 6.3 (p. 6.13)
In rectangle ABFE, ɻ BF is the line of greatest slope of the plane ABFE.
ɻ M is the projection of N on AB. ɺ ɳCBF is the inclination of the line of greatest slope of the
ɺ NMʄAB plane ABFE.
ɺ ɳCMN is the angle between planes ABC and EF AB 32 cm
ABFE. Consider ːBEF.
BF
Classwork (p. 6.25) tan ‘BEF
EF
(a)
BF
(b) tan 25q
(c) ; 32 cm
(d) BF 32 tan 25q cm

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Consider ːBCF. Quick Practice 6.6 (p. 6.19)

BC Let N be the projection of A on the plane BCDF.
cos ‘CBF The angle between the line AF and the plane BCDF is ɳAFN.
BF
10 cm ɻ AB AC and ANʄBC
32 tan 25q cm ɺ BN CN (converse of ʄ bisector property)
‘CBF 47.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) Consider ːABN.
ɺ The inclination of the line of greatest slope of the plane AN 2  BN 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ABFE to the horizontal is 47.9°. 2
§ 14 ·
252  ¨ ¸ cm
AN
Quick Practice 6.4 (p. 6.16) © 2¹
(a) Join AC and FH. 24 cm
AF is the line of intersection of the planes ACHF and Consider ːABF.
ADEF.
AF 2 AB 2  BF 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ɻ ACʄAF and ADʄAF
ɺġ The angle between the planes ACHF and ADEF is AF 252  302 cm
ɳDAC. 1525 cm
Consider ːDAC. Consider ːAFN.
CD AN
tan ‘DAC sin ‘AFN
AD AF
8 cm 24 cm
8 cm 1525 cm
‘DAC 45q
‘AFN 37.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes ACHF and ADEF is
45°. ɺ The angle between the line AF and the plane BCDF is
37.9°.
(b) Join AM and BM.
AB is the line of intersection of the planes MAB and ABCD. Quick Practice 6.7 (p. 6.26)
ɻ BMʄAB and BCʄAB Join QT.
ɺ The angle between the planes MAB and ABCD is ɻ QT is the projection of PT on the plane QRS and PTʄRS.
ɳMBC. ɺ QTʄRS (theorem of three perpendiculars)
Consider ːMBC. ɻ PTʄRS and QTʄRS
ɺ The angle between the planes PRS and QRS is ɳPTQ.
MC
tan ‘MBC Consider ːPTQ.
BC
PQ
1 sin ‘PTQ
u 8 cm PT
2
7 cm
8 cm
‘MBC 26.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 12 cm
‘PTQ 35.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes MAB and ABCD is
26.6°. ɺ The angle between the planes PRS and QRS is
35.7ι.
Quick Practice 6.5 (p. 6.18)
(a) ɻġ N is a point on CD and the distance between N and the Quick Practice 6.8 (p. 6.28)
horizontal plane is 23 cm. (a) The angle between the line VA and the plane ABCD is
ɺ CF = 23 cm ‘VAO.
Consider ːBCF. Consider ːABC.
CF AC AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
tan ‘CBF
BF 20  21 cm
2 2

23 cm
tan T 29 cm
30 cm 1
T 37.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɺġ OA AC 14.5 cm (property of rectangle)
2
Consider ːVOA.
(b) Let M be a point on AB such that NMʄAB. VO
ɺ The distance between N and the line AB is MN. tan ‘VAO
OA
Consider ːBCF.
20 cm
BC 2 BF 2  CF 2 (Pyth. theorem)
14.5 cm
BC 302  232 cm ‘VAO 54.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
37.8 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɺ The angle between the line VA and the plane ABCD is
ɻ BCNM is also a rectangle. 54.1q.
ɺ MN = BC
ɺ The distance between N and the line AB is 37.8 cm.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(b) AB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB and ABCD. Therefore, ɳBCD is not a right angle.
Let M be the mid-point of AB. ɺ ɳACB is not the angle between the planes ACD and
BCD.
Thus, the claim is not correct.

Quick Practice 6.10 (p. 6.32)

(a) Consider ːAEB.
AB AE 2  BE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
16  12 cm
2 2

20 cm
ɻ VA VB and AM MB Consider ːABC.
ɺ VMʄAB (converse of ʄ bisector property) AC AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ɻġ OM is the projection of VM on the plane ABCD and
ġ VM A AB. 20  15 cm
2 2

ɺ OM A AB (theorem of three perpendiculars) 25 cm

ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and ABCD is Consider ːAED.
‘VMO. AD AE 2  DE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
21
OM cm 10.5 cm 16  30 cm
2 2
2
Consider ːVOM. 34 cm
Consider ːACD.
VO
tan ‘VMO By the cosine formula, we have
OM
AC 2  AD 2  CD 2
20 cm cos ‘CAD
2( AC )( AD)
10.5 cm
‘VMO 62.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 252  342  402
ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and ABCD is 62.3q. 2(25)(34)
181
(c) VO is the line of intersection of the planes VAO and VBO. 1700
ɻ AO A VO and BO A VO ‘CAD | 83.8881q
ɺ The angle between the planes VAO and VBO is 83.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
‘AOB.
Consider ːAOB.
(b) Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from A to CD.
OA = OB = 14.5 cm (property of rectangle)
ɻ EP is the projection of AP on the plane BCDE and
By the cosine formula, we have
AP A CD.
OA2  OB 2  AB 2
cos ‘AOB ɺ EP A CD (theorem of three perpendiculars)
2(OA)(OB) ɺ The angle between the planes ACD and BCDE is
14.52  14.52  202 ɳAPE.
2(14.5)(14.5) Consider the area of ːACD, we have
‘AOB 87.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ( AP)(CD) ( AC )( AD)sin ‘CAD
ɺ The angle between the planes VAO and VBO is 87.2q. 2 2
( AP)(40) (25)(34)sin83.8881q
|
Quick Practice 6.9 (p. 6.30) 2 2
(a) Consider ːACD. AP | 21.1292 cm
AC 2 AD 2  CD 2 (Pyth. theorem) Consider ːAEP.
AE
AC 102  62 cm sin ‘APE
AP
8 cm
16
Consider ːABC. |
21.1292
BC 2 AC 2  AB 2 (Pyth. theorem) ‘APE | 49.2220q
BC 82  52 cm ! 49q
ɺ The angle between the plane ACD and the plane
39 cm
BCDE exceeds 49ιǤ

(b) Consider ːBCD.

BC 2  CD 2 [( 39) 2  62 ] cm 2
75 cm 2
BD 2 92 cm 2
81 cm 2
Hence, we have BC 2  CD 2 z BD 2 .

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Quick Practice 6.11 (p. 6.38) HK

(a) Consider ːLOA. sin ‘HOK
OK
LO 7 km
tan 50q
AO 75 km
50 ‘HOK 53.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
AO m
tan 50q
ɺ The compass bearing of B from O is N53.9qE.
Consider ːLOB.
LO
tan 35q (b) Consider ːHOK.
OB
50 OH 2 OK 2  HK 2 (Pyth. theorem)
BO m
tan 35q OH ( 75)  7 km
2 2

ɳAOB 270° – 126° 144°

Consider ːOAB. 26 km
By the cosine formula, we have Consider ːAOH.
AB 2 AO 2  BO 2  2( AO)( BO ) cos ‘AOB AH
tan 50q
2 2
26 km
§ 50 · § 50 ·
¨ ¸ ¨ ¸ AH 26 tan 50q km
AB © tan 50q ¹ © tan 35q ¹ m 6.08 km (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
§ 50 ·§ 50 ·
 2¨ ¸¨ ¸ cos144q
© tan 50q ¹© tan 35q ¹ (c) With the notations in the figure,
| 108.1975 m
108 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

(b) Consider ːOAB.

By the cosine formula, we have
AO 2  AB 2  BO 2
cos ‘OAB
2( AO)( AB)
2 2
§ 50 · § 50 ·
¸  108.1975  ¨
2
¨ ¸
q © tan 35q ¹
|©
tan 50 ¹ Consider ːACB.
§ 50 ·
2¨ ¸ (108.1975) AC
© tan 50q ¹ tan T
BC
‘OAB | 22.8253q
( 26 tan 50q  5) km
7 km
T 8.74q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle of the aeroplane descent from A to B is
8.74q.

Quick Practice 6.13 (p. 6.42)

(a) (i) Consider ːADF.
AD
tan ‘AFD
DF
‘PAB | 90q  22.8253q 8m
tan 35q
DF
113q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
8
ɺ The true bearing of B from A is 113q. DF m
tan 35q
Quick Practice 6.12 (p. 6.40) | 11.4252 m
(a) Consider ːBOK. 11.4 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
OK 10  5 km (Pyth. theorem)
2 2 ɺ The distance between D and F is 11.4 m.

75 km (ii)
Consider ːHOK.
ɻ K is due east of H.
ɺ ‘KHO 90q

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

ɻ The sun shines from N22ιW. Consider ːABD.

ɺ The bearing of F from D is S22°E. BD
cos ‘ABD
ɺ ‘FDC 90q  22q 68q AB
Consider ːFBC. BD
cos50q
Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from F to BC. 13 cm
FP BD 13cos50q cm
sin ‘FDC
DF | 8.3562 cm
FP DF u sin 68q AD
sin ‘ABD
§ 8 · AB
¨ u sin 68q ¸ m
© tan 35q ¹ AD
sin 50q
8sin 68q 13 cm
= m AD 13sin 50q cm
tan 35q
Area of the shadow FBC | 9.9586 cm
1 Refer to Figure (b).
u BC u FP
2 Consider ːBDM.
§1 8sin 68q · 2 BM 2  DM 2 BD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
¨ u 13 u ¸m
©2 tan 35q ¹ DM | 8.35622  52 cm
68.9 m 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) | 6.6952 cm
ġ Consider ːADM.
(b) When the angle of elevation of the sunshine has changed to AM 2  DM 2  AD 2
cos ‘AMD
8 2( AM )( DM )
T, DF m.
tan T 122  6.69522  9.95862
ɻ The area of the shadow of the plate on the ground is |
2(12)(6.6952)
two times that obtained in (a).
‘AMD 56.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
1 8 §1 8sin 68q ·
ɺ u BC u u sin 68q 2 u ¨ u BC u ¸ ɺ The angle between the plane DBC and the
2 tan T ©2 tan 35q ¹
horizontal table is 56.1°.
1 2
tan T tan 35q (b) ɻ AD is the line of intersection of the planes ADB
T 19.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) and ADC with ADʄBD and ADʄCD.
ɺ ɳBDC is the angle between the planes ADB and ADC.
Quick Practice 6.14 (p. 6.44) ɺ The student is correct.
(a) Refer to Figure (b).
Let M be the mid-point of BC. Quick Practice 6.15 (p. 6.46)
ɻ DB DC and BM CM (a) Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from C to AB and N
ɺ DMʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property) be the projection of C on the horizontal ground.
ɻ AB AC and BM CM Then, the shortest distance from C to the horizontal ground
ɺ AMʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property) is CN.
Consider ːAPC.
ɻ BC is the line of intersection of the plane DBC and
the horizontal table with DMʄBC and AMʄBC. CP
sin ‘CAP
ɺ The angle between the plane DBC and the AC
horizontal table isɳAMD. CP AC sin ‘CAP
10 45sin 38q cm
BM cm 5 cm
2 | 27.7048 cm
Consider ːABM. ɻ NP is the projection of CP to the horizontal ground
AM 2  BM 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem) and CPʄAB.
ɺ NP A AB (theorem of three perpendiculars)
AM 132  52 cm ɺ The angle between the paper card and the horizontal
12 cm ground isġ ɳCPN.
Refer to Figure (a). Consider ːCPN.
ɻ AB = AC and BD = CD
CN
ɺ ADʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property) sin ‘CPN
CP
i.e. ɳADB 90°
CN CP sin ‘CPN
| (27.7048)sin 40q cm
| 17.8083 cm
=17.8 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ġɺ The shortest distance from C to the horizontal ground
is 17.8 cm.

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

(b) The angle between AC and the horizontal ground is (b) Join CN.
ɳCAN. ɻ VC BC and VN BN
Consider ːCAN. ɺ CNʄVB (converse of ʄ bisector property)
CN ɻ VB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB
sin ‘CAN
AC and VBC with ANʄVB and CNʄVB.
17.8083 ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and VBC is
|
45 ɳANC.
‘CAN | 23.3121q Also, CN AN 108 cm
d 25q Consider ːABC.
Thus, the claim is correct. AC 2 AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AC 122  122 cm
Further Practice
288 cm
Further Practice (p. 6.32) Consider ːACN.
1. (a) CE 142  82 cm (Pyth. theorem) By the cosine formula, we have
16.1 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) AN 2  CN 2  AC 2
cos ‘ANC
2( AN )(CN )
(b) Consider ːAMB. ( 108) 2  ( 108)   ( 288) 2
80q 2( 108)( 108)
‘BAM
2 ‘ANC 109q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
40q ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and VBC is
AM 109°.
cos ‘BAM
AB
AM Further Practice (p. 6.47)
cos 40q 1. (a) ABCD and CDEF are rectangles.
8 cm
AM 8 cos 40q cm Consider ːBCD.
EN AM CD
tan ‘CBD
6.13 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) BC
CD
tan 30q
(c) ɻ BC is the line of intersection of the planes EBC and 5m
BCDF with EMʄBC and MNʄBC. CD 5 tan 30q m
FE CD
ɺ The angle between the planes EBC and BCDF is
‘EMN. 5 tan 30q m
Consider ːEMN. 2.89 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
EN BC
tan ‘EMN cos ‘CBD
MN BD
8cos 40q cm 5m
cos30q
14 cm BD
‘EMN 23.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 5
BD m
ɺ The angle between the planes EBC and BCDF is cos30q
23.6q. Consider ːEDB.
BD 2  ED 2 BE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
2. (a) Let N be a point on VB such that ANʄVB.
2
ɻ VA AB and ANʄVB § 5 ·
ED 202  ¨ ¸ m
ɺ VN BN (converse of ʄ bisector property) © cos30q ¹
Consider ːABN. | 19.1485 m
AN 2  BN 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem) 19.1 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2
§ 12 ·
AN 122  ¨ ¸ cm (b) The angle of inclination of the plane ABFE isɳFBC.
© 2¹
FC ED | 19.1485 m
108 cm
Consider ːFBC.
10.4 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
FC
ɺ The perpendicular distance between A and VB is tan ‘FBC
BC
10.4 cm.
19.1485 m
|
5m
‘FBC 75.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle of inclination of the plane ABFE is
75.4°.

9 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(c) Let H be the projection of G on the plane ABCD. 3. (a) With the notations in the figure,
ɺ H is the mid-point of CD.
CD
ɺ CH
2
5 tan 30q
m
2
Consider ːBCH.
CH Let M be the mid-point on BD. Join CM and extend
tan ‘CBH
BC AM to N.
5 tan 30q ɻ AB AD and BM DM
m
2 ɺ AMʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
5m ɻ CB CD and BM DM
‘CBH 16.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɺ CMʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ɺ The compass bearing of G from B is N16.1°W. ɻ BD is the line of intersection of the plane CBD
and the horizontal table with CMʄBD and
2. (a) Consider ːDCQ. ANʄBD.
5m ɺ The angle between the plane CBD and the
tan 20q
CQ horizontal table isɳCMN.
5 Consider ːABM.
CQ m
tan 20q AM 2  BM 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
Area of BPQC 2
§8·
§ 5 · 2 AM 82  ¨ ¸ cm
¨12 u ¸m ©2¹
© tan 20q ¹
165 m 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 48 cm
Similarly, CM 48 cm
Consider ːABC.
(b)
AC 2 AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AC 82  82 cm
128 cm
Consider ːACM.
By the cosine formula, we have
AM 2  CM 2  AC 2
Consider ːABP. cos ‘AMC
2( AM )(CM )
5
BP CQ m ( 48) 2  ( 48) 2  ( 128) 2
tan 20q
Let F be a point on BC such that BC A FP. 2( 48)( 48)
Consider ːBFP. ‘AMC | 109.4712q
‘RBP ‘BPF 15q (alt. ‘s, BR // FP) ‘CMN  ‘AMC 180q (adj. ‘s on st. line)
FP ‘CMN | 180q  109.4712q
cos ‘BPF
BP 70.5288q
FP 70.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
cos15q
5 ɺ The angle between the plane CBD and the
m
tan 20q horizontal table is 70.5°.
5cos15q
FP m
tan 20q (b) Let P be the projection of C on the horizontal table.
Area of BPQC Consider ːCMP.
5cos15q 2 CP
12 u m sin ‘CMP
tan 20q CM
159 m 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) CP | 48 sin 70.5288q cm
6.53 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The shortest distance between the point C and the
horizontal table is 6.53 cm.

10 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Exercise 3. (a) In ːABC,

AC 42  32 cm (Pyth. theorem)
Exercise 6A (p. 6.19)
5 cm
Level 1
1. (a) Join AE and CE. In ːACH,
ġ ġ ɻġ AE and CE intersect at E.ġ AH 2 AC 2  HC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the lines AE and CE is ‘AEC. AH 5  2 cm
2 2

(b) Join AH and DH. 29 cm

ɻġ AH and DH intersect at H.ġ
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the lines AH and DH is (b) (i) The angle between the lines AH and HE is
‘AHD. ɳAHE.
HE
(c) Join AE. cos ‘AHE
AH
ġ ġ ɻġ DE is the projection of AE on the plane CHED.
4 cm
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the line AE and the plane
29 cm
CHED is ‘AED.
‘AHE 42.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(d) ɻġ FE is the projection of AE on the plane EFGH.ġ ɺ The angle between the lines AH and HE is
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the line AE and the plane 42.0°.
EFGH is ‘AEF. (ii) The angle between the line AH and the plane
EFGH isɳAHF.
(e) Join BF and CE. FH AC
5 cm
BC is the line of intersection of the planes BCHG and AF
BCEF. tan ‘AHF
FH
ġ ġ ɻġ GB A BC and FB A BC (or HC A BC and
2 cm
EC A BC)
5 cm
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes BCHG and BCEF
‘AHF 21.8q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
is ‘FBG or ‘ECH.
ɺ The angle between the line AH and the plane
(f) Join AC and FH. EFGH is 21.8°.
AF is the line of intersection of the planes ACHF and
ABGF.
ġ ġ ɻġ FH A AF and FG A AF (or AC A AF and
4. (a) BD 52  52 cm (Pyth. theorem)
AB A AF) 50 cm
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes ACHF and ABGF BE
2
BD 2  DE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
is ‘HFG or ‘CAB. ġ ġ
BE ( 50)  5 cm
2 2

2. (a) Join AE. 75 cm (or 5 3 cm)

ɻ The projection of E on the plane ABCD is D.
ɺġ AD is the projection of AE on the plane ABCD.
(b) (i) The angle between the lines BE and BA is ‘ABE.
(b) (i) ɻġ AE and AD intersect at A. AB
cos ‘ABE
ɺ The angle between the lines AE and AD is BE
ɳDAE. 5
DE CH 2 cm 75
AD BC 4 cm ‘ABE 54.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːADE. ɺ The angle between the lines BE and BA is
DE 54.7q.
tan ‘DAE
AD (ii) The angle between the line BE and the plane
2 cm CHED is ‘BEC.
4 cm BC
sin ‘BEC
‘DAE 26.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) BE
ɺ The angle between the lines AE and AD is 5
26.6°. 75
(ii) ɻ AD is the projection of AE on the plane ‘BEC 35.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ABCD. ɺ The angle between the line BE and the plane
ɺ The angle between the line AE and the plane CHED is 35.3q.
ABCD is ɳDAE, i.e. 26.6°.

11 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

5. (a) The angle between the lines AH and HC is ‘AHC. (ii) The angle between the line EB and the plane
Consider ːABC. CHED is ‘BEC.
AC 2 AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem) In ːBEC,
BC
AC 82  62 cm tan ‘BEC
EC
10 cm 5
Consider ːAHC.
65
AC
tan ‘AHC ‘BEC 31.8q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
CH
10 ɺ The angle between the line EB and the plane
CHED is 31.8°.
5
‘AHC 63.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 7. (a) BF (or AE)
ɺ The angle between the lines AH and HC is 63.4°.
(b) Consider ːEAD.
(b) The angle between the line AH and the plane ADEF is ED
‘HAE. tan ‘EAD
AD
In ːEAD, 4
AE 2 AD 2  DE 2 (Pyth. theorem) 5
AE 62  52 cm ‘EAD 38.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The inclination of the line of greatest slope of the
61 cm
plane ABFE is 38.7°.
In ːHAE,
EH
tan ‘HAE
AE 8. (a) Consider ːEBF.
8 6 cm
cos 48q
61 EB
‘HAE 45.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 6
EB cm
ɺ The angle between the line AH and the plane cos 48q
ADEF is 45.7°. 8.97 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

6. (a) ɻġ The projection of B on the plane CHED is C. (b) The angle between the line EB and the plane ABCD is
ɺ The projection of EB on the plane CHED is EC. ɳEBD.
EC 2 EH 2  CH 2 (Pyth. theorem) Consider ːFBC.
FC
EC 7  4 cm
2 2 sin 35q
6 cm
65 cm FC 6sin 35q cm
ɺ The length of the projection of EB on the plane ED FC
CHED is 65 cm . 6sin 35q cm
Consider ːEDB.
(b) (i) The angle between the lines EB and DB is ‘EBD. ED
In ːABD, sin ‘EBD
EB
BD 2 AB 2  AD 2 (Pyth. theorem) 6sin 35q
BD 72  52 cm 6
cos 48q
74 cm
sin 35q cos 48q
Consider ːEBD.
‘EBD 22.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ED
tan ‘EBD ɺ The angle between the line EB and the plane
BD
ABCD is 22.6°.
4
74
‘EBD 24.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the lines EB and DB is
24.9°.

12 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

9. (a) Consider ːBDE. (b) Let P be the projection of M on the plane ABCD.
700 m The distance between the point M and the plane ABCD
tan 20q is MP.
EB
ɳAPM 90°
700
EB m 1 200
tan 20q AP AC cm
1920 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 2 2
AP 2  MP 2 AM 2 (Pyth. theorem)
(b) ɻ BC is a line of greatest slope of the hillside 2 2
§ 300 · § 200 ·
ABCD. MP ¨¨ ¸¸  ¨¨ ¸¸ cm
ɺ ɳCBF is the inclination of the line of greatest © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹
slope of the hillside ABCD. 5 cm
Consider ːBDE. ɺ The distance between the point M and the plane
700 m ABCD is 5 cm.
sin 20q
BD
700 Level 2
BD m 11. (a) The angle between the planes AGHD and ABCD is
sin 20q
ɳGAB.
Consider ːBCD.
Consider ːGAB.
BC
cos55q GB
700 tan ‘GAB
m AB
sin 20q
3
700cos55q
BC m 8
sin 20q
‘GAB 20.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːBCF.
ɺ The angle between the planes AGHD and ABCD
700 m
sin ‘CBF is 20.6°.
700cos55q
m
sin 20q (b) The angle between the planes AFE and FPQE is
‘CBF 36.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɳPFA.
ɺ The inclination of the line of greatest slope of the Consider ːFAP.
hillside ABCD is 36.6°. AP
tan ‘PFA
AF
10. (a) AC 102  102 cm (Pyth. theorem) 4
200 cm 3
AH 2
AC 2  CH 2 (Pyth. theorem) ‘PFA 53.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes AFE and FPQE is
AH ( 200)  102 cm
2
53.1°.
300 cm
12. The angle between the planes ACDE and BCDF is ‘ACB.
1 300
AM AH cm Consider ːABC. By the cosine formula, we have
2 2
BC 2  AC 2  AB 2
300 cos ‘ACB
Similarly, BM cm 2( BC )( AC )
2
52  7 2  6 2
Let N be the mid-point of AB.
ɻġ AM BMġand AN BN 2(5)(7)
ɺ MNʄAB (converse of ʄ bisector property) 38
ɺ The distance between the point M and the line AB 70
is MN. ‘ACB 57.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
AN 2  MN 2 AM 2 (Pyth. theorem) ɺ The angle between the planes ACDE and BCDF is
2 57.1q.
§ 300 · § 10 · 2
MN ¨¨ ¸¸  ¨ ¸ cm
© 2 ¹ © 2¹ 13. (a) The angle between the planes ABHE and ABCD is
‘EAD.
50 cm
Consider ːEAD.
7.07 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 9
ɺ The distance between the point M and the line AB tan ‘EAD
9
is 7.07 cm. ‘EAD 45q
ġ ġ ɺ The angle between the planes ABHE and ABCD
is 45q.

13 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(b) The angle between the planes ABHE and PQHE is

15. (a) FB 102  102 cm (Pyth. theorem)
ɳBHQ.
200 cm
BH 92  92 cm (Pyth. theorem)
2
§ 10 ·
¨ ¸  10 cm (Pyth. theorem)
2
162 cm PB
ɻ AP : PD BQ : QC 2 : 1 ©2¹
2 125 cm
ɺ BQ 9 u cm 6 cm
3 2
§ 10 ·
1 FP ( 200) 2  ¨ ¸ cm (Pyth. theorem)
and QC 9 u cm 3 cm © 2¹
3
15 cm
HQ 92  32 cm (Pyth. theorem) Consider ːFBP.
90 cm By the cosine formula, we have
Consider ːBHQ. FB 2  FP 2  PB 2
cos‘BFP
By the cosine formula, 2( FB)( FP )
BH 2  HQ 2  BQ 2 ( 200) 2  152  ( 125) 2
cos ‘BHQ
2( BH )( HQ) 2( 200)(15)
( 162) 2  ( 90) 2  6 2 1
2( 162)( 90) 2
‘BHQ 26.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ‘BFP 45q
ɺ The angle between the planes ABHE and PQHE
is 26.6°. 1
(b) The area of ːFBP u FB u FP u sin ‘BFP
2
§9·
2
1
( 200)(15)sin 45q cm 2
¨ ¸  6 cm (Pyth. theorem)
2
14. (a) PF
©2¹ 2
7.5 cm 75 cm 2

2
§9·
¨ ¸  7 cm (Pyth.theorem)
2
PC 16. (a) Let P be the projection of E on the plane BCDF.
©2¹
The shortest distance between the point E and the
69.25 cm plane BCDF is EP.
8.32 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) Consider ːEDP.
EP
AC 92  72 cm (Pyth. theorem) sin 70q
8 cm
130 cm EP 8sin 70q cm
FC 2 AC 2  AF 2 (Pyth. theorem) 7.52 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
FC ( 130) 2  62 cm ɺ The shortest distance between the point E and the
plane BCDF is 7.52 cm.
166 cm
12.9 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (b) The angle between the line CE and the plane BCDF is
ɳECP.
(b) The angle between the lines PF and FC isɳCFP. CE 152  82 cm (Pyth. theorem)
Consider ːCFP. 17 cm
By the cosine formula, Consider ːCEP.
PF 2  FC 2  PC 2 EP
cos ‘CFP sin ‘ECP
2( PF )( FC ) CE
7.52  ( 166) 2  ( 69.25) 2 8sin 70q cm
2(7.5)( 166) 17 cm
‘CFP 37.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ‘ECP 26.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the line CE and the plane
ɺ The angle between the lines PF and FC is 37.7°.
BCDF is 26.2°.

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

17. (a) The angle between the planes ABCD and BCEF is The area of ːEPC
‘DCE.
§ 27  2k ·§ 27  2k ·§ 27  2k ·§ 27  2k ·
Consider ːDCE. ¨ ¸¨  17 ¸¨  10 ¸¨  2k ¸ cm 2
By the cosine formula, we have © 2 ¹© 2 ¹© 2 ¹© 2 ¹
CD 2  CE 2  DE 2 1
cos ‘DCE 27  2k 2k  7 7  2k 27  2k cm 2
2(CD)(CE ) 4
1
252  252  82 [(2k ) 2  7 2 ][27 2  (2k ) 2 ] cm 2
4
2(25)(25)
1
‘DCE | 18.4138q (4k 2  49)(729  4k 2 ) cm 2
4
18.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes ABCD and BCEF is 19. (a) Let BC = x cm.
18.4°. Consider ːBCN.
CN
tan 55q
(b) x cm
CN x tan 55q cm
Consider ːADN.
DN
tan 25q
x cm
DN x tan 25q cm
ɻ CN  DN 20 cm
With the notations in the figure. ɺ x tan 55q  x tan 25q 20
The angle between the line BD and the plane BCEF is x(tan 55q  tan 25q) 20
‘DBG. 20
Consider ːBCD. x
tan 55q  tan 25q
BD 2 BC 2  CD 2 (Pyth. theorem) | 10.5571
BD 20  25 cm
2 2 10.6 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
1025 cm ɺ BC 10.6 cm
Consider ːDCG.
DG (b) Let M be the projection of N on the horizontal plane.
sin ‘DCG The shortest distance between the point N and the
CD horizontal plane is MN.
DG | 25sin18.4138q cm Consider ːBCF.
| 7.8969 cm CF
Consider ːDBG. sin ‘CBF
BC
DG CF | 10.5571sin 30q cm
sin ‘DBG
BD
5.28 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
7.8969 cm
| ɻ CDEF is a rectangle.
1025 cm
ɺ MN CF 5.28 cm
‘DBG 14.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɺ The shortest distance between the point N and the
ɺ The angle between the line BD and the plane horizontal plane is 5.28 cm.
BCEF is 14.3°.
20. (a) Consider ːCBG and ːDEG.
§ 16 ·
2
CG GD
18. EP 152  ¨ ¸ cm (Pyth. theorem) tan T
© 2¹ BC ED
CG 10 tan T cm and GD 6 tan T cm
17 cm
2 ɺ CD CG  GD
§ 16 · 12 cm (10 tan T  6 tan T ) cm
¨ ¸  6 cm (Pyth. theorem)
2
PC
© 2¹ 12 cm
10 cm tan T
16 cm
EP  PC  CE
Let s . T 36.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2
17  10  2k 27  2k
ɺ s cm cm
2 2

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(b) (i) BG BC 2  CG 2 (Pyth. theorem) Consider ːADM.

AD
2 sin ‘AMD
§ 12 · AM
102  ¨10 u ¸ cm
© 16 ¹ 5 cm
12.5 cm 10cos 20q cm
‘AMD 32.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
EG ED 2  GD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ɺ The angle between the planes ABC and DBC is
2
§ 12 · 32.1°.
62  ¨ 6 u ¸ cm
© 16 ¹
7.5 cm 2.
(ii) Join BE.
The angle between BG and EG is ‘BGE.
Consider ːDEF.
EF 2 FD 2  ED 2 (Pyth. theorem)
(10  6 ) cm
2 2 2

64 cm 2
ġ ġ ġ ġ ġ ġ ġ ġ ġ ġ ġ Consider ːBEF.
BE 2 EF 2  BF 2 (Pyth. theorem)
(64  12 ) cm 2
2
Join AR and AP.
208 cm 2 Let M be the mid-point of RP.
Consider ːBGE. RP
ɺ RM
By the cosine formula, we have 2
BG 2  EG 2  BE 2 8 cm
cos ‘BGE
2( BG )( EG ) 2
12.52  7.52  208 4 cm
ɻ AR AP and RM MP
2(12.5)(7.5)
ɺ AM A RP (converse of ʄ bisector property)
‘BGE 88.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɻ QR QP and RM MP
ɺ The angle between BG and EG is 88.6°. ɺ QMʄRP (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ɺ The angle between the planes ARP and PQR is
Exercise 6B (p. 6.33)
Level 1 ‘AMQ.
1. (a) Join AM. Consider ːQRM.
ɻ AB AC and BM CM QM 2 QR 2  RM 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ɺ AMʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property) QM 52  42 cm
ɻ ːABM # ːACM (SSS)
3 cm
ɺ ɳBAM ɳCAM (corr. ɳs, #ːs)
Consider ːAQM.
‘BAC 40q AQ
ɺ ɳBAM 20q tan‘AMQ
2 2 QM
Consider ːABM.
10 cm
AM
cos ‘BAM 3 cm
AB
‘AMQ 73.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
AM
cos 20q ɺ The angle between the planes ARP and PQR is
10 cm
73.3°.
AM 10cos 20q cm
9.40 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 3. (a) The angle between the line VA and the plane ABCD is
‘VAN.
(b) Join MD. AC 122  92 cm (Pyth. theorem)
ɻ DM is the projection of AM on the plane BCD and
15 cm
AMʄBC.
1
ɺ DMʄBC (theorem of three perpendiculars) ɺ AN AC 7.5 cm (property of rectangle)
2
ɻġ AMʄBC and DMʄBC
Consider ːVAN.
ɺ The angle between the planes ABC and DBC is
18 cm
ɳAMD. tan ‘VAN
7.5 cm
‘VAN 67.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the line VA and the plane
ABCD is 67.4°.

16 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

(b) Consider ːVNM.

VM
tan ‘VNM
MN
10 cm
5 cm
‘VNM 63.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes VDC and ABCD is
63.4°.
AB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB and
ABCD. 5. (a) Let M be the mid-point of QR.
Let M be the mid-point of AB. QR is the line of intersection of the planes AQR
ġ ġ ɻġ NM is the projection of VM on the plane ABCD and PQR.
ɻ PM is the projection of AM on the plane PQR and
and VM A AB.
ɺ NM A AB (theorem of three perpendiculars) PMʄQR.
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes VAB and ABCD is ɺ AMʄQR (theorem of three perpendiculars)
‘VMN. ɺ ɳAMP is the angle between the planes AQR and
9 cm PQR, i.e.ɳAMP 65°.
MN Consider ːPQM.
2
4.5 cm PM 2  QM 2 PQ 2 (Pyth. theorem)
Consider ːVMN. 2
§ 14 ·
18 cm PM 252  ¨ ¸ cm
tan ‘VMN © 2¹
4.5 cm
24 cm
‘VMN 76.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːAMP.
ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and ABCD is
AP
76.0°. tan 65q
24 cm
4. (a) The angle between the line VC and the plane ABCD is AP 24 tan 65q cm
‘VCM. 51.5 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
1
BM AB 4.5 cm
2 (b) Volume of the prism
Consider ːBCM. = area of ːPQR × AP
CM 2 BM 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem) §1 ·
¨ u 14 u 24 u 24 tan 65q ¸ cm
3

CM 4.52  52 cm ©2 ¹
45.25 cm 8650 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːVCM.
VM 6. (a) Join AC and BD. Let AC and BD intersect at P.
tan ‘VCM The shortest distance between V and the plane ABCD
CM is VP.
10 cm Consider ːABC.
45.25 cm
AC 102  102 cm (Pyth. theorem)
‘VCM 56.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the line VC and the plane 200 cm
ABCD is 56.1°. 1 200
AP AC cm
2 2
(b) Let N be the mid-point of CD. Consider ːVAP.
AP 2  VP 2 VA2 (Pyth. theorem)
2
§ 200 ·
VP 102  ¨¨ ¸¸ cm
© 2 ¹
50 cm
7.07 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The shortest distance between V and the plane
ABCD is 7.07 cm.
DC is the line of intersection of the planes VDC and
ABCD.
ɻ MN is the projection of VN on the plane ABCD
and MNʄCD.
ɺ VNʄCD (theorem of three perpendiculars)
ɺ The angle between the planes VDC and ABCD is
‘VNM.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(b) The angle between the lines VM and VN isɳMVN. Consider ːVPB.
2 VB
§ 10 · tan ‘VPB
VM 102  ¨ ¸ cm (Pyth. theorem) BP
©2¹
15 cm
75 cm 120
cm
Similarly, VN 75 cm 17
MN AB 10 cm ‘VPB 64.8q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːVMN. ɺ The angle between the plane VAC and the plane ABC
By the cosine formula, we have is 64.8ιǤ
VM 2  VN 2  MN 2
cos ‘MVN 9. (a) Consider ːVBA.
2(VM )(VN )
( 75) 2  ( 75) 2  102 AB 152  ( 56) 2 cm (Pyth. theorem)
2( 75)( 75) 13 cm
‘MVN 70.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) Consider ːVCA.
ɺ The angle between the lines VM and VN is 70.5°. AC 92  ( 56) 2 cm (Pyth. theorem)
5 cm
7. ɻ AB 2  BC 2 (212  202 ) cm 2
292 cm 2 (b) Consider ːVBC.
AC 2 BC 2  VC 2 (122  92 ) cm 2
ɺ ABʄBC (converse of Pyth. theorem)
225 cm 2
ɻ ABʄBC and ABʄVB
ɺġ ġ The angle between the line AV and the plane VBC is
VB 2 152 cm2 225 cm2
‘AVB. ɻ BC  VC VB 2
2 2

Consider ːVBC. ɺ ɳVCB = 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)

VB 2  BC 2 VC 2 (Pyth. theroem) Consider ːABC.
AC 2  BC 2 (52  122 ) cm 2
VB 252  202 cm
169 cm 2
15 cm
Consider ːVBA. AB 2 132 cm2 169 cm2
AB ɺ AC 2  BC 2 AB 2
tan ‘AVB
VB ɺ ɳACB 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
21 ɻ BC is the line of intersection of the planes VBC
15 and ABC with VCʄBC and ACʄBC.
‘AVB 54.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɺ ɳVCA is the angle between the planes VBC and
ɺ The angle between the line AV and the plane VBC is ABC.
54.5°. ɺ The student is correct.

8. Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from V to AC and Level 2

join BP. 10. (a) Let M be the mid-point of AB.
AC is the line of intersection of the planes VAC and ABC. ɻ VA VB and AM BM
ɻ BP is the projection of VP on the plane ABC and ɺ VMʄAB (converse of ʄ bisector property)
VP A AC. ɻ NA NB and AM BM
ɺ BP A AC (theorem of three perpendiculars) ɺ NMʄAB (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ɺ The angle between the plane VAC and the plane ABC ɻ AB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB
is ɳVPB. and ABCD with VMʄAB and NMʄAB.
Consider ːABC. ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and ABCD is
AC AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem) ɳVMN.
4 cm
15  8 cm
2 2 MN 2 cm
2
17 cm Consider ːVMN.
Consider the area of ːABC. VN
( AB )( BC ) ( AC )( BP ) tan 72q
2 cm
2 2 VN 2 tan 72q cm
(15)(8) (17)( BP )
6.16 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2 2
120
BP cm
17

18 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

(b) The angle between the lines VA and VC isɳAVC. (b) The angle between the planes KHE and EFGH
Consider ːABC. the angle between the planes ABHE and EFGH
HE is the line the intersection of the planes ABHE and
AC 42  42 cm (Pyth. theorem) EFGH.
32 cm ɻ BHʄHE and GHʄHE
32 ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes KHE and EFGH
AN CN cm and the angle between the planes ABHE and
2
EFGH are both ‘BHG.
Consider ːVAN.
Consider ːBGH.
VA2 AN 2  VN 2 (Pyth. theorem)
BG
2 tan ‘BHG
§ 32 · GH
¸¸  (2 tan 72q) cm
2
VA ¨¨ 14
© 2 ¹ ġ ġ ġ
18
| 6.7741 cm
‘BHG 37.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Similarly, VC | 6.7741 cm ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes KHE and EFGH is
Consider ːAVC. 37.9°.
By the cosine formula, we have
VA2  VC 2  AC 2 12. (a) Consider ːBCD.
cos ‘AVC
2(VA)(VC ) BD 2 BC 2  CD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
6.7741  6.7741  ( 32)
2 2 2
BD 20  15 m
2 2
|
2(6.7741)(6.7741) 25 m
‘AVC 49.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1
BK BD (property of rectangle)
ɺ The angle between the lines VA and VC is 49.4°. 2
12.5 m
Consider ːVBK.
11. (a) Consider ːFGH.
VK
FH 2 FG 2  GH 2 (Pyth. theorem) tan ‘VBK
BK
FH 102  182 cm VK
tan15q
424 cm 12.5 m
Consider ːAFH. VK 12.5tan15q m
Height of the cottage (12.5tan15q  7) m
AH 2 AF 2  FH 2 (Pyth. theorem)
10.3 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
AH 14  ( 424) 2 cm
2

620 cm (b) VK is the line of intersection of ːVKA and ːVKD.

ɻġ ABHE is a rectangle. ɻ AK A VK and DK A VK.
1 ɺ The angle between ːVKA and ːVKD is
ġ ġ ɺġ KH AH (property of rectangle)
2 ‘AKD.
620 AK = KD = BK = 12.5 m (property of rectangle)ġ
cm Consider ːAKD.
2
AK 2  KD 2  AD 2
620 cos ‘AKD
KE KH cm (property of rectangle) 2( AK )( KD)
2
Consider ːKHE. 12.52  12.52  202
By the cosine formula, 2(12.5)(12.5)
KH 2  KE 2  HE 2 ‘AKD 106q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
cos ‘HKE
2( KH )( KE ) ɺ The angle between ːVKA and ːVKD is 106ι.
2 2
§ 620 · § 620 ·
¸¸  ¨¨ ¸¸  10
2
¨¨ (c)
ġ ġ ġ © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ ġ
§ 620 ·§ 620 ·
2 ¨¨ ¸¨
¸¨ ¸¸
© 2 ¹© 2 ¹
‘HKE 47.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

19 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Let M and N be the mid-points of AD and FE (b) AB is the line of intersection of the planes VAB and
respectively. CAB.
ɻ AD is the line of intersection of the planes VAD ɻ CM is the projection of VM on the plane ABC and
and ADEF with VM A AD and MN A AD. VMʄAB.
ɺ The angle between the planes VAD and ADEF is ɺ CMʄAB (theorem of three perpendiculars)
‘VMN. ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and CAB is
15 ɳVMC.
KM m
2 ġ Consider ːVMC.
7.5 m VC
Consider ːVMK. sin ‘VMC
VM
VK 8 cm
tan ‘VMK |
KM 11.4967 cm
12.5tan15q m ‘VMC 44.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ġ ġ ġ
7.5 m ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes VAB and CAB is
‘VMK | 24.0647q 44.1°.
‘VMN ‘VMK  ‘KMN
| 24.0647q  90q ġ 14. (a) Consider ːABH.
114q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) AB
cos ‘ABH
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes VAD and ADEF is BH
114°. AB
cos 30q
40 cm
13. (a) Consider ːVBC. AB 40cos30q cm
8 AH
VB cm sin ‘ABH
sin 40q BH
8 AH 40sin 30q cm
BC cm
tan 40q 20 cm
Consider ːVAC. Consider ːACH.
8 AH
VA cm tan ‘ACH
sin 40q AC
VB 20 cm
  ɻ AM MB and VA VB tan 60q
AC
ɺġ VMʄAB (converse of ʄ bisector property) 20
ġ ġ ɻ ːABC is an equilateral triangle. AC cm
tan 60q
8 Consider ːABC.
ɺ AB BC cm
tan 40q By the cosine formula, we have
AB AC 2  BC 2  AB 2
MB cos ‘ACB
2 2( AC )( BC )
8 2
§ 20 ·
¸  30  (40cos30q)
2 2
tan 40q cm ¨
2 © tan 60q ¹
4 § 20 ·
cm 2¨ ¸ (30)
tan 40q © tan 60q ¹
Consider ːVBM. ‘ACB | 103.9197q
VM VB 2  MB 2 (Pyth. theorem) 104q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2 2
§ 8 · § 4 · (b) The angle between the line HM and the plane ABC is
¨ ¸ ¨ ¸ cm
© sin 40q ¹ © tan 40q ¹ ‘HMA.
| 11.4967 cm Consider ːAMC.
11.5 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) By the cosine formula, we have
AM 2 AC 2  MC 2  2( AC )( MC ) cos ‘ACM
2
§ 20 ·
¸  15
2
¨
© tan 60q ¹
AM | cm
§ 20 ·
2 ¨ ¸ (15)cos103.9197 q
© tan 60q ¹
| 21.0159 cm

20 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Consider ːHMA. 16. (a) Let VB x.

HA Consider ːVAB.
tan ‘HMA
AM VB
sin ‘VAB
20 cm VA
|
21.0159 cm x
VA
‘HMA 43.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) sin 50q
ɺ The angle between the line HM and the plane VB
tan ‘VAB
ABC is 43.6°. AB
x
15. (a) The angle between the line DC and the plane ABC is AB
tan 50q
‘DCB. Consider ːVBC.
Consider ːDCB.
VB
DB sin ‘VCB
sin ‘DCB VC
DC x
8 cm VC
sin 40q
10 cm VB
‘DCB 53.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) tan ‘VCB
BC
ɺ The angle between the line DC and the plane ABC x
is 53.1°. BC
tan 40q
(b) Let M be the mid-point of AC. Consider ːABC.
By the cosine formula, we have
AC 2 AB 2  BC 2  2( AB )( BC )cos ‘ABC
2 2
§ x · § x ·
¨ ¸ ¨ ¸
© tan 50q ¹ © tan 40q ¹
§ x ·§ x ·
 2¨ ¸¨ ¸ cos100q
© tan 50q ¹© tan 40q ¹
ª§ 1 · 2 § 1 · 2 2cos100q º
AC is the line of intersection of the planes ADC and x 2 «¨ ¸ ¨ ¸  »
ABC. ¬«© tan 50q ¹ © tan 40q ¹ tan 50q tan 40q ¼»
ġ ġ ɻġ DA DC and CM MAġ
| 2.4717 x 2
ġ ġ ɺġ DM A AC (converse of ʄ bisector property) Consider ːVAC.
ɻ BM is the projection of DM on the plane By the cosine formula, we have
ABC and DMʄAC. VA2  VC 2  AC 2
ɺ BMʄAC (theorem of three perpendiculars)ġ cos ‘AVC
2(VA)(VC )
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes ADC and ABC is
2 2
‘BMD. § x · § x ·
¸ ¨ ¸  2.4717 x
2
¨
Consider ːDCB. © sin 50q ¹ © sin 40q ¹
|
BC 102  82 cm (Pyth. theorem) § x ·§ x ·
ġ ġ 2¨ ¸¨ ¸
© sin 50q ¹© sin 40q ¹
6 cm
Consider ːABD. ‘AVC 66.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
AB 2  BD 2 AD 2 (Pyth. theroem)
(b) Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from V to AC
AB 10  82 cm
2
and join BP.
6 cm ɻ BP is the projection of VP on the plane ABC and
ɻ AB = BC VP A AC.
ɺ ɳBCA ɳBAC 45° ɺ BP A AC (theorem of three perpendiculars)
ġ ġ Consider ːBCM.ġ ɺ The angle between the planes VCA and ABC is
BM BC sin 45q ɳVPB.
ġ ġ ġ Consider the area of ːABC.
6sin 45q cm
ġ ġ Consider ːDBM.ġ ( AB )( BC )sin ‘ABC ( AC )( BP)
DB 2 2
tan ‘BMD
BM § x ·§ x ·
¸ sin100q | ( 2.4717 x )( BP)
2
¨ ¸¨
8 cm © tan 50q ¹© tan 40q ¹
ġ ġ ġ
6sin 45q cm BP | 0.6264 x
‘BMD 62.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes ADC and ABC is
62.1°.

21 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Consider ːVBP. Consider ːCDP.

VB By the cosine formula, we have
tan ‘VPB
BP PD 2  CD 2  CP 2
cos ‘ADC
x 2( PD)(CD)
|
0.6264 x AD 2  CD 2  AC 2 PD 2  CD 2  CP 2
‘VPB 57.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2( AD)(CD) 2( PD)(CD)
ɺ The angle between the plane VCA and the plane
ABC is 57.9°. (20sin 20q) 2  92  82 (10sin 20q) 2  92  CP 2
2(20sin 20q)(9) 2(10sin 20q)(9)
17. Join AP. CP | 7.7976 cm
ɻ BP is the projection of the AP on the plane BCD and 7.80 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
BP A CD.
ɺ AP A CD (theorem of three perpendiculars)
(b) Consider ːCDP.
ɺ The angle between the plane ACD and the plane BCD
is ɳAPB, i.e. ɳAPB = θ. CP 2  PD 2 | (7.7976) 2  (10sin 20q) 2
Consider ːBCD. | 72.5003
ɻ BC 2  BD 2 82  152 CD 2 92
17 2 81
CD 2 Hence, we have CP 2  PD2 z CD2 .
ɺ ɳCBD = 90ι (converse of Pyth. Theorem) Therefore, ɳCPD is not a right angle.
Consider the area of ːBCD. ɺ ɳBPC is not the angle between the planes ABD
( BC )( BD) ( BP)(CD) and ACD.
Thus, the claim is not correct.
2 2
(8)(15) ( BP )(17) 19. (a) Join EC.
2 2 ‘EBC  ‘BED 180q (int.ɳs, BC // ED)
120 ‘EBC  90q 180q
BP cm
17
‘EBC 90q
tan T tan ‘APB ɻ BC = BE (given)
AB
ɺ ‘BCE ‘BEC (base ɳs, isos. ː)
BP 180q  ‘EBC
10 (ɳ sum of ː)
2
120
180q  90q
17
2
17
45q
12 ‘EDC  ‘BCD 180q (int.ɳs, BC // ED)
45q  (‘BCE  ‘ECD) 180q
ġ
18. (a) ɻ AB BD and BPʄAD 45q  ‘ECD 135q
ɺ AP PD (converse of ʄ bisector property) ‘ECD 90q
1 CD is the line of intersection of the planes ACD and
‘DBP ‘ABD ECD.
2
ɻ EC is the projection of AC on the plane BCDE
1
u 40q and EC A CD
2
ɺ AC A CD (theorem of three perpendiculars)
20q
i.e. ‘ACD 90q
PD BD sin ‘DBP
10sin 20q cm
(b) ɻ CD is the line of intersection of the planes ACD
AD 2 u DP 20sin 20q cm
and BCDE with ACʄCD and ECʄCD.
Consider ːACD.
ɺ The angle between the planes ACD and BCDE is
By the cosine formula, we have
ɳACE.
AD 2  CD 2  AC 2
cos ‘ADC Consider ːBCE.
2( AD)(CD)
EC BE 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
= AE 2  AE 2
2 AE

22 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Consider ːACE. ɻ Volume of the tetrahedron | 80.1866 cm3

AE 1
tan ‘ACE ɺ u 30 3 u h | 80.1866
EC 3
AE h 4.63 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2 AE ɺ The shortest distance between the point D
‘ACE | 35.2644q and the plane ABC is 4.63 cm.
z 30q
The angle between the plane ACD and the plane 21. (a) AC AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
BCDE is not 30°.
Thus, the claim is not correct. 20  12 cm
2 2

544 cm
20. (a) Consider ːABC.
By the cosine formula, we have 23.3 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
BC 2 AB 2  AC 2  2( AB)( AC )cos ‘BAC Similarly, AD AC 544 cm .
BC 12  10  2(12)(10)cos 60q cm
2 2 Let M be the mid-point of CD.
ɻ AC AD and CM MD
124 cm ɺ AMʄCD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
11.1 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) Consider ːACM.
Consider ːABD. CM
cos ‘ACM
AD 2  DB 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem) AC
CM
DB 122  7 2 cm cos 75q
544 cm
95 cm CM | 6.0366 cm
9.75 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) CD CM  MD
Consider ːACD. 2(CM )
AD  DC
2 2
AC 2
(Pyth. theorem) | 2(6.0366 cm)
12.1 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
DC 10  7 2 cm
2

51 cm
BC  BD  CD
7.14 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (b) Let s .
2
12  12  12.0733
BC  DB  DC i.e. s | | 18.0367 cm
(b) (i) Let s . 2
2 Area of ːBCD
124  95  51 s ( s  BC )( s  BD)( s  CD )
i.e. s cm .
2
18.0367 u (18.0367  12) u (18.0367  12)
Area of ːBCD | cm 2
u(18.0367  12.0733)
s ( s  BC )( s  DB )( s  DC )
| 62.6073 cm 2
s ( s  124 cm)( s  95 cm)( s  51 cm) The volume of the pyramid
| 34.3657 cm 2 1
u area of ːBCD u AB
Volume of the tetrahedron 3
1 1
u area of ːBCD u AD | u 62.6073 u 20 cm3
3 3
§1 · 417.3821 cm3
| ¨ u 34.3657 u 7 ¸ cm 3
©3 ¹ 417 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
| 80.1866 cm 3
80.2 cm 3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (c) Let h cm be the shortest distance between the point
B and the plane ACD.
(ii) Let h cm be the shortest distance between the Area of ːACD
point D and the plane ABC. 1
u AC u CD u sin ‘ACD
Area of ːABC 2
1 §1 ·
u AB u AC u sin ‘BAC ¨ u 544 u 2 544 cos75q u sin 75q ¸ cm
2
2 ©2 ¹
§1 · 136 cm 2
¨ u 12 u 10 u sin 60q ¸ cm
2

©2 ¹
30 3 cm 2

23 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Volume of the pyramid | 417.3821 cm3 Consider ːTBA.

1 TA
u 136 u h | 417.3821 tan ‘TBA
3 AB
h 9.21 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 100 cos 30q tan 20q m
ɺ The shortest distance between the point B and 50 m
the plane ACD is 9.21 cm. ‘TBA 32.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle of elevation of T from B is 32.2q.
Exercise 6C (p. 6.48)
Level 1
1. (a) ɻ DE is perpendicular to the ground BCEF. 3. (a) (i) ‘TBA 40q
ɺ E is the projection of D on the ground BCEF. Consider ːTAB.
ɺ The projection of BD on the ground BCEF is BE. TA
tan ‘TBA
Consider ːBEC. AB
BC 2  CE 2 BE 2 (Pyth. theorem) 500 m
tan 40q
AB
BE = 352  162 m
500
1481 m AB m
tan 40q
38.5 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 596 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(ii) ‘TCA 60q
(b) Consider ːCDE.
Consider ːTAC.
DE
tan ‘DCE TA
EC tan ‘TCA
AC
DE
tan 40q 500 m
16 m tan 60q
AC
DE 16 tan 40q m
500
Consider ːBED. AC m
tan 60q
BD 2 BE 2  DE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
289 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
BD ( 1481)  (16 tan 40q) 2 m
2
(iii) Consider ːABC.
40.8 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) BC 2 AC 2  AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ɺ The distance the car travelled is 40.8 m. 2 2
§ 500 · § 500 ·
BC ¨ ¸ ¨ ¸ m
2. (a) Consider ːABC. © tan 60q ¹ © tan 40q ¹
AC 662 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
cos ‘ACB
BC
AC
cos30q (b)
100 m
AC 100cos30q m
Consider ːTCA.
TA
tan ‘TCA
AC
TA
tan 20q
100cos30q m
TA 100cos30q tan 20q m
31.5 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The height of the tower TA is 31.5 m.
With the notations in the figure, consider ːABC.
(b) Consider ːABC. AB
AB tan ‘ACB
sin ‘ACB AC
BC 500
AB tan 40q
sin 30q
100 m 500
AB 100 sin 30q m tan 60q
50 m ‘ACB 64.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
‘CBP ‘ACB (alt. ‘s, BP // AC )
64.2q
ɺ The compass bearing of C from B is N64.2qW.

24 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

4. (a) Consider ːABC. 6. (a) Consider ːABP.

‘ACB  36q  70q 180q (‘ sum of ː) AB
tan 25q
‘ACB 74q BP
By the sine formula, we have AB
tan 25q
CA AB 150 m
sin ‘CBA sin ‘ACB AB 150 tan 25q m
CA 200 m 69.9 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
sin 70q sin 74q ɺ The height of the tower AB is 69.9 m.
200sin 70q
CA m
sin 74q (b) ‘PBQ 150q  90q
Consider ːXAC. 60q
XC By the sine formula, we have
tan ‘XAC
CA BP PQ
50 m sin ‘BQP sin ‘PBQ
200sin 70q 150 m 200 m
m
sin 74q sin ‘BQP sin 60q
‘XAC 14.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ‘BQP | 40.5054q
ɺ The angle of elevation of X from A is 14.3q. ‘BPQ 180q  ‘BQP  ‘PBQ (‘ sum of ː)
| 180q  40.5054q  60q
(b) Consider ːABC.
By the sine formula, we have 79.4946q
CB AB Consider ːBQP.
By the cosine formula, we have
sin ‘CAB sin ‘ACB
BQ 2 BP 2  PQ 2  2( BP)( PQ) cos ‘BPQ
CB 200 m
sin 36q sin74q BQ | 1502  2002  2(150)(200)cos79.4946q m
200sin 36q | 227.0690 m
CB m
sin 74q Consider ːABQ.
Consider ːXBC. AB
tan ‘AQB
XC BQ
tan ‘XBC
CB 69.9461 m
50 m |
227.0690 m
200sin 36q ‘AQB 17.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
m
sin 74q ɺ The angle of elevation of A from Q is 17.1q.
‘XBC 22.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɻ 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 ːTAO.
ɺ The angle of depression of B from X is 22.2q. TO
tan ‘TAO
OA
5. Consider ːPQR. hm
By the cosine formula, we have tan 50q
OA
PQ 2 QR 2  PR 2  2(QR)( PR)cos ‘PRQ
h
OA m
PQ 3002  1002  2(300)(100)cos55q m tan 50q
| 256.0965 m Consider ːTBO.
Consider ːTPQ. TO
tan ‘TBO
TP OB
tan ‘TQP
PQ hm
tan 30q
TP | 256.0965tan 20q m OB
| 93.2115 m h
OB m
Consider ːTPR. tan 30q
TP ‘AOB 90q  40q
tan ‘TRP
PR 50q
93.2115 m
|
100 m
‘TRP 43.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle of elevation of T from R is 43.0°.

25 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Consider ːOAB. 9. (a) Consider ːTAC.

By the cosine formula, we have TC
tan ‘TAC
AB 2 OA2  OB 2  2(OA)(OB )cos ‘AOB AC
§ h · § h ·
2 2 50 m
tan 30q
3502 ¨ ¸ ¨ ¸ AC
© tan 50q ¹ © tan 30q ¹
50
§ h ·§ h · AC m
 2¨ ¸¨ ¸ cos50q tan 30q
© tan 50q ¹© tan 30q ¹
Consider ːTBC.
§ 1 1 2cos50q · 2 TC
122 500 ¨   ¸h tan ‘TBC
© tan 2
50q tan 2
30 q tan 30q tan50q ¹ BC
122 500 50 m
h tan 20q
1 1 2cos50q BC
 
tan 2 50q tan 2 30q tan 30q tan 50q 50
BC m
258 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) tan 20q
ɺ The height of the tower TO is 258 m. ‘ACB 120q  90q
30q
8. (a) Consider ːOAB. Consider ːACB.
BA By the cosine formula, we have
tan ‘AOB
OA AB 2 AC 2  BC 2  2( AC )( BC ) cos‘ACB
1000 m 2 2
tan 30q § 50 · § 50 ·
OA ¨ ¸ ¨ ¸
AB © tan 30q ¹ © tan 20q ¹ m
1000
OA m § 50 ·§ 50 ·
tan 30q 2 ¨ ¸¨ ¸ cos30 q
Consider ːODC. © tan 30q ¹© tan 20q ¹
CD | 75.9309 m
tan ‘DOC
OD 75.9 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
1000 m ɺ The distance between A and B is 75.9 m.
tan 20q
OD
1000 (b)
OD m
tan 20q
Consider ːAOD.
OA
cos ‘AOD
OD
1000
m
tan 30q
1000
m
tan 20q
‘AOD 50.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The compass bearing of C from O is N50.9qE.
With the notations in the figure,
‘CBD ‘ACB (alt. ‘s, DB // CA)
(b) Distance travelled by the helicopter
BC 30q
Consider ːACB.
20v m
By the cosine formula, we have
Consider ːAOD.
BC 2  AB 2  AC 2
OD 2 OA2  AD 2 (Pyth. theorem) cos ‘CBA
2( BC )( AB)
OA  BC
2 2
2 2
§ 50 · § 50 ·
¸  75.9309  ¨
2 2 2
§ 1000 · § 1000 · ¨ ¸
¨ ¸ ¨ ¸  (20v)
2
© tan 20q ¹ © tan 30q ¹
© tan 20q ¹ © tan 30q ¹ |
§ 50 ·
2¨ ¸ (75.9309)
10002 10002 © tan 20q ¹
400v 2 
tan 20q tan 2 30q
2
‘CBA | 34.7692q
§ 1 1 · reflex ‘ABF 270q  ‘CBD  ‘CBA
v 2500 ¨  ¸
© tan 20q tan 30q ¹
2 2
| 270q  30q  34.7692q
107 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 335q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The true bearing of A from B is 335q.

26 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

10. (a) Consider ːTAO. (ii) Consider ːDSR.

TO SR
tan ‘TAO tan ‘SDR
OA DR
20 m 2m
tan 30q tan T
OA DR
20 2
OA m DR m
tan 30q tan T
Consider ːOAC.
OA (b) ɻ The area of the shadow = 10 3 m2
cos ‘OAC
AC
§ 3 2 ·
4¨ 
T ¸¹
20
m © tan T tan
tan 30q ɺ 10 3
2
(30  15) m
10
‘OAC | 39.6640q 10 3
tan T
39.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1
tan T
ɺ The true bearing of C from A is 039.7q. 3
T 30q
(b) Consider ːOAC.
OC 2  OA2 AC 2 (Pyth. theorem) (c) ED is the line of intersection of the plane PSDE and
2 the horizontal ground.
§ 20 ·
OC 452  ¨ ¸ m ɻ ɳEDR് 90° , i.e. ED is not perpendicular to
© tan 30q ¹ DR.
825 m ɺ θġis not the angle between the plane PSDE and
Consider ːTCO. the horizontal ground.
TO
tan ‘TCO 12. (a) (i) Consider ːEBC.
OC
20 m EC 2  BC 2 BE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
825 m BE 8  62 m
2

‘TCO 34.8q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 10 m

ɺ The angle of elevation of T from C is 34.8q. (ii) Consider ːBCD.
DC
(c) Consider ːOAB. tan ‘CBD
BC
By the cosine formula, we have
DC
OB 2 OA2  AB 2  2(OA)( AB )cos ‘OAB tan 35q
6m
§ 20 ·
2
§ 20 · DC | 4.2012 m
OB | ¨ ¸  30  2 ¨
2
¸ (30)cos39.6640q m EF DC
© tan 30q ¹ © tan 30q ¹
| 22.3607 m 4.20 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːTBO. (iii) Consider ːEBF.
TO BE 2  EF 2 BE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
tan ‘TBO
OB
BF BE  EF 2
2
20 m
| | 102  4.20122 m
22.3607 m
‘TBO 41.8q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) | 10.8467 m
ɺ The angle of elevation of T from B is 41.8q. 10.8 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

Level 2 (b) Consider ːFDB.

11. (a) (i) Consider ːEPQ. FD
PQ sin ‘FBD
tan ‘PEQ BF
EQ 8m
3m |
tan T 10.8467 m
EQ ‘FBD 47.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
3 ɺ The angle of inclination of FB is 47.5q.
EQ m
tan T

27 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(c) ɻ G is the mid-point of EF. (b)

1
ɺġ GE EF
2
4.2012
| m
2
2.1006 m
Consider ːGBE.
GB 2 GE 2  BE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
GB | 2.10062  102 m
| 10.2182 m
Let H be the projection of G on the plane ABCD. With the notations in the figure,
AG
tan ‘ABG
BG
h
m
tan 25q
h
m
tan15q
tan15q
tan 25q
Consider ːBGH.
‘ABG | 29.8825q
GH
sin ‘GBH ‘HAB ‘ABG (alt. ‘s, AH // GB)
GB
29.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
8m
| ɺ The compass bearing of B from A is S29.9qE.
10.2182 m
‘GBH 51.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
14. (a) (i) ɳBAC 85° – 38° 47°
ɺ The angle of inclination of GB is 51.5q. Consider ːABC.
By the cosine formula, we have
13. (a) (i) Consider ːTAG.
BC 2 AB 2  AC 2  2( AB)( AC )cos ‘BAC
TG
tan ‘TAG BC 702  712  2(70)(71)cos 47q m
AG
hm | 56.2311 m
tan 25q
AG 56.2 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
h (ii) With the notations in the figure:
AG m
tan 25q
Consider ːTBG.
TG
tan ‘TBG
BG
hm
tan15q
BG
h
BG m
tan15q Consider ːABC.
(ii) Consider ːABG. By the cosine formula, we have
AG 2  BG 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem) AC 2  BC 2  AB 2
cos ‘ACB
2 2 2( AC )( BC )
§ h · § h ·
¨ ¸ ¨ ¸ 4502 712  56.23112  702
© tan 25q ¹ © tan15q ¹ |
2(71)(56.2311)
4502 ‘ACB | 65.5655q
h
1 1 ɳACP =ɳCAQ = 38° (alt.ɳs, CP // QA)

tan 2 25q tan 2 15q ‘BCR  ‘BCP 180q (adj. ‘s on st. line)
105 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ‘BCR | 180q  (65.5655q  38q)
152q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The true bearing of B from C is 152°.

28 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

(b) Consider ːACX. Let GH be the length of Tom’s shadow when he is

XC at G.
tan ‘ACX
AC
XC
tan 35q
71 m
XC 71tan 35q m
21.2 m  GH 14 m
Consider ːBCX. | (corr.sides, ~ːs)
GH 1.5 m
XC
tan ‘XBC 21.2 m 14
BC | 1
GH 1.5
71tan 35q m
| GH 1.5
56.2311 m |
21.2 m 12.5
‘XBC 41.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
GH 2.54 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle of elevation of X from B is 41.5°.
ɺ The shortest length of Tom’s shadow is
15. (a) 2.54 m, which is longer than 2.5 m.
ɺ Tom’s claim is agreed.

16. (a) (i)

With the notations in the figure,

the length of Tom’s shadow is AR.
40 m  AR 14 m
(corr. sides,ġ~ːs)
AR 1.5 m
40 m 14
1
AR 1.5
AR 4.8 m
ɺ The length of Tom’s shadow is 4.8 m. With the notations in the figure,
‘APR  ‘QPR 180q (adj. ‘s on st. line)
(b) (i) 100q  ‘QPR 180q
‘QPR 80q
Consider ːTPQ.
TP
tan ‘TQP
PQ
With the notations in the figure,
‘FDO ‘TFG (corr. ‘s, OD // GF ) 100 m
tan 30q
PQ
28q
Consider ːCDF. PQ 100 3 m
1.5 m Consider ːTPR.
tan 28q
CD TP
tan ‘TRP
CD 2.82 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) PR
ɺ The length of his shadow CD is 2.82 m. 100 m
tan 60q
(ii) The shortest length of Tom’s shadow is attained PR
when the distance between the lamppost and Tom 100
is the shortest. PR m
3
Suppose Tom stands at a point G on AB with
Consider ːPQR.
GOʄAB.
By the cosine formula, we have
Consider ːOAB.
QR 2 PQ 2  PR 2  2( PQ )( PR )cos ‘QPR
AO
tan ‘ABO 2
OB § 100 ·
(100 3) 2  ¨ ¸
40 m © 3¹
tan ‘ABO QR m
25 m § 100 ·
‘ABO | 57.9946q 2(100 3) ¨ ¸ cos80q
© 3¹
Consider ːOGB.
| 172.8015 m
OG
sin ‘OBG 173 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
OB
OG
sin 57.9946q |
25 m
OG | 21.2000 m

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(ii) Consider ːPQR. (c) Let D be the foot of perpendicular from P to BC.
By the cosine formula, we have
PQ 2  QR 2  PR 2
cos ‘PQR
2( PQ)(QR)
2
§ 100 ·
(100 3) 2  172.80152  ¨ ¸
| © 3¹
2(100 3)(172.8015)
‘PQR | 19.2103q
19.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) BC is the line of intersection of the planes BCP and
ɺ The compass bearing of R from Q is BCQ.
ɻ QD is the projection of PD on the plane BCQ and
N19.2°E.
PDʄBC.
(b) Let C be a point on QR such that PCʄQR. ɺ QDʄBC (theorem of three perpendiculars)
Then, PC is the shortest distance between P and QR. ɺ The angle between the planes BCP and BCQ is
ɺ The greatest angle of elevation of T along QR is ‘PDQ.
ɳTCP. Consider ːPQB.
Consider ːCPQ. PQ
tan ‘PBQ
PC BQ
sin ‘PQC
PQ PQ
tan 60q
PC | 100 3 sin19.2103q m 2 cm
PQ 2 tan 60q cm
| 56.9908 m
Consider ːTPC. Consider ːQBD.
TP QD
tan ‘TCP sin ‘QBD
PC QB
100 m QD
| sin 70.9403q |
56.9908 m 2 cm
‘TCP | 60.3208q QD | 2sin 70.9403q cm
 65q Consider ːPQD.
ɺ It is impossible for Vicky to find a point X on QR PQ
tan ‘PDQ
such that the angle of elevation of T from X is QD
greater than 65°. 2 tan 60q cm
|
2sin 70.9403q cm
17. (a) QC (5  2) cm
‘PDQ 61.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
3 cm
ġ ɺġ The angle between the planes BCP and BCQ is
Consider ːQBC in Figure (b).
61.4q.
By the cosine formula, we have
BC 2 BQ 2  QC 2  2( BQ)(QC )cos ‘BQC 18. (a) Refer to Figure (a).
BC 2  3  2(2)(3)cos 70q cm
2 2 ɻ AB AC and BP PC
ɺ APʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property)
| 2.9826 cm
Consider ːABP.
2.98 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
AP 2  BP 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
2
(b) Consider ːQBC in Figure (b). §k·
AP k 2  ¨ ¸ cm
By the cosine formula, we have ©2¹
BQ 2  BC 2  QC 2 3
cos ‘QBC k cm
2( BQ )( BC ) 2
22  2.9826 2  32
|
2(2)(2.9826) (b) (i) Refer to Figure (b).
‘QBC | 70.9403q ɻ BP = PC and ɳBPC = 60°
70.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)  ɺ ːPBC is an equilateral triangle.
ɺ BC BP
k
cm
2

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

(ii) Let D be a point on BC such that ADʄBC. (b) (i) Consider ːMPQ.
BC is the line of intersection of the plane ABC By the cosine formula, we have
and the horizontal table. PQ 2 PM 2  QM 2  2( PM )(QM )cos ‘PMQ
ɻ PD is the projection of AD on the horizontal
62 r 2  (10  r ) 2  2r (10  r )cos 60q
table and ADʄBC.
ɺ PDʄBC (theorem of three perpendiculars) 36 r 2  100  20r  r 2  10r  r 2
ɺ The angle between the plane ABC and the 0 3r 2  30r  64
horizontal table is ‘ADP. r | 3.0851 or 6.9149
3.09 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
or 6.91 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(ii) Volume of the prism
| 56 (8  3.0851)(3.0851  2) cm3
129 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

20. (a) Refer to Figure (a).

Consider ːBPD. Join BD. Let P be the intersection of AC and BD.
PD PB cos30q BDʄAC (property of rhombus)
Refer to Figure (b).
k 3
u cm
2 2
3k
cm
4
Consider ːADP.
AP
tan ‘ADP
PD
3k ɻ AC is the line of intersection of the planes ADC
cm
2 and ACB with PDʄAC and PBʄAC.
3k ɺ The angle between the planes ADC and ACB is
cm
4 ɳDPB.
2 40q
ɻ ‘CAD 20q (property of rhombus)
‘ADP 63.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 2
ɺ The angle between the plane ABC and the Consider ːAPD.
horizontal table is 63.4q, which is a constant. PD
ɺ Ken’s claim is correct. ɺ sin ‘CAD
AD
PD 20sin 20q cm
PM  QM  PQ
19. (a) Let s . | 6.8404 cm
2 BP = PD (property of rhombus)
r  (10  r )  6 Consider ːPDB.
i.e. s cm 8 cm
2 By the cosine formula, we have
Area of ːMPQ PD 2  PB 2  BD 2
cos ‘DPB
s( s  PM )( s  QM )( s  PQ) 2( PD)( PB)
8(8  r )[8  (10  r )](8  6) cm 2 6.8404 2  6.8404 2  10 2
|
2(6.8404)(6.8404)
4 (8  r )(r  2) cm 2
‘DPB | 93.9324q
Volume of the prism
4 (8  r )( r  2) u 14 cm 3 93.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes ADC and ACB is
56 (8  r )( r  2) cm 3
93.9°.

(b) With the notations in the figure,

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Let M be the mid-point on BD. Extend AM to N. 21. (a) Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from C to AB
ɻ CB CD and BM MD produced and N be the projection of C on the
ɺ CMʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property) horizontal ground.
ɻ AB AD and BM MD Then, CN is the shortest distance from C to the
horizontal ground.
ɺ AMʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
Consider ːABC.
ɺ The angle between the plane CBD and the
By the cosine formula, we have
horizontal table isɳCMN.
AC 2  AB 2  BC 2
Consider ːABM. cos ‘CAB
2( AC )( AB )
AM 2  BM 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
502  252  302
2
§ 10 · 2(50)(25)
AM 202  ¨ ¸ cm
© 2¹ ‘CAB | 27.1268q
375 cm Consider ːAPC.
Similarly, CM 375 cm CP AC sin ‘CAB
Consider ːADC. | 50sin 27.1268q cm
AC 2 AP (property of rhombus) | 22.7981 cm
ɻ NP is the projection of CP on the horizontal
2 AD 2  PD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ground and CPʄAP.
| 2 20  (6.8404) 2 cm
2
ɺ APʄPN (theorem of three perpendiculars)
| 37.5877 cm ɺ ɳCPN is the angle between the card and the
Consider ːACM. horizontal ground.
By the cosine formula, we have Consider ːCPN.
AM 2  CM 2  AC 2 CN
cos ‘AMC sin ‘CPN
2( AM )(CM ) CP
CN CP sin ‘CPN
( 375) 2  ( 375) 2  (37.5877) 2
| | 22.7981sin 25q cm
2( 375)( 375)
| 9.63 cm
‘AMC | 152.1018q ɺ The shortest distance from C to the horizontal
‘CMN  ‘AMC 180q (adj. ‘s on st. line) ground is 9.63 cm.
‘CMN | 180q  152.1018q
| 27.8982q (b) The angle between BC and the horizontal ground is
ġ ġ ɳCBN.
27.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːBCN.
ɺ The angle between the plane CBD and the
CN
horizontal table is 27.9°. sin ‘CBN
BC
(c) Let Q be the projection of C on the horizontal table. 22.7981sin 25q
|
Volume of pyramid ABDC 30
1 ‘CBN | 18.7333q
u area of ːABD u CQ
3  20q
1 §1 · ɺ The claim is correct.
u ¨ u BD u AM ¸ u CM sin ‘CMN
3 ©2 ¹
1 §1 22. (a) Let Q be the foot of the perpendicular from Z to XY
·
| u ¨ u 10 u 375 ¸ u 375 sin 27.8982q cm 3 and N be the projection of Z on the horizontal ground.
3 ©2 ¹ Then, ZN is the shortest distance from Z to the
| 292.4388 cm 3
horizontal ground.
Consider ːQYZ.
 300 cm3
ɺ The claim is disagreed. ZQ
sin ‘ZYX
YZ
ZQ YZ sin ‘ZYX
48sin 37q cm
ɻ NQ is the projection of ZQ on the horizontal
ground and ZQʄXY.
ɺ NQʄXY (theorem of three perpendiculars)
ɺ ɳZQN is the angle between the sheet and the
horizontal ground.

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Consider ːZQN. (b) (i) AG 42  32 cm (Pyth. theorem)

ZN
sin ‘ZQN 5 cm
ZQ
(ii) The angle between the line AH and the plane
ZN ZQ sin ‘ZQN
ABGF isɳGAH.
| (48sin 37q)sin 43q cm Consider ːAGH.
| 19.7010 cm GH
tan ‘GAH
19.7 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) AG
ɺ The shortest distance from Z to the horizontal 3 cm
ground is 19.7 cm. 5 cm
‘GAH 31.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(b) The angle between ZP and the horizontal ground is
ɺ The angle between the line AH and the plane
ɳZPN.
ABGF is 31.0°.
Consider ːZPN.
ZN 6. 8
sin ‘ZPN
ZP
ɳZPN is the least when ZP is the largest. 7. 9
ɻ XZ < YZ
ɺ ɳZPN is the least when P lies on Y. 8. 9
Consider ːZYN. 9. (a) AE 42  42 cm (Pyth. theorem)
ZN 32 cm
sin ‘ZYN
YZ 5.66 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
19.7010
| AE 2  EH 2 AH 2 (Pyth. theorem)
48
‘ZYN | 24.2323q AH ( 32) 2  42 cm
ɺ The angle between ZP and the horizontal ground
48 cm
can be less than 25°.
ɺ The claim is incorrect. 6.93 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(b) ɻ AE is the projection of AH on the plane ADEF.
Check Yourself (p. 6.56) ɺ The angle between the line AH and the plane
1. (a) 9 (b) 8 ADEF isɳHAE.
(c) 8 (d) 9
Consider ːAEH.
(e) 8
HE
tan ‘HAE
2. ɳVAO AE
4
3. ɳVMO 32
‘HAE 35.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
4. VO
ɺ The angle between the line AH and the plane
ADEF is 35.3°.
5. (a) (i) AC 4  3 cm (Pyth. theorem)
2 2

5 cm 10. (a) ɻ AB is a line of greatest slope of the hillside.

(ii) The angle between the lines AH and AC isɳCAH. ɺ The angle between a line of greatest slope of the
Consider ːACH. hillside and the horizontal plane BCFE is
ɳABE.
CH
tan ‘CAH Consider ːABC.
AC
AB
3 cm tan ‘ACB
BC
5 cm
AB
‘CAH 31.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) tan 58q
32 m
ɺ The angle between the lines AH and AC is
AB 32 tan 58q m
31.0°.
Consider ːABE.
AE
sin ‘ABE
AB
12 m
32 tan 58q m
‘ABE 13.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between a line of greatest slope of the
hillside and the horizontal plane BCFE is 13.6°.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(b) ɻ EC is the projection of AC on the horizontal plane (b) The angle between the lines AE and EC isɳAEC.
BCFE.
AC 12  12 cm (Pyth. theorem)
ɺ The angle between the line AC and the plane
BCFE isɳACE. 2 cm
Consider ːABC. Similarly, AE 2 cm and CE 2 cm
BC ɺ ːACE is an equilateral triangle.
cos ‘ACB
AC ɺ ɳAEC 60°
32 m ɺ The angle between the lines AE and EC is 60°.
cos58q
AC
32 (c) ɻ AB is the projection of AG on the plane ABCD.
AC m ɺ The angle between the line AG and the plane
cos58q
ABCD isɳBAG.
Consider ːACE.
Consider ːBAG.
AE
sin ‘ACE BG
AC tan ‘BAG
AB
12 m
1 cm
32
m 1 cm
cos58q
‘BAG 45q
‘ACE 11.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the line AG and the plane
ɺ The angle between the line AC and the horizontal ABCD is 45°.
plane BCFE is 11.5°.
(d) ɻ AD is the line of intersection of the planes AED
11. (a) Consider ːOAB.
and ABCD with EDʄAD and CDʄAD.
OB ɺ The angle between the planes AED and ABCD is
sin ‘OAB
AB ɳCDE, i.e. 90q.
OB
sin 40q
120 m 2. (a) Consider ːAGF.
OB 120sin 40q m AG 2 AF 2  FG 2 (Pyth. theorem)
Consider ːTOB.
TO AG 4  6 cm
2 2

tan ‘TBO 7.21 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

OB
TO Consider ːGHE.
tan 55q
120sin 40q m EG 2 EH 2  HG 2 (Pyth. theorem)
TO 120sin 40q tan 55q m
EG 6  3 cm
2 2
110 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The height of the tower TO is 110 m. 45 cm
6.71 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(b) Consider ːOAB.
OA (b) ɻ AF is perpendicular to the plane EFGH.
cos ‘OAB
AB ɺ The shortest distance between the point A and the
OA plane EFGH is AF, i.e. 4 cm.
cos 40q
120 m
OA 120cos 40q m (c) Let M be a point on EG such that FMʄEG.
Consider ːTOA. The shortest distance between the point F and the line
EG is FM.
TO Consider the area of ːEFG.
tan ‘TAO
OA ( EF )( FG ) (GE )( FM )
120sin 40q tan 55q m
2 2
120cos 40q m
(3)(6) ( 45)( FM )
‘TAO 50.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2 2
ɺ The angle of elevation of T from A is 50.2°.
FM 2.68 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Revision Exercise 6 (p. 6.58) ɺ The shortest distance between the point F and the
Level 1 line EG is 2.68 cm.
1. (a) The angle between the lines AG and GH isɳAGH.
ɻ ABGF and GH are perpendicular to each other.
ɺ ɳAGH 90°
ɺ The angle between the lines AG and GH is 90q.

34 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

3. (a) The angle between the lines BD and BA is ‘ABD. Consider ːPQA.
Consider ːABD. PQ
tan ‘PAQ
AD AQ
tan ‘ABD
AB 5 cm
50 cm 10 cm
40 cm ‘PAQ 26.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
‘ABD 51.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɺ The angle between the line PA and the base
ɺ The angle between the lines BD and BA is 51.3q. ABCD is 26.6q.

(b) The angle between the line BD and the horizontal 5. ɻ ːDEF is an equilateral triangle.
plane BCEF is ‘DBE. ɺ DE EF DF 8 cm
Consider ːCDE.
DE
sin 10q
40 cm
DE 40 sin 10q cm
Consider ːABD.
BD 402  502 cm (Pyth. theorem)
4100 cm
Consider ːBDE.
DE
sin ‘DBE
BD Let M be a point on FD such that EM A FD.
40 sin 10q cm ɻ EM is the projection of XM on the plane DEF and
4100 cm EMʄFD.
ɺ XMʄFD (theorem of three perpendiculars)
‘DBE 6.23q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes XFD and DEF is ɳXME.
ɺ The angle between the line BD and the horizontal
ɻ EF ED and EMʄFD
plane BCEF is 6.23q.
ɺ FM DM (converse of ʄ bisector property)
4. (a) Let N be a point on AB such that PNʄAB. DF 8 cm
DM 4 cm
The shortest distance between the point P and the line 2 2
AB is PN. Consider ːEDM.
Let Q be the projection of P on the plane ABCD. EM 2 DE 2  DM 2 (Pyth. theorem)
NQ 8 cm and PQ 5 cm
Consider ːNPQ. EM 82  42 cm
PN 2 PQ 2  NQ 2 (Pyth. theorem) 48 cm
PN 5  8 cm
2 2 Consider ːXEM.
EX
9.43 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) tan ‘XME
EM
ɺ The shortest distance between the point P and the
EX
line AB is 9.43 cm. tan 36q
48 cm
(b) EX 48 tan 36q cm
AX AE  EX
(8  48 tan 36q) cm
2.97 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

6. With the notations in the figure,

g

The angle between the line PA and the base ABCD is

‘PAQ.
Consider ːABC.
AC 2 AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AC 12  16 cm
2 2

20 cm
1
AQ AC (property of rectangle)
2
1
u 20 cm
2
10 cm

35 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Let VABC be a regular tetrahedron of side l and M be the (b) The angle between the line FP and the base ABCD
mid-point of BC. The angle between the line FP and the plane EFGH
Join VM and AM. The angle between the line FP and the plane EFGH is
ɻ VB VC and BM MC ‘PFH.
ɺ VMʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property) Consider ːFPH.
ɻ AB AC and BM MC PH
tan ‘PFH
ɺ AMʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property) FH
The angle between the planes VBC and ABC is ɳVMA. l
Consider ːAMC. 8l
AM ‘PFH 19.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
sin ‘ACM
AC ɺ The angle between the line FP and the base
AM ABCD is 19.5ι.
sin 60q
l
AM l sin 60q 8. (a) Consider ːABC.
Consider ːVMC. ‘ABC  ‘ACB  ‘BAC 180q (‘ sum of ː)
Similarly, VM = l sin60° 60q  72q  ‘BAC 180q
Consider ːVMA. ‘BAC 48q
By the cosine formula, we have By the sine formula, we have
VM 2  AM 2  VA2 AB BC
cos ‘VMA
2(VM )( AM ) sin ‘ACB sin ‘BAC
(l sin 60q) 2  (l sin 60q) 2  l 2 AB 14 cm
2(l sin 60q)(l sin 60q) sin 72q sin 48q
1 14sin 72q
AB cm
3 sin 48q
‘VMA 70.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) | 17.9168 cm
i.e. The angle between the planes VBC and ABC is 70.5°. 17.9 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between any two planes of a regular Consider ːPBA.
tetrahedron is 70.5°Ǥ PA
 tan ‘PBA
AB
7. (a) Let 2l be the length of a side of the cube.
Consider ːFAB. PA
tan 30q |
17.9168 cm
FB FA2  AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
PA | 10.3443 cm
(2l )  (2l )
2 2
10.3 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
8l
Consider ːPBC. 1
(b) Area of ːABC u AB u BC u sin ‘ABC
PB PC  BC
2 2
(Pyth. theorem) 2
1
l  (2l )
2 2 | u 17.9168 u 14 u sin 60q cm 2
2
5l | 108.6148 cm 2
Consider ːFPH.
109 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
FP FH  PH
2 2
(Pyth. theorem)
( 8l ) 2  l 2 (c) Volume of the tetrahedron PABC
3l 1
u area of ːABC u PA
Consider ːFBP. 3
By the cosine formula, we have 1
| u 108.6148 u 10.3443 cm3
FB 2  PB 2  FP 2 3
cos ‘FBP
2( FB )( PB ) 375 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
8l 2  5l 2  9l 2
2( 8l )( 5l )
‘FBP | 71.5651q
71.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

36 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

9. ɻ AB 2  BC 2 (602  112 ) cm 2 11. (a) Let M be the mid-point of QR. Join PM.
ɻ PQ PR and QM RM
ġ 612 cm 2 ġ
ɺ PMʄQR (converse of ʄ bisector property)
AC 2 ɻ ːPQM ؆ ːPRM (SSS)
ġġġġɺ ɳABC 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem) ɺ ɳQPM ɳRPM (corr. ɳs, ؆ ːs)
ġ ġ ġ ġ ɻġABʄBC and ABʄVB ‘QPR 30q
ġġġġɺ B is the projection of A on the plane VBC.ġ ɳRPM 15q
2 2
ɺ The angle between the line AV and the plane VBC is
Consider ːMPR.
ɳAVB.
RM
Consider ːVBC. sin ‘RPM
PR
VB VC 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem) 60
PR cm
222  112 cm sin15q
| 231.8222 cm
= 363 cm
Consider ːVAB. 232 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
AB
tan ‘AVB (b) Consider ːDPR.
VB
60 PD 2  DR 2 PR 2 (Pyth. theorem)
363 PD | 231.82222  2102 cm
‘AVB 72.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) | 98.1913 cm
ɺ The angle between the line AV and the plane VBC is 98.2 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
72.4ι.
(c) ɻġ DM is the projection of PM on the horizontal
10. Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from A to CD.
Join BP. ground and PMʄQR.
ɻ BP is the projection of AP on the plane BCD and ɺ DMʄQR (theorem of three perpendiculars)
APʄBP. ɺ The angle between the plane PQR and the
ɺ BPʄCD (theorem of three perpendiculars) horizontal ground isɳPMD.
ɺ The angle between the planes ACD and BCD is Consider ːMPR.
ɳAPB, i.e.ġ ɳAPB = θ. MR
tan ‘RPM
Consider ːBCD. PM
BC 2  BD 2 (92  402 ) cm 2 60 cm
ɻ tan15q
PM
412 cm 2
60
CD 2 PM cm
tan15q
ɺ ɳCBD = 90ι (converse of Pyth. Theorem)
| 223.9230 cm
Consider the area of ːBCD. Consider ːDMP.
( BC )( BD) ( BP)(CD) PD
2 2 sin ‘PMD
PM
(9)(40) ( BP)(41)
98.1913 cm
2 2 |
223.9230 cm
360
BP cm ‘PMD 26.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
41
ɺ The angle between the thin metallic sheet PQR
Consider ːAPB.
and the horizontal ground is 26.0°.
tan T tan ‘APB
AB 12. (a) (i) One of the longest line segments is AH.
BP In ːABC,
20 AC 22  32 m (Pyth. theorem)
360
13 m
41
In ːACH,
41
18 AH ( 13) 2  52 m (Pyth. theorem)
6.16 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(ii) The angle between the line AH and the plane
ABCD is ɳHAC.

37 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

CH 1
tan ‘HAC Area of ːPQR u QR u PM
AC 2
5m 1
123.4349 cm2 | u 21 cm u PM
13 m 2
‘HAC 54.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) PM | 11.7557 cm
Consider ːPMT.
ɺ The required angle is 54.2q.
PM 2 PT 2  MT 2 (Pyth. theorem)
(b) (i) MT | 11.7557 2  102 cm
6.18 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The shortest distance between the point T and the
line QR is 6.18 cm.

14. (a) (i) Consider ːABC.

AC 2 AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
One of the longest line segments is AV. AC 8  8 cm
2 2

Consider ːABC.
128 cm (or 8 2 cm)
AC 62  62 cm (Pyth. theorem) (ii) Let N be the projection of V on the plane ABCD.
72 cm ɻ VN is perpendicular to the plane ABCD.
With the notations in the figure, ɺ VN is the height of the pyramid.
1 Also, the angle between the line VA and the plane
AO AC (property of square)
2 ABCD is ɳVAN, i.e. ɳVAN T.
72 Consider ːVAN.
cm
2 128
AN cm
Consider ːOAV. 2
2 VN
§ 72 · tan ‘VAN
¸¸  8 cm (Pyth. theorem)
2
AV ¨¨ AN
© 2 ¹ VN
tan T
9.06 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 128
cm
(ii) The angle between the line AV and the plane 2
ABCD is ɳVAO. 128 tan T
VO VN cm (or 4 2 tan T cm)
tan ‘VAO 2
AO
8 cm 3
(b) ɻ Volume of the pyramid = 144 cm
72
cm 1 § 128 tan T ·
2 ɺ (8 u 8) ¨¨ ¸¸ 144
‘VAO 62.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 3 © 2 ¹
ɺ The required angle is 62.1q. 27
tan T
2 128
13. (a) Area of ːPQR T 50.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
1
u PQ u QR u sin ‘PQR
2 15. (a) With the notations in the figure,
1
u 20 u 21 u sin 36q cm 2
2
| 123.4349 cm 2
123 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

(b) Let M be a point on QR such that PMʄQR.

ɻ TM is the projection of PM on the horizontal table
and PMʄQR.
ɺ TMʄQR (theorem of three perpendiculars) 5  2)180q 1
T u 54q
ɺ The shortest distance between the point T and the 5 2
line QR is MT. Consider ːAOX.
2.5 cm
cosT
OA
2.5
OA cm
cos 54q
4.25 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

38 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

(b) 17. (a) Consider ːABD.

AD 2  BD 2 (162  122 ) cm 2
400 cm 2
AB2 (20 cm)2 400 cm2
ɻġ AD2  BD2 AB2
ɺ ɳADB 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
Consider ːACD.
AD 2  CD 2 (162  632 ) cm 2
4225 cm 2
With the notations in the figure,
2
VA2 VO 2  OA2 (Pyth. theorem) AC (65 cm)2 4225 cm2
2 ɻġ AD2  CD 2 AC 2
§ 2.5 ·
VO 12  ¨
2
¸ cm ɺ ɳADC 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
© cos54q ¹ ɻ AD is the line of intersection of the planes ADB
| 11.2210 cm and ADC with BDʄAD and CDʄAD.
Area of the pentagon ABCDE ɺ ɳBDC is the angle between the planes ADB and
5 u area of ː AOB ADC.
1 2.5
5u u 5u u sin 54q cm 2
2 cos54q (b) Consider ːBCD.
| 43.0119 cm 2 BD 2  CD 2 (122  632 ) cm 2
Volume of the right pyramid formed 4113 cm 2
1 BC 2
(60 cm)2 3600 cm2
u area of ABCDE u VO
3
ɻ BD 2  CD 2 z BC 2
1
| u 43.0119 u 11.2210 cm3 ɺ ɳBDC ് 90°ġ
3
ġ ġ ɺġ ɳADB is not the angle between the planes CDB
161 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) and CDA.

16. (a) Consider ːDCE. 18. (a) Consider ːTBP.

DE TP
sin 20q tan ‘TBP
CD BP
DE 45 m
CD tan 40q
sin 20q BP
45
BP m
(b) tan 40q
Consider ːTAP.
TP
tan ‘TAP
AP
45 m
tan 30q
AP
45
AP m
Let Q be the projection of P on the plane BCEF. tan 30q
The angle between CP and the plane BCEF is ‘PCQ. Consider ːBAP.
Consider ːPCD. ‘BPA 200q 150q 50q
CD By the cosine formula, we have
cos ‘PCD
PC AB 2 BP 2  AP 2  2( BP )( AP )cos ‘BPA
DE 2 2
§ 45 · § 45 ·
cos 50q sin 20q ¨ ¸ ¨ ¸ 
PC AB © tan 40q ¹ © tan 30q ¹ m
DE § 45 ·§ 45 ·
PC 2¨ ¸¨ ¸ cos50q
sin 20q cos 50q © tan 40q ¹© tan 30q ¹
Consider ːPCQ. | 59.8114 m
PQ 59.8 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
sin ‘PCQ
PC
DE
DE
sin 20q cos50q
‘PCQ 12.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between CP and the plane BCEF is
12.7°.

39 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(b) (c) (i) Consider ːBCP.

PB
tan ‘BCP
BC
2 tan 50q m
3m
‘BCP 38.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle of elevation of P from C is 38.5°.
(ii) In ːBCD,
BD 32  22 m (Pyth. theorem)
13 m
Consider ːBDP.
With the notations in the figure, PB
tan ‘BDP
‘BPQ 200q  180q 20q BD
‘RBP ‘BPQ (alt. ‘s, RB // PQ) 2 tan 50q m
20q 13 m
Consider ːBAP. ‘BDP 33.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
By the cosine formula, we have ɺ The angle of elevation of P from D is 33.5°.
BP 2  AB 2  AP 2
cos ‘PBA 20. (a)
2( BP)( AB)
2 2
§ 45 · § 45 ·
¸  59.8114  ¨
2
¨ ¸
© tan 40q ¹ © tan 30q ¹
|
§ 45 ·
2¨ ¸ (59.8114)
© tan 40q ¹
‘PBA | 86.6179q
‘RBA ‘RBP  ‘PBA
| 20q  86.6179q
107q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The true bearing of A from B is 107q. With the notations in the figure,
AG BH 800 m
19. (a) Consider ːABP. Consider ːACG.
PB ΑG
tan ‘BAP tan ‘ACG
AB CG
PB 800 m
tan 50q tan 50q
2m CG
PB 2 tan 50q m 800
2.38 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) CG m
tan 50q
Consider ːCHG.
(b) With the notations in the figure, GH
tan ‘HCG
CG
GH
tan 70q
800
m
tan 50q
800 tan 70q
GH m
tan 50q
Consider ːABD. ɺ The speed of the aeroplane
3m 800 tan 70q
tan ‘ABD m
2m tan 50q
‘ABD | 56.3099q 10 s
‘KBD | 56.3099q  15q 184 m/s (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
41.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
‘BDM ‘KBD (alt. ‘s, DM // KB)
41.3q
ġ ġ ɺġ The compass bearing of P from D is S41.3°W.

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

(b) Consider ːCHG. Time required for the green toy car to reach H
CG 5.8476 m
cos ‘HCG |
CH 0.4 m/s
800 14.6 s (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
m
tan 50q ɺ The two toy cars will not reach H at the same
cos 70q
CH time.
800
CH m Level 2
tan 50q cos 70q
Consider ːBCH. 22. (a) (i) Consider ːABC.
BH BD 2 AD 2  AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
tan ‘BCH
CH BD 102  102 cm
800 m
200 cm
800
m 1
tan 50q cos70q OB BD (property of square)
2
‘BCH 22.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
200
ɺ The angle of elevation of B from C is 22.2°. cm
2
21. (a) (i) Consider ːADE. Consider ːVOB.
DE VB 2 OB 2  VO 2 (Pyth. theorem)
sin ‘DAE
AD 2
§ 200 ·
¸¸  8 cm
2
DE VB ¨¨
sin 30q
4m © 2 ¹
DE 2 m 114 cm
HK DE 2 m 10.7 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːAHK.
(ii) Consider ːVAB.
HK
sin ‘HAK VA VB 114 cm
AH
By the cosine formula, we have
2m
sin 26q VB 2  AB 2  VA2
AH cos ‘VBA
2 2(VB)( AB)
AH m
sin 26q ( 114) 2  102  ( 114) 2
| 4.5623 m 2( 114)(10)
4.56 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ‘VBA | 62.0765q
Consider ːBHK. 62.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
HK
sin ‘HBK
BH AN
(b) sin ‘VBA
2m AB
sin 20q
BH AN | 10sin 62.0765q cm
2 | 8.8357 cm
BH m
sin 20q 8.84 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
| 5.8476 m
5.85 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (c)ġ ɻġ ːVABġ#ġ ːVCB (SSS)
(ii) Consider ːABH. and ːABNġ#ġ ːCBN (SAS)
By the cosine formula, we have ġ ɺġ CN A VB and CN AN
AH 2  BH 2  AB 2 ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and VBC is
cos ‘AHB
2( AH )( BH ) ‘ANC.
4.56232  5.8476 2  52 AC BD 200 cm
| Consider ːNAC.
2(4.5623)(5.8476)
By the cosine formula, we have
‘AHB | 55.7767q
AN 2  CN 2  AC 2
55.8q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) cos ‘ANC
2( AN )(CN )

(b) Time required for the blue toy car to reach H 8.83572  8.83572  ( 200)2
|
4.5623 m 2(8.8357)(8.8357)
|
0.3 m/s ‘ANC 106q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
15.2 s (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɺ The angle between the planes VAB and VBC is
106°.

41 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

23. (a) Let E be a point on CD such that AE A CD. Consider ːABE.

ɻ BE is the projection of AE on the plane BCD and AE 2 AB 2  BE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AEʄCD.
ɺ BEʄCD (theorem of three perpendiculars) AE 10  ( 55) 2 cm
2

155 cm
1 155
FE AF AE cm
2 2
Consider ːBFE.
By the cosine formula, we have
BF 2 FE 2  BE 2  2( FE )( BE ) cos ‘FEB
2
§ 155 ·
¨¨ 2 ¸¸  ( 55)
2

BF | © ¹ cm
§ 155 ·
2 ¨¨ ¸¸ ( 55) cos53.4386q
ɻ CD is the line of intersection of the planes ACD © 2 ¹
and BCD with AEʄCD and BEʄCD.
| 6.2249 cm
ɺ The angle between the planes ACD and BCD is
Consider ːAFB.
‘AEB. By the cosine formula, we have
1
CE CD AF 2  BF 2  AB 2
2 cos ‘AFB
2( AF )( BF )
6
cm 2
2 § 155 ·
¸  6.2249  10
2 2
¨¨
3 cm © 2 ¸¹
Consider ːBCE. |
§ 155 ·
BE 2  CE 2 BC 2 (Pyth. theorem) 2 ¨¨ ¸¸ (6.2249)
© 2 ¹
BE 82  32 cm ‘AFB 107q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
55 cm ɺ The angle between the planes AMN and BMN is
Consider ːABE. 107°.
AB
tan ‘AEB 24. (a)
BE XY 152  (30  10  10) 2 m (Pyth. theorem)
10 cm 325 m
55 cm Total distance travelled by the man
‘AEB | 53.4386q CX  XY  YA
53.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (10  325  10) m
ɺ The angle between the planes ACD and BCD is 38.0 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
53.4°.
(b) Let G and H be the projections of X and Y on the plane
(b) Let F be a point on MN such that AF A MN.
BCEF respectively.
AFE is a straight line.
Let Z be a point on YH at the same horizontal level as
ɻ AM AN and AFʄMN
X.
ɺ MF FN (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ɻ ːABC ؆ ːABD (SAS)
ɺ ‘BAC ‘BAD (corr. ‘s, ؆ːs)
ɺ ːBMA ؆ ːBNA (SAS)
F
ɺ BM BN (corr. sides, ؆ːs) E
ɺ BFʄMN (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ɺ The angle between the planes AMN and BMN is
‘AFB.

The angle between the path XY and the horizontal

ground is ‘YXZ.
Consider ːXCG.
XG
sin ‘XCG
XC
XG
sin 25q
10 m
XG 10sin 25q m

42 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Consider ːYBH. Consider ːBFC.

YH By the cosine formula, we have
sin ‘YBH
YB BF 2  CF 2  BC 2
cos ‘BFC
YH 2( BF )(CF )
sin 25q
20 m 2.30942  9.0686 2  10 2
YH 20sin 25q m |
2(2.3094)(9.0686)
YZ (20sin 25q  10sin 25q) m
| 0.2967
10sin 25q m Consider ːF′FC.
Consider ːXYZ.
By the cosine formula, we have
YZ
sin ‘YXZ F ' C 2 F ' F 2  CF 2  2( F ' F )(CF )cos ‘F ' FC
XY
10sin 25q m F ' F 2  CF 2  2( F ' F )(CF )cos ‘BFC
325 m ! F ' F 2  CF 2
‘YXZ 13.6q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ! CF 2
ɺ The angle between the path XY and the horizontal ɺ F′C > CF
ground is 13.6°. ɺ The length of the shadow of AC will increase.
ɺ William’s claim is not agreed.
25. (a) (i) Consider ːABF.
AB 26. (a) (i) With the notations in the figure,
tan ‘AFB
BF
4m
tan 60q
BF
BF | 2.3094 m
2.31 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(ii) Consider ːBFC.
By the cosine formula, we have
CF 2 BC 2  BF 2  2( BC )( BF ) cos ‘CBF
10 2  2.3094 2
CF | m
2(10)(2.3094) cos(90q  30q)
| 9.0686 m ‘QKP  40q  90q 180q (‘ sum of ː)
9.07 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ‘QKP 50q
(iii) Consider ːABF. ‘QHP  65q  90q 180q (‘ sum of ː)
4m ‘QHP 25q
sin 60q
AF Consider ːHPK.
AF | 4.6188 m By the sine formula, we have
Consider ːABC. HK PH
sin ‘HPK sin ‘HKP
AC 42  102 m (Pyth. theorem)
600 m PH
116 m sin(65q  40q) sin 50q
Consider ːAFC.
PH | 475.8405 m
By the cosine formula, we have
476 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
AF 2  AC 2  CF 2
cos ‘FAC (ii) Consider ːHPK.
2( AF )( AC )
By the sine formula, we have
4.61882  ( 116) 2  9.06862 HK PK
|
2(4.6188)( 116) sin ‘HPK sin ‘KHP
‘FAC 56.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 600 m PK
sin105q sin 25q
(b) Let T be the angle of elevation, where 60° < T < 90°, PK | 262.5160 m
and BF′ be the shadow of AB on the level ground. 263 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
F′ lies on BF.
The shadow of AC on the level ground when the sun
shines at a greater angle of elevation is F′C. (b) Consider ːAPH.
AH
tan ‘APH
PH
AH
tan 44q |
475.8405 m
AH | 459.5138 m
460 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

43 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Consider ːBPK. (b) Consider ːAMN.

BK MN 2 AM 2  AN 2 (Pyth. theorem)
tan ‘BPK
PK
MN ( 24)  1 m
2 2
BK
tan 33q | 23 m
262.5160 m
BK | 170.4799 m Area of the shadow of the sheet at noon
1
170 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) u 10 u 23 m 2
2
ɺ The heights of the towers AH and BK are 460 m
24.0 m 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
and 170 m respectively.

(c) With the notations in the figure, (c) The area of the shadow of the sheet is equal to the area
of ːPQR, 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.
ɺ Gloria’s claim is disagreed.

28. (a) Consider ːDOC.

DC
tan ‘DOC
OC
hm
tan 30q
OC
h
OC m
RB HK 600 m tan 30q
AR (459.5138  170.4799) m 3h m
289.0339 m Consider ːDAC.
Consider ːABR. DC
tan ‘DAC
AR AC
tan ‘ABR
RB hm
tan 60q
289.0339 m AC
|
600 m h
AC m
‘ABR 25.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) tan 60q
ɻġ The angle of depression of B from A h
m
the angle of elevation of A from Bġ 3
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle of depression of B from A is 25.7°. Consider ːCOA.
By the cosine formula, we have
27. (a) Let M be the mid-point of BC and N be the projection OC 2  OA2  AC 2
of M on AP. cos ‘COA
2(OC )(OA)
ɺ AMʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property)
2
ɺ The angle that the sheet makes with the horizontal § h ·
( 3h) 2  602  ¨ ¸
ground is ‘AMN. © 3¹
Consider ːABM. 2( 3h)(60)
AM 2 AB 2  BM 2 (Pyth. theorem) h2
3h 2  3600 
AM 7 5 m
2 2
3
120 3h
24 m
Consider ːAMN. h 2  1350
45 3h

(b) Consider ːDBC.

DC
tan ‘DBC
AN (5  4) m 1 m BC
AN hm
sin ‘AMN tan 45q
AM BC
1m BC h m
24 m
‘AMN | 11.7782q
The angle that the sheet makes with the vertical wall
| 11.7782q  90q
102q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Consider ːCOB. (b) Join BN.

By the cosine formula, we have The angle between BC and the horizontal ground is
OC 2  OB 2  BC 2 ɳCBN.
cos ‘COB Consider ːBCN.
2(OC )(OB)
CN
( 3h) 2  902  h 2 sin ‘CBN
BC
2( 3h)(90) 24.5814sin 45q cm
|
2h 2  8100 25 cm
180 3h ‘CBN | 44.0486q
h 2  4050 ! 40q
90 3h Thus, the claim is incorrect.

30. (a) Consider ːABD.

(c) ɻ ‘COA ‘COB
ɺ cos ‘COA cos ‘COB AB 2 AD 2  BD 2 (Pyth. theorem)

h  1350
2
h  4050
2 AB 40  53 cm
2 2
ġ ġ
45 3h 90 3h | 66.4003 cm
2h 2  2700 h 2  4050 ġ 66.4 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
h 2
1350 Consider ːACD.
h 1350 AC 2 AD 2  CD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
36.7 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) AC 40  100 cm
2 2

ġ | 107.7033 cm
h 2  4050 108 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(d) cos ‘COB
90 3h
1350  4050 AB  AC  BC
(b) (i) Let s .
90 3( 1350) 2
‘COB 19.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 66.4003  107.7033  141
i.e. s | cm
ɺ The compass bearing of B from O is N19.5°E. 2
157.5518 cm
29. (a) Let P be the foot of the perpendicular from C to AB Area of ːABC
produced and N be the projection of C on the s ( s  AB)( s  AC )( s  BC )
horizontal ground.
Then, CN is the shortest distance from C to the 157.5518 u (157.5518  66.4003)
horizontal ground. | u(157.5518  107.7033) cm2
Consider ːABC. u(157.5518  141)
By the cosine formula, we have
| 3442.2488 cm 2
AC 2  AB 2  BC 2
cos ‘CAB 3440 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2( AC )( AB )
402  27 2  252 (ii) Let h cm be the shortest distance between D and
the plane ABC.
2(40)(27) BD  CD  BC
‘CAB | 37.9182q Let t .
2
Consider ːAPC. 53  100  141
CP AC sin ‘CAB i.e. t cm 147 cm
2
| 40sin 37.9182q cm Area of ːBCD
| 24.5814 cm s ( s  BD)( s  CD)( s  BC )
ɻ NP is the projection of CP on the horizontal
ground and CPʄAP. 147(147  53)(147  100)(147  141) cm 2
ɺ PNʄAP (theorem of three perpendiculars) 1974 cm 2
ɺ ɳCPN is the angle between the sheet and the Consider the volume of the tetrahedron ABCD.
horizontal ground. (Area of ː BCD)( AD) (Area of ː ABC ) h
Consider ːCPN. 3 3
CN (1974)(40) 3442.2488h
sin ‘CPN |
CP 3 3
CN CP sin ‘CPN h 22.9 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
| (24.5814)sin 45q cm ɺ The shortest distance between D and the
17.4 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) plane ABC is 22.9 cm.
ɺ The shortest distance from C to the horizontal
ground is 17.4 cm.

45 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

31. (a) Consider ːACE. Let M be the mid-point of CD.

AE 2  CE 2 AC 2 (Pyth. theorem) ɻġ BC BD and CM MD
ɺ BMʄCD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
CE AC  CE 2
2
Consider ːBCM.
102  62 CM
cos ‘BCM
8 cm BC
ɻ AE // BD and AB BC CM
cos 70q |
ɺ CD DE (intercept theorem) 25.5213 cm
CE CM | 8.7288 cm
ɺ CD ɺ CD 2 u CM
2
8 cm | 2 u 8.7288 cm
2 | 17.4576 cm
4 cm 17.5 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ġ
(b) (i) ɻ E is the projection of A on the horizontal (b) ɻ AC AD and CM MD
table. ɺ AMʄCD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ɺ The angle between the line AC and the ɻ CD is the line of intersection of the planes ACD
horizontal table is ‘ACE. and BCD with BMʄCD and AMʄCD.
Consider ːDCE in Figure (b).
ɺ The angle between the planes ACD and BCD is
By the cosine formula, we have
‘AMB.
EC 2 CD 2  DE 2  2(CD)( DE )cos ‘CDE Consider ːADM.
EC 42  42  2(4)(4)cos 40q cm AM 2  DM 2 AD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
| 2.7362 cm 2
§ 17.4576 ·
Consider ːACE in Figure (b). AM | 17 2  ¨ ¸ cm
© 2 ¹
AE
tan ‘ACE | 14.5879 cm
EC
6 cm Consider ːBCM.
| BM BC sin ‘BCD
2.7362 cm
‘ACE | 65.4854q | 25.5213sin 70q cm
65.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) | 23.9822 cm
Consider ːABM.
ɺġ The angle between the line AC and the
By the cosine formula, we have
horizontal table is 65.5°.
(ii) Consider ːACE in Figure (b). AM 2  BM 2  AB 2
cos ‘AMB
AE 2( AM )( BM )
sin ‘ACE
AC 14.5879 2  23.9822 2  252
|
6 cm 2(14.5879)(23.9822)
sin 65.4854q |
AC ‘AMB | 76.5328q
AC | 6.5944 cm 76.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Consider ːABC in Figure (b). ɺ The angle between the planes ACD and BCD is
AB  BC  AC 76.5ι.
Let u ,
2
5  5  6.5944 (c) Let N be the projection of A on the plane BCD.
i.e. u | cm 8.2972 cm
2 Consider ːAMN.
Area of ːABC AN AM sin ‘AMB
u (u  AB )(u  BC )(u  AC ) | 14.5879sin 76.5328q cm
| 14.1868 cm
8.2972(8.2972  5)
| cm 2 Volume of the pyramid ABCD
(8.2972  5)(8.2972  6.5944) 1
u Area of ːBCD u AN
12.4 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 3
1 §1 ·
u ¨ u BM u CD ¸ u AN
32. (a) Consider ːABC. 3 ©2 ¹
By the cosine formula, we have 1 §1 ·
BC 2 AB 2  AC 2  2( AB)( AC )cos ‘CAB | u ¨ u 23.9822 u 17.4576 ¸ u 14.1868 cm3
3 ©2 ¹
BC 252  17 2  2(25)(17)cos72q cm 990 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
| 25.5213 cm
25.5 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Similarly, BD BC ≈ 25.5213 cm.

46 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

33. (a) The angle between the lines DF and BF is ‘DFB. ɺġ The angle between the planes BDF and BCD is
Consider ːBFG. ‘FMC.
BF 2 BG 2  FG 2 (Pyth. theorem) Consider ːMFN.
‘FMN  ‘MFN  ‘FNM 180q (‘ sum of ː)
BF 62  82 cm
‘FMN  46.6861q  90q | 180q
10 cm
Consider ːDFE. ‘FMN | 43.3139q
‘CMN 90q
DF 2 DE 2  EF 2 (Pyth. theorem)
‘FMC | 43.3139q  90q
DF 6  8 cm
2 2
133q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
10 cm ɺ The angle between the planes BDF and BCD is
Consider ːDAB. 133°.
DB 2 DA2  AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
34. (a) With the notations in the figure,
DB 8  8 cm
2 2

128 cm
Consider ːDFB.
By the cosine formula, we have
BF 2  DF 2  DB 2
cos ‘DFB
2( BF )( DF )
102  102  ( 128) 2
2(10)(10)
‘DFB 68.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ‘EBH ‘BEG (alt. ‘s, BH // GE )
ɺ The angle between the lines DF and BF is 68.9°. 18q
‘ABH 180q  32q (adj. ‘s on st. line)
(b) Let N be the projection of M on the plane EFGH. 148q
‘ABE 148q  18q
166q
‘DCF ‘ABE
166q
Consider ːDCF.
By the cosine formula, we have
DF 2 DC 2  CF 2  2( DC )(CF )cos ‘DCF
DF 7 2  82  2(7)(8)cos 166q cm
The angle between the line FM and the plane EFGH is | 14.8887 cm
‘MFN. 14.9 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
FH EG 128 cm ġ
By the cosine formula, we have
1
ġ ġ ɺġ FN FH (property of square) CF 2  DF 2  DC 2
2 cos ‘DFC
ġ 2(CF )( DF )
128
cm 82  14.8887 2  7 2
2 |
Consider ːMFN. 2(8)(14.8887)
MN ‘DFC | 6.5307q
tan ‘MFN ɺġ The required angle of inclination
FN
| 6.5307q  18q
6 cm
128 24.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
cm
2
‘MFN | 46.6861q
46.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ 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.
ɻ BF DF and BM MD
ɺ FMʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ɻ BC DC and BM MD
ɺ CMʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ġ ġ

47 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(b) DE 2 EF 2  DF 2 (Pyth. theorem) (b) (i)

DE 102  14.8887 2 cm
| 17.9353 cm
17.9 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Let K be the projection of D on the horizontal table.

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
ɳXYD, i.e. ɳXYD D.
Consider ːBCD.
BD 2 BC 2  CD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
DK AG
(7 sin 32q  8 sin 18q) cm BD 62  62 cm
| 6.1816 cm 72 cm
DK 1
sin ‘DEK YD BD (property of square)
DE 2
6.1816 cm 1
| u 72 cm
17.9353 cm 2
‘DEK 20.2q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 72
ɺ The angle of inclination of DE is 20.2°. cm
2
Consider ːEXQ.
35. (a)
EQ 2 EX 2  XQ 2 (Pyth. theorem)
2
§ 9 · § 3 ·2
EX ¨¨ ¸¸  ¨ ¸ cm
© 2 ¹ ©2¹
3
cm
2
XZ EZ  EX
YD  EX
Let M be the projection of Q on CD. § 72 3 ·
¨¨  ¸¸ cm
ɻ ː AFP # ːCHQ (RHS)
© 2 2¹
ɺ FP HQ Consider ːXYZ.
ɺġ PE QE YZ
tan ‘YXZ
QM ED 6 cm XZ
Consider ːPEQ. 6 cm
PE 2  QE 2 PQ 2 (Pyth. theorem) § 72 3 ·
¨¨  ¸¸ cm
2QE 2
(3 cm) 2 © 2 2¹
‘YXZ 65.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
9
QE cm ‘XYD ‘YXZ (alt. ‘s, YD / / ZE )
2
CM CD  MD ɺ D 65.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
§ 9· (ii) ɻ XY is a line of greatest slope of the inclined
¨¨ 6  ¸ cm
© 2 ¸¹ plane ACQP.
ɺ The angle between the planes ACQP and
Consider ːCMQ. ACD, i.e. D is greater than the angle between
CQ 2 QM 2  CM 2 (Pyth. theorem) the line QC and the plane ACD.
2 ɺ Tom’s claim is agreed.
§ 9·
CQ 62  ¨¨ 6  ¸ cm
© 2 ¸¹
| 7.1445 cm
7.14 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

48 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

36. (a) Let N be a point on BG such that HNʄBG. 37. (a) (i) Area of ːBDC
GN (18  12) cm 6 cm 1
u BD u CD u sin ‘BDC
HN BC 8 cm 2
Consider ːGHN. §1 ·
¨ u 7 u 7 u sin 30q ¸ cm
2

GH 2 GN 2  HN 2 (Pyth. theorem) ©2 ¹
49
GH 6  8 cm
2 2
cm 2
4
10 cm
(ii) Refer to Figure (a).
ɻ AB AC and BD DC
(b) ɻ BG DE and E and G are vertically above D and
ɺ ADʄBC (converse of ʄ bisector property)
B respectively.
ɺ EG DB i.e. ɳADB ɳADC 90°
Consider ːBCD. Consider ːABD.
DB 2 BC 2  CD 2 (Pyth. theorem) AD 2  BD 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AD 252  7 2 cm
DB 82  82 cm
24 cm
128 cm Volume of tetrahedron DABC
GH  EH  EG 1
Let s . u area of ː BDC u AD
2 3
10  10  128 § 1 49 ·
i.e. s cm | 15.6569 cm ¨ u u 24 ¸ cm
3
2 ©3 4 ¹
Area of the rhombus EFGH 98 cm3
2 u area of DEGH
2 s ( s  GH )( s  EH )( s  EG ) (b) Volume of tetrahedron DABC
15.6569(15.6569  10)(15.6569  10) 1
u area of ː BDC u AD
|2 cm 2 3
(15.6569  128)
1 §1 ·
| 93.2966 cm 2 u ¨ u 7 u 7 u sin T ¸ u 24 cm3
3 ©2 ¹
93.3 cm 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 196sin T cm 3

When T increases from 30° to 90°, sin T increases.

(c) Let EG and FH intersect at X. ɺ When T increases from 30° to 90°, the volume of
When the centre of the circular sticker coincides with the tetrahedron DABC increases.
X, the area of the sticker lying in EFGH is the When T increases from 90° to 150°, sin T decreases.
maximum. ɺ When T increases from 90° to 150°, the volume of
Consider ːEGH. the tetrahedron DABC decreases.
By the cosine formula, we have
EG 2  GH 2  EH 2 38. (a) Consider ːAMD.
cos ‘EGH
2( EG )(GH ) 1
‘ADM u 60q 30q
( 128) 2  102  102 2
2( 128)(10) MD
cos ‘ADM
AD
‘EGH | 55.5501q
MD
8 2 cos30q
GX cm 4 2 cm 12 cm
2 MD 12cos30q cm
Let Y be a point on GH such that XYʄGH. Let E be the projection of D on the plane ABC.
Consider ːGXY.
XY
sin ‘XGY
GX
128
XY | sin 55.5501q cm
2
4.66 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The shortest distance between X and GH is
4.66 cm.
ɻ The radius of the sticker is greater than the
shortest distance between X and GH.
ɺ The circular sticker of radius 5.5 cm cannot be
stuck onto the inclined surface EFGH so that the
circular sticker completely lies in the region
EFGH.

49 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Consider ːDEM. By the cosine formula, we have

DE AC 2 AB 2  BC 2  2( AB)( BC )cos ‘ABC
sin ‘DME
MD AC | 242  132  2(24)(13)cos37.3801q cm
DE
sin 30q | 15.7846 cm
12cos30q cm
DE | 5.1962 cm 15.8 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
5.20 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
(b) (i) Let M be the mid-point of BD.
ɺ The height of D above the plane ABC is 5.20 cm.
ɻ BC DC and BM DM
ɺ CMʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
(b) The angle between AD and the plane ABC is ‘DAE.
Consider ːDAE. Let P be the projection of C on the horizontal
table.
DE
sin ‘DAE ɺ PMʄBD (theorem of three perpendiculars)ġ
AD ɻ AB AD and BM DM
5.1962 cm ɺ AMʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
|
12 cm ɺ P lies on AM.
‘DAE 25.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɺ The angle between the line AC and the
ɺ The angle between AD and the plane ABC is horizontal table is ɳCAM.
25.7°. ɻ ːABM ؆ ːADM (SSS)
ɺ ɳBAM = ɳDAM (corr. ɳs, ؆ːs)
(c) Consider ːCMD.
‘BAD 30q
MC 122  (12 cos 30q) 2 cm (Pyth. theorem)
ɳBAM 15q
2 2
6 cm Consider ːABM.
Let F be the projection of C on the plane ABD. AM
cos ‘BAM
AB
AM
cos15q
24 cm
AM 24cos15q cm
| 23.1822 cm
BM
sin ‘BAM
The angle between BC and the plane ABD is ‘CBF. AB
ɻġ MC < MD BM
sin15q
ġ ġ ɺġ CF < DE 24 cm
CF DE BM 24sin15q cm
ɺ  (ɻ AD BC)
AD BC | 6.2117 cm
ġ ġ ɺġ sin ‘CBF < sin ‘DAE Consider ːBCM.
ɻ ɳCBF and ɳDAE are both acute angles.ġ BM 2  CM 2 BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ġ ġ ɺġ ‘CBF < ‘DAEġ
ġ ġ ɺġ The angle between BC and the plane ABD is less CM | 132  6.2117 2 cm
than that in (b). | 11.4199 cm
Consider ːACM.
39. (a) Join AC. By the cosine formula, we have
ɻ ːABC ؆ ːADC (SSS) AM 2  AC 2  CM 2
ɺ ɳBAC = ɳDAC (corr. ɳs, ؆ ːs) cos ‘CAM
2( AM )( AC )
‘BAD 60q
ɳBAC 30q 23.1822 2  15.7846 2  11.4199 2
2 2 |
2(23.1822)(15.7846)
Consider ːABC.
By the sine formula, we have ‘CAM | 26.2883q
AB BC 26.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
sin ‘ACB sin ‘BAC ɺ The angle between the line AC and the
24 cm 13 cm horizontal table is 26.3°.
sin ‘ACB sin 30q
12
sin ‘ACB
13
‘ACB | 67.3801q (rejected)
or 180q  67.3801q
‘ACB | 112.6199q
‘ABC  ‘ACB  ‘BAC 180q (‘ sum of ː)
‘ABC | 180q  112.6199q  30q
| 37.3801q

50 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

(ii) Height of tetrahedron CABD (c) When the sun shines from NTW with an angle of
CP elevation 40°,
AC sin ‘CAM consider ːABN.
| 15.7846sin 26.2883q cm BN
sin ‘BAN
| 6.9908 cm AB
Volume of the tetrahedron CABD BN 30sin(90q  T ) m
1 ! 30sin(90q  50q) m ( ɻ 0q  T  50q)
u area of ː ABD u CP
3 30sin 40q m
1 §1 · Similar to (a)(ii), for 0° < T < 50°,
| u ¨ u 24 u 24 u sin 30q ¸ u 6.9908 cm3 area of the shadow ABGF when the sun shines from
3 ©2 ¹
3
NT W
336 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
1 § 5 12 ·
u¨  ¸ u 30sin(90q  T ) m
2

2 © tan 40q tan 40q ¹

40. (a) (i) Consider ːADF.
1 § 5 12 ·
AD ! u¨  ¸ u 30sin 40q m
2
tan ‘AFD 2 © tan 40q tan 40q ¹
AF
12 m area of the shadow ABGF when the sun shines from
tan 40q N50qW
AF i.e. the area of the shadow of the wall on the
12 horizontal ground is greater than the area obtained
AF m
tan 40q in (a).
| 14.3010 m ɺ Sam’s claim is agreed.
14.3 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
Challenging Questions (p.6.68)
Consider ːBCG. 10
BC 1. (a) BM cm 5 cm
tan ‘BGC 2
BG Consider ːABM.
5m AM 2 AB 2  BM 2 (Pyth. theorem)
tan 40q
BG
5 AM 102  52 cm
BG m
tan 40q 75 cm (or 5 3 cm)
| 5.9588 m
5.96 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (b) Let N be the mid-point of AF.
(ii) Let N be a point on AF such that BNʄAF.
The height of trapezium ABGF is BN.
Consider ːABN.
BN
sin ‘BAN
AB
BN
sin(90q  50q)
30 m
BN 30sin 40q m
Area of the shadow ABGF
1
u (BG  AF ) u BN
2
1 § 5 12 · 10
u¨  ¸ u 30sin 40q m
2
NM cm 5 cm
2 © tan 40q tan 40q ¹ 2
195 m 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) Consider ːANM.
AN 2  NM 2 AM 2 (Pyth. theorem)
(b) Similar to (a)(ii), when the sun shines from N50°W AN ( 75) 2  52 cm
with an angle of elevation 60°,
area of the shadow ABGF 50 cm
1 § 5 12 · 5 2 cm
u¨  ¸ u 30sin 40q m
2

2 © tan 60q tan 60q ¹ AF 2 u 5 2 cm

94.6 m 2 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
10 2 cm (or 200 cm)
 195 m2
ɺ Philip’s claim is disagreed.

51 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

(c) BC is the line of intersection of the planes ABC and (iii) Let X be the position of the cat.
BFC. When the cat moves from D to C along the
ɻ AM A BC and FM A BC circular path, AX is the longest when AX is a
ɺ The angle between the planes ABC and BFC is diameter of the circle.
‘AMF. i.e. The angle of elevation of P from X is the
smallest when AX is a diameter of the circle.
FM AM 75 cm Let r m be the radius of the circle and O be the
Consider ːAFM. centre of the circle.
By the cosine formula, we have ɳAOC = 2 × 60° = 120°
AM 2  FM 2  AF 2 (ɳ at centre twice ɳ at ʃce)
cos ‘AMF
2( AM )( FM ) Consider ːOAC.
By the cosine formula, we have
( 75) 2  ( 75) 2  (10 2) 2
AC 2 OA2  OC 2  2(OA)(OC )cos ‘AOC
2( 75)( 75)
72 r 2  r 2  2(r )(r )cos120q
‘AMF 109q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes ABC and BFC is 49 3r 2
109q. r | 4.0415 or  4.0415 (rejected)
When AX is a diameter of the circle,
2. (a) (i) Join AC. AP
Consider ːABC. tan ‘AXP
AX
By the cosine formula, we have 4m
AC 2 AB 2  BC 2  2( AB)( BC )cos ‘ABC |
4.0415 u 2 m
AC 32  52  2(3)(5)cos120q m ‘AXP 26.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
7m ɺ The angle of elevation of P from the cat first
decreases from 27.5° to 26.3°, then increases
(ii) Let AD x m. to 29.7° when the cat moves from D to C
‘ADC  ‘ABC 180q (opp. ɳs, cyclic quad.) along the circular path.
‘ADC  120q 180q
‘ADC 60q Multiple Choice Questions (p. 6.69)
1. Answer: C
Consider ːADC.
GH is the line of intersection of the planes AGHD and
By the cosine formula, we have EFGH.
AC 2 AD 2  CD 2  2( AD)(CD )cos ‘ADC ɻ AG A GH and FG A GH with DH A GH and EH A GH
72 x 2  62  2( x)(6)cos 60q ɺ The angles between the planes AGHD and EFGH are
0 x 2  6 x  13 ‘AGF and ‘DHE.
ɺ The answer is C.
(6) r (6) 2  4(1)( 13)
x
2(1)
| 7.6904 or  1.6904 (rejected) 2. Answer: A
ɻ The plane EMF is a part of the plane ABFE.
ɺ AD 7.69 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between the planes EMF and ABCD is the
angle between the planes ABFE and ABCD.
(b) (i) Consider ːADP. ɻġ The angle between the planes ABFE and ABCD is
AP ɳCBF.
tan ‘ADP
AD ɺ The angle between the planes EMF and ABCD is
4m ɳCBF.
|
7.6904 m ɺ The answer is A.
‘ADP 27.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle of elevation of P from the cat at D 3. Answer: D
is 27.5°. BD k 2  k 2 cm (Pyth. theorem)
(ii) Consider ːACP.
2k cm
AP
tan ‘ACP BE ( 2k ) 2  k 2 cm (Pyth. theorem)
AC
4m 3k cm
|
7m Let M be the point of intersection of AH and BE.
‘ACP 29.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) ɻ ABHE is a rectangle.
ɺ The angle of elevation of P from the cat at C ɺ AH BE 3k cm (property of rectangle)
is 29.7°. 1 3k
ɺ MA MB BE cm (property of rectangle)
2 2

52 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Consider ːMAB. 6. Answer: A

By the cosine formula, we have Let J be the mid-point of BC.
2 2
§ 3k · § 3k ·
¸ ¨ ¸ k
2
¨¨
© 2 ¸¹ ¨© 2 ¸¹
cosT
§ 3k · § 3k ·
2 ¨¨ ¸¸ ¨¨ ¸¸
© 2 ¹ © 2 ¹
1
3 ɻ CDKJ is a rectangle.
ɺ The answer is D. ɺ ɳKJC = 90°
ɻ JK is the projection of HJ on the plane ABCD and
4. Answer: B KJʄBC.
Let a be the length of a side of the square ABCD.
ɺ HJʄBC (theorem of three perpendiculars)
Consider ːDCB.
ɺ The angle between the planes HBC and ABCD is
DB a2  a2 (Pyth. theorem) ‘HJK.
2a 4
AK cm 2 cm
Consider ːCBF. 2
CF Consider ːHAK.
sin 30q
a HK 2  AK 2 HA2 (Pyth. theorem)
a HK 32  22 cm
CF
2
Consider ːDBE. 5 cm
a Consider ːHJK.
HK
sin ‘DBE 2 tan ‘HJK
2a JK
‘DBE 20.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 5 cm
4 cm
5. Answer: A ‘HJK 29q (cor. to the nearest degree)
Let N be the mid-point of DE. ɺ The angle between the planes HBC and ABCD is 29q.

7. Answer: C
Let VABC be a regular tetrahedron of side 6 cm.
g
With the notations in the figure,

ɻ N is the projection of M on the plane CHED.

ɺ The angle between the line MH and the plane CHED is
‘MHN. Let N be the projection of V on the plane ABC.
10 Join AN, BN and CN.
NE cm
2 ːVAN ؆ ːVBN ؆ ːVCN (RHS)
5 cm ɺ AN BN CN (corr. sides, ؆ːs)
Consider ːNHE. ɺ ːNBA ؆ ːNCB ؆ ːNCA (SSS)
HN 2 HE 2  NE 2 (Pyth. theorem) ‘ABC
ɺ ‘NCB (corr. ɳs, ؆ːs)
2
HN 42  52 cm
60q (prop. of equil. ː)
41 cm 2
Consider ːMHN. 30q
MN ɺ ɳBNC ɳBNA ɳCAN (corr. ɳs, ؆ːs)
tan ‘MHN
HN 360q
(ɳs at a pt.)
4 cm 3
41 cm 120q
‘MHN 32q (cor. to the nearest degree)
ɺ The angle between the line MH and the plane CHED is
32q.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Consider ːNBC. Consider ːPSQ.

By the sine formula, we have PQ
sin ‘PSQ
BN BC PS
sin ‘NCB sin ‘BNC x
PS
BN 6 cm sin 40q
sin 30q sin120q PQ
tan ‘PSQ
6 QS
BN cm
3 x
Consider ːVBN. QS
tan 40q
VN VB 2  BN 2 (Pyth. theorem) Consider ːRPS.
2 By the cosine formula, we have
§ 6 ·
62  ¨ ¸ cm RS 2 PR 2  PS 2  2( PR)( PS )cos ‘RPS
© 3¹ 2
§ x · § x ·
24 cm (2 x) 2  ¨ ¸  2 2x ¨ ¸ cos100q
© sin 40q ¹ © sin 40q ¹
2 6 cm ª § 1 · 4cos100q º
2

ġ ɺ The height of the regular tetrahedron is 2 6 cm Ǥ x 2 « 22  ¨ ¸  »

¬« © sin 40q ¹ sin 40q ¼»

8. Answer: D | 7.5009 x 2
Let AB = h. Consider ːRQS.
Consider ːABC. By the cosine formula, we have
AB QR 2  QS 2  RS 2
tan ‘ACB cos ‘RQS
BC 2(QR )(QS )
h 2
tan 25q § x ·
BC ( 3 x) 2  ¨ ¸  7.5009 x
2

© tan 40q ¹
h |
BC § x ·
tan 25q 2( 3 x) ¨ ¸
© tan 40q ¹
Consider ːABD.
‘RQS | 138.2632q
AB
tan ‘ADB 138q (cor. to nearest degree)
BD
h
tan 50q 10. Answer: C
BD
h
BD
tan 50q
Consider ːBCD.
BC
tan ‘BDC
BD
h
tan 25q With the notations in the figure, let w m and h m be the
h width and the height of the wall respectively.
tan 50q Then A = wh.
tan 50q Consider ːPQU.
tan 25q PU
tan ‘PQU
‘BDC 69q (cor. to the nearest degree) PQ
hm
tan E
9. Answer: D PQ
Let PQ = x. h
Consider ːPRQ. PQ m
tan E
PQ
sin ‘PRQ ɳQPZ ɳXPY T (vert. opp.ɳs)
PR
x Area of PQRS
PR 2 u area of ː PQS
sin 30q
1
2x 2 u u PQ u PS u sin ‘QPS
PQ 2
tan ‘PRQ h
QR u w u sin(90q  T ) m 2
tan E
x
QR wh cos T 2
tan 30q m
tan E
3x
A cos T 2
m
tan E

54 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

11. Answer: B Consider ːFPQ.

2 By the cosine formula, we have
CQ 6 u cm 4 cm
3 FP 2  FQ 2  PQ 2
cos ‘PFQ
1 2( FP )( FQ)
PC CR cm 6u 3 cm
2 6l 2  9l 2  3l 2
Consider ːPQC.
2( 6l )(3l )
PQ 32  42 cm (Pyth. theorem) 12
5 cm 6 6
Consider ːPRC.
6
PR 32  32 cm (Pyth. theorem) 3
18 cm
Consider ːQRC. 13. Answer: B
Consider ːABD.
QR 4  3 cm (Pyth. theorem)
2 2

ɻ AB AD and BP PD
5 cm
ɺ APʄBD (converse of ʄ bisector property)
Consider ːPQR.
ɻ ːABP ؆ ːADP (SSS)
PQ  QR  PR
Let s . ɺ ɳBAP ɳDAP (corr. ɳs, ؆ːs)
2
AB 2  AD 2 BD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
5  5  18 § 18 ·
i.e. s cm ¨¨ 5  ¸ cm (2 cm)  (2 cm)
2 2
BD 2
2 © 2 ¸¹
BD 2 2 cm
Area of the base PQR
Consider the area of ːABD.
s ( s  PQ)( s  QR)( s  PR)
( AB )( AD ) ( BD )( AP )
§ 18 · § 18 · § 18 · 2 2
¨¨ 5  ¸¸ u ¨¨ 5   5 ¸¸ u ¨¨ 5   5 ¸¸ u
© 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ (2)(2) (2 2)( AP)
cm 2
§ 18 · 2 2
¨¨ 5   18 ¸¸ AP 2 cm
© 2 ¹
Similarly, AQ 2 cm
9.6 cm 2 (cor. to 1 d.p.)
Consider ːABC.
By the cosine formula, we have
12. Answer: D
Let the length of a side of the cube be 2l. BC 2 AB 2  AC 2  2( AB )( AC )cos ‘BAC
Consider ːABC. BC 22  22  2(2)(2) cos30q cm
AC AB  BC 2 2
(Pyth. theorem)
8  4 3 cm
(2l )  (2l )2 2
2 2  3 cm
8l ɻ P and Q are mid-points of BD and CD respectively.
1 BC
AP PC AC 2l (property of square) ɺ PQ (mid-pt. theorem)
2 2
Consider ːFPA. 2 2 3
FP 2 FA2  AP 2 (Pyth. theorem) cm
2
(2l ) 2  ( 2l ) 2 2  3 cm
6l 2 Consider ːAPQ.
FP 6l By the cosine formula, we have
Consider ːFQH. AP 2  AQ 2  PQ 2
cos ‘PAQ
FQ 2 FH 2  HQ 2 (Pyth. theorem) 2( AP )( AQ )

AC  HQ 2 2
( 2) 2  ( 2) 2  ( 2  3 ) 2
( 8l ) 2  l 2 2( 2)( 2)
‘PAQ 21q (cor. to the nearest degree)
9l 2
FQ 3l
Consider ːQPC.
PQ 2 QC 2  PC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
l  ( 2l )
2 2

3l 2
PQ 3l

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

14. Answer: A 1
For I: ɺ BE a
3
ɻ CF DE and BF AE
CF DE Consider ːABE.
ɺ AB 2 AE 2  BE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
BF AE
tan ‘CBF tan ‘DAE 2
§ 1 ·
tan b tan c AE a2  ¨ a¸
© 3 ¹
b c
2
ɺ I is true. a
For II: 3
ɻ BC is a line of greatest slope of the inclined plane
ABCD and DG is not a line of greatest slope of the 2. Let OA x.
inclined plane ABCD. OE AE  AO
ɺ The angle between BC and the horizontal ground is
2
greater than the angle between DG and the horizontal ax
ground. 3
ɺ ɳCBF > ɳDGE Consider ːOBE.
i.e. b > d OB 2 OE 2  BE 2 (Pyth. theorem)
ɺ II is true. 2
For III: § 2 · § 1 ·2
x2 ¨¨ 3 a  x ¸¸  ¨© 3 a ¸¹
ɻ BF AE and AG > HB © ¹
ɺ EG > HF 2 2 2 1
1 1 x2 a 2 ax  x 2  a 2
ɺ  3 3 3
EG HF
2
DE CF 2 ax a2
 3
EG HF
tan ‘DGE  tan ‘CHF a
x
tan d  tan a 2
2
3
d a
ɺ III is false. 1 3
a
ɺ The answer is A. 2 2
1 3
ɺ OA a
2 2
Investigation Corner (p. 6.84)

1. 3. Consider ːOAB.
By the cosine formula, we have
OA2  OB 2  AB 2
cos ‘AOB
2(OA)(OB )
2 2
§1 3 · §1 3 ·
¨¨ a ¸¸  ¨¨ a ¸¸  a 2
© 2 2 ¹ © 2 2 ¹
§ 1 3 ·§ 1 3 ·
2 ¨¨ a ¸¨
¸¨ a ¸¸
© 2 2 ¹© 2 2 ¹
1
 a2
360q 4
‘BEC (‘s at a pt.) 3 2
3 a
4
120q
1
Let BE EC y. 
Consider ːBEC. 3
By the cosine formula, we have ‘AOB 109q (cor. to the nearest degree)
BC 2 BE 2  EC 2  2( BC )(EC )cos ‘BEC ɺ The bond angle of the diamond is 109q.
a 2
y  y  2( y )( y )cos120q
2 2

a2 3y2
a2
y
3
1
a
3

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Exam Focus

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

Try a Similar Question – Question 1 (p. 6.73)
(a) (i) Consider ːABC.
AB 2  BC 2 (202  152 ) cm2
252 cm2
AC 2
ɺ ɳABC = 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
BC
cos ‘ACB
AC
15
25
‘ACB | 53.1301q
53.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ ɳBCX = ɳACB 53.1q 1A
(ii) Consider ːBCX.
‘BCX  ‘BXC  ‘CBX 180q (‘ sum of ː)
‘CBX | 180q  53.1301q  70q
| 56.8699q
By the sine formula, we have
CX BC
1M
sin ‘CBX sin ‘BXC
15sin 56.8699q
CX | cm
sin 70q
| 13.3676 cm
13.4 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(3)
(b) (i) Consider ːABC in Figure (b).
By the cosine formula, we have
AB 2  BC 2  AC 2
cos ‘ABC 1M
2( AB)( BC )
202  152  112
2(20)(15)
‘ABC | 32.8599q
32.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(ii) Refer to Figure (a).

Let P be the foot of perpendicular from C to BX and CP produced

meets AB at Q.

57 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

Consider ːBCP.
CP
sin ‘CBP 1M
BC
CP | 15sin 56.8699q cm
either one
| 12.5615 cm
BP
cos ‘CBP
BC
BP | 15cos56.8699q cm
| 8.1981 cm
‘ABX ‘ABC  ‘CBX
| 90q  56.8699q
| 33.1301q
Consider ːQPB.
PQ
tan ‘QBP
BP
PQ | 8.1981 tan 33.1301q cm
| 5.3504 cm
BP
cos ‘QBP
QB
8.1981
QB | cm
cos 33.1301q
| 9.7896 cm
Refer to Figure (b).

ɻ BX is the line of intersection of ːAXB and ːCXB with

BXʄCP and BXʄQP.
ɺ The angle between ːAXB and ːCXB is ɳCPQ. 1M
Consider ːQCB.
By the cosine formula, we have
CQ 2 QB 2  BC 2  2(QB)( BC ) cos ‘QBC
| [9.78962  152  2(9.7896)(15) cos32.8599q] cm 2
| 74.1384 cm2
Consider ːCPQ.
By the cosine formula, we have
CP 2  PQ 2  CQ 2
cos ‘CPQ
2(CP)( PQ)
12.56152  5.3504 2  74.1384
|
2(12.5615)(5.3504)
‘CPQ 33.4q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The required angle is 33.4°. 1A
(5)

58 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2024

 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

Try a Similar Question – Question 2 (p. 6.74)
Answer: B
Consider ːDAF.
DF 2 AD 2  FA2 (Pyth. theorem)
DF 42  62 cm
52 cm (or 2 13 cm)
Similarly, AE 52 cm (or 2 13 cm)
ɻ AE and DF bisect each other. (property of square)
1
ɺ EX XA AE 13 cm
2
AB = EH = 18 cm
§ 1 ·
AY ¨18 u ¸ cm 6 cm
© 2 1¹
BY = AB – AY = 18 cm – 6 cm = 12 cm
Consider ːAYX.
XY 2 XA2  AY 2 (Pyth. theorem)
XY ( 13) 2  62 cm
7 cm
Consider ːEHX.
HX 2 EH 2  EX 2 (Pyth. theorem)
HX 182  ( 13) 2 cm
337 cm
HB = EA = 52 cm
Consider ːBHY.
HY 2 HB 2  BY 2 (Pyth. theorem)
HY ( 52) 2  122 cm
14 cm
Consider ːXYH.
By the cosine formula, we have
XY 2  HY 2  XH 2
cos ‘XYH
2( XY )( HY )
7 2  142  ( 337) 2
2(7)(14)
23

49
sin ‘XYH 1  cos 2 ‘XYH
2
§ 23 ·
1 ¨  ¸
© 49 ¹
12 13
49

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

Exam-type Questions (p. 6.75)
1. (a) Consider ːACD.
By the sine formula, we have
AC CD
1M
sin ‘ADC sin ‘CAD
13 15
sin ‘ADC sin 67q
13sin 67q
sin ‘ADC
15
‘ADC | 52.91776055q
or 127.0822394q (rejected)
‘ACD 180q  ‘DAC  ‘ADC (‘ sum of ː)
| 180q  67q  52.91776055q
| 60.08223945q
60.1q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
Consider ːABC.
BC AC 2  AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
13  5 cm
2 2

12 cm
Consider ːBCD.
By the cosine formula, we have
BD 2 BC 2  CD 2  2( BC )(CD) cos ‘BCD 1M
[12  15  2(12)(15) cos 52q] cm
2 2 2

BD | 12.1392697 cm
12.1 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(4)
(b) Consider ːACD.
AD 2 AC 2  CD 2  2( AC )(CD) cos ‘ACD
| [132  152  2(13)(15) cos 60.08223945q] cm 2
| 199.484 989 8 cm 2
AB  BD 2 | (52  12.1392697 2 ) cm2
2

| 172.3618688 cm2
ɺ AB  BD2 z AD2
2
1M
ɺ ɳCBD is not the angle between the planes ABC and ABD.
ɺ The claim is not agreed. 1A follow through
(2)

2. (a) (i) Consider ːVAB.

By the cosine formula, we have
VA2  AB 2  VB 2
cos ‘VAB 1M
2(VA)( AB)
122  132  142
2(12)(13)
3
8
‘VAB | 67.97568716q
68.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

(ii) ɻ BX passes through the orthocenter of ːVAB.
ɺ BX is the altitude of ːVAB from B to VA
(i.e. BXʄVA).
Consider ːABX.
XA
cos ‘XAB
AB
3 XA
8 13 cm
39
XA cm
8
Consider ːVAD.
By the sine formula, we have
VD AD
= 1M
sin ‘VAD sin ‘AVD
9 cm AD
=
sin 43q sin 22q
9sin 22q
AD cm
sin 43q
| 4.943500657 cm
Consider ːXAD.
By the cosine formula, we have
DX 2 XA2  AD 2  2( XA)( AD) cos ‘XAD 1M
ª§ 39 ·
2
º
«¨ ¸  (4.943500657)
2
»
8
| «© ¹ » cm 2
« § 39 · »
« 2 ¨ ¸ (4.943500657) cos 43q »
¬« © 8 ¹ ¼»
| 12.95321058 cm 2
DX | 3.599056901 cm
3.60 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(5)
(b) Consider ːXAD.
ª § 39 · º
2

DX  XA | «12.95321058  ¨ ¸ » cm 2
2 2

¬« © 8 ¹ ¼»
| 36.71883558 cm 2
AD | 4.9435006572 cm2
2

| 24.43819875 cm2
ɺ DX 2  XA2 z AD2 1M
ɺ ɳDXA is not a right angle.
ɺ ɳBXD is not the angle between ːVAB and ːVAD.
ɺ The claim is not agreed. 1A follow through
(2)

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

3. (a) Consider ːDAC.
By the sine formula, we have
AD AC
1M
sin ‘DCA sin ‘ADC
15 cm 8 cm
sin 54q sin ‘ADC
8sin 54q
sin ‘ADC
15
‘ADC | 25.56125021q
‘DAC 180q  ‘DCA  ‘ADC (‘ sum of ː)
| 100.4387498q
100q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(2)
(b) ɻ M is the mid-point of AD.
15
ɺ AM cm 7.5 cm 1M
2
Consider ːMAC.
By the cosine formula, we have
CM 2 AC 2  AM 2  2( AC )( AM ) cos ‘MAC 1M
| ª¬8  7.5  2(8)(7.5) cos100.4387498qº¼ cm
2 2 2

| 141.9921166 cm 2
CM | 11.9160445 cm either one
Consider ːMAB.
By the cosine formula, we have
BM 2 AB 2  AM 2  2( AB)( AM ) cos ‘MAB
| [102  7.52  2(10)(7.5) cos100q] cm 2
| 182.2972267 cm 2
BM | 13.50174902 cm
Consider ːACB.
BC 102  82 cm (Pyth. theorem) 1M
6 cm
BM  CM  BC
Let s .
2
13.50174902  11.9160445  6
ɺ s| cm
2
| 15.70889676 cm
By Heron’s formula, we have
Area of ːBMC
15.70889676 u (15.70889676  13.50174902)
| cm2 1M
u(15.70889676  11.9160445) u (15.708896 6  6)
| 35.73192796 cm 2
! 35 cm2
ɺ The claim is not agreed. 1A follow through
(5)

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

4. (a) (i) Let BD = DE = EC = k cm.
Consider ːABD.
ɳABD = 60° (prop. of equil. ː)
By the cosine formula, we have
AD 2 AB 2  BD 2  2( AB)( BD) cos ‘ABD 1M
( 84) 2
(3k )  k  2(3k )(k ) cos 60q
2 2

84 7k 2
k 2 3
ɺ The length of the side of the equilateral triangle
3k cm
3(2 3) cm
6 3 cm 1A
(ii) Let N be the foot of the perpendicular from D to AB.
Then, DN is the shortest distance from D to AB.
Consider ːBDN.
DN
sin ‘ABD 1M
BD
DN
sin 60q
2 3
DN 2 3 sin 60q cm
3 cm
ɺ The shortest distance from D to AB is 3 cm. 1A
(4)
(b) (i) Join DN and EN in Figure (b).
ɻ ːDFN # ːEFN (AAS)
ɺ DN = EN and
ɳDNF = ɳENF = 90° (corr.ɳs, #ːs)
ɻ DNʄAF and ENʄAF
ɺ The angle between the planes AFD and AFE
is ɳDNE in Figure (b). 1M
Consider ːDNE in Figure (b).
By the cosine formula, we have
DN 2  EN 2  DE 2
cos ‘DNE 1M
2( DN )( EN )
32  32  (2 3) 2
2(3)(3)
1
3
‘DNE 70.5q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

(ii) Consider ːDPE.
By the cosine formula, we have
DP 2  EP 2  DE 2
cos ‘DPE 1M
2( DP)( EP)
2 DP 2  DE 2
2 DP 2
DE 2
1
2 DP 2
Since DE is a constant, when P moves from A to N,
the length of DP decreases, hence cosɳDPE decreases.
ɺ ɳDPE increases when P moves from A to N.
When P moves from N to F, the length of DP increases,
hence cosɳDPE increases.
ɺ ɳDPE decreases when P moves from N to F.
ɺ ɳDPE increases as P moves from A to N,
and decreases as P moves from N to F. 1A
(5)

5. (a) (i) Consider ːABC.

12  12  2 k
Let s cm (12  k ) cm .
2
Area of ːABC
(12  k )(12  k  12)(12  k  12)(12  k  2 k ) cm2 1M

(12  k )k (12  k ) cm 2
k (144  k ) cm 2 1A
(ii) Area of ːABC
k (144  k ) cm2
= k 2  144k cm2
(k 2  144k  722  722 ) cm 2 1M
72  (k  72) cm
2 2 2

ɻ When k increases from 9 to 16, (k – 72)2 decreases. 1M

ɺ When k increases from 9 to 16,
area of ːABC increases. 1A
(5)

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

(b) Refer to Figure (a).
ɻ Both ːABM and ːAMC have the same height from
base BM and MC respectively and
area of ːABM = area of ːAMC.
12
ɺ BM MC cm 6 cm 1M
2
Consider the area of ːABC.
1
722  (16  72) 2 cm 2 ( AC )( BC ) sin ‘ACB
2
1
32 2 (12)(12) sin ‘ACB
2
4 2
sin ‘ACB
9
2
§4 2·
cos ‘ACB 1  ¨¨ ¸¸
© 9 ¹
7
9
Consider ːAMC.
By the cosine formula, we have
AM 2 CA2  CM 2  2(CA)(CM ) cos ‘ACM
ª 2 § 7 ·º
«12  6  2(12)(6) ¨ 9 ¸ » cm
2 2

¬ © ¹ ¼
68 cm 2
AM 2 17 cm
Refer to Figure (b).

AN 68  32 cm (Pyth. theorem) 1M
59 cm either one
Consider ːBMN.
BN 62  32 cm (Pyth. theorem)
27 cm
3 3 cm
Consider ːCMN.
CN 62  32 cm (Pyth. theorem)
27 cm
3 3 cm

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

Consider ːANB.
By the cosine formula, we have
AB 2  AN 2  BN 2
cos ‘BAN 1M
2( AB)( AN )
2 2
82  59  27
2(8)( 59)
‘BAN | 38.63552806q either one
Consider ːANC.
By the cosine formula, we have
AC 2  AN 2  CN 2
cos ‘CAN
2( AC )( AN )
2 2
122  59  27
2(12)( 59)
‘CAN | 17.3081133q
ɺ ‘BAC ‘BAN  ‘CAN 1M
| 55.94364136q
ɺ Volume of the tetrahedron ABCM
1
u area of ːABC u MN
3
1 ª1 º
| « (8)(12) sin 55.94364136q» (3) cm3 1M
3 ¬2 ¼
39.8 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(6)

6. (a) Refer to Figure (a).

In parallelogram ABCD,
AD = BC = 28 cm (opp. sides of // gram)
ɳFAD = ɳBCD = 50° (opp. ɳs of // gram)
ɳAFD = ɳEDF = 55° (alt. ɳs, AF // DE)
Consider ːADF.
‘ADF 180q  50q  55q (‘ sum of ː) 1M
75q
By the sine formula, we have
AF AD
1M
sin ‘ADF sin ‘AFD
AF 28 cm
sin 75q sin 55q
28sin 75q
AF cm either one
sin 55q
33.0 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
By the sine formula, we have
DF AD
sin ‘FAD sin ‘AFD
DF 28 cm
sin 50q sin 55q
28sin 50q
DF cm
sin 55q

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

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Consider ːDFE.
‘DFE 180q  55q  65q (‘ sum of ː)
60q
By the sine formula, we have
DE DF
sin ‘DFE sin ‘DEF
28sin 50q
cm
DE sin 55q
sin 60q sin 65q
28sin 50q sin 60q
DE cm
sin 65q sin 55q
25.0 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(4)
(b) Refer to Figure (b).
Note that APʄPF.
ɺ ɳAFP is the angle between AF and the horizontal ground. 1M
Consider ːAPF.
AP
sin ‘AFP 1M
AF
15
28sin 75q
sin 55q
‘AFP | 27.02065974q
27.0q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The required angle is 27.0°. 1A
(3)
(c) Let Q be the projection of point D on the horizontal ground
and X be the foot of perpendicular from D to FE. AD produced
and FE produced meet at R.

(i) ɻ AF // DE
ɺ The angle between AF and the horizontal ground
is equal to the angle between DE and the horizontal
ground.
The shortest distance between the point D and the horizontal
ground is DQ. 1M
Consider ːDEQ.
DQ
sin ‘DEQ
DE
15 DQ
28sin 75q 28sin 50q sin 60q
cm
sin 55q sin 65q sin 55q
15sin 50q sin 60q
DQ cm
sin 75q sin 65q
11.4 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The shortest distance between the point D
and the horizontal ground is 11.4 cm. 1A

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

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(ii) FE is the line of intersection of the quadrilateral AFED
and the horizontal ground.
ɻ QX is the projection of DX on the horizontal ground
and DXʄFE.
ɺ QXʄFE (theorem of three perpendiculars) 1M
ɺ The angle between the quadrilateral AFED and
the horizontal ground is ɳDXQ. 1M
Consider ːDEX.
DX
sin ‘DEX 1M
DE
DX
sin 65q
28sin 50q sin 60q
cm
sin 65q sin 55q
either one
28sin 50q sin 60q
DX cm
sin 55q
Consider ːDQX.
DQ
sin ‘DXQ
DX
15sin 50q sin 60q
sin 75q sin 65q
28sin 50q sin 60q
sin 55q
15sin 55q
28sin 75q sin 65q
‘DXQ | 30.08455828q
! 30q
ɺ The claim is disagreed. 1A follow through
(6)

7. (a) (i) Consider ːCPQ.

By the cosine formula, we have
PQ 2 CP 2  CQ 2  2(CP)(CQ) cos ‘PCQ 1M
PQ 162  152  2(16)(15) cos80q m
| 19.9411 m
19.9 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(ii) Consider ːACP.
AC
cos ‘ACP 1M
CP
AC
cos 25q
16 m
either one
AC 16 cos 25q m
| 14.5009 m
AP
sin ‘ACP
CP
AP
sin 25q
16 m
AP 16sin 25q m
| 6.7619 m

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

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Consider ːBCQ.
BC
cos ‘BCQ
CQ
BC
cos 55q
15 m
BC 15cos 55q m
| 8.6036 m
BQ
sin ‘BCQ
CQ
BQ
sin 55q
15 m
BQ 15sin 55q m
| 12.2873 m
Let N be a point on BQ such that PNʄBQ.
NQ BQ  AP
| (12.2873  6.7619) m
| 5.5254 m
Consider ːNPQ.
NP 2  NQ 2 PQ 2 (Pyth. theorem)
NP | 19.94112  5.52542 m
| 19.1603 m
AB NP | 19.1603 m
Consider ːABC.
By the cosine formula, we have
AC 2  BC 2  AB 2
cos ‘ACB 1M
2( AC )( BC )
14.50092  8.60362  19.16032
|
2(14.5009)(8.6036)
‘ACB | 109.3850q
109q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(5)
(b) ‘ACD  ‘ACB 180q (adj. ‘s on st. line)
‘ACD | 180q  109.3850q
70.6150q
Consider ːACD.
By the cosine formula, we have
AD 2 AC 2  DC 2  2( AC )( DC ) cos ‘ACD 1M
AD | 14.50092  8.60362  2(14.5009)(8.6036) cos 70.6150q m
| 14.1943 m
Consider ːADP.
DP 2 AP 2  AD 2 (Pyth. theorem) 1M
DP | 6.76192  14.19432 m
15.7 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
 CP
ɺ Simon’s claim is disagreed. 1A follow through
(3)

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

8. (a) Let M be the mid-point of FD.
ɻ AF = AD and DM = FM
ɺ AMʄDF (converse of ʄ bisector property)
ɻ EF = ED and DM = FM
ɺ EMʄDF (converse of ʄ bisector property)
DF is the line of intersection of the planes AFD and EFD.
ɺ The angle between the planes AFD and EFD is
ɳAME.
Consider ːEFM.
EM 2  FM 2 EF 2 (Pyth. theorem) 1M
2
§ 12 ·
EM 202  ¨ ¸ cm
© 2¹
364 cm
Consider ːAEM.
AE
tan ‘AME 1M
EM
AE
tan 60q
364 cm
AE 364 tan 60q cm
| 33.0454 cm
33.0 cm (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(3)
(b) (i) Distance between XY and BC
EM
1M
2
364
cm
2
33.0454 cm
tan D |
364
cm
2
D 73.9q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 1A
(ii) ɻ XF is not a line of greatest slope on the plane XFDY. 1M
ɺ α must be greater than that between the line XF
and the plane EFD. 1A follow through
(4)

9. (a) ɻ P, Q and R are mid-points of AB, BC and AC respectively.

ɺ OPʄAB, OQʄBC and ORʄAC
(line joining centre to mid-pt of chordʄchord)
OP OA2  AP 2 (Pyth. theorem)
2
§ 14 2 ·
102  ¨¨ ¸¸ cm
© 2 ¹
2 cm 1A

OQ OB 2  BQ 2 (Pyth. theorem)
2
§ 16 ·
102  ¨ ¸ cm
© 2¹
6 cm 1A

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

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OR OC  CR
2 2
(Pyth. theorem)
2
§ 10 2 ·
102  ¨¨ ¸¸ cm
© 2 ¹
5 2 cm 1A
(3)
(b) (i) ɻ OQʄBC
ɺ The projection of O on ːVBC lies on VQ.
ɺ The angle between VO and ːVBC is ɳOVQ.
ɺ ɳOVQ = 45°
ɺ VO = OQ = 6 cm
Similarly, the angle between VO and ːVAC is ɳOVR. 1M
Consider ːOVR.
OR
tan ‘OVR 1M
VO
5 2
6
‘OVR | 49.6845q
49.7q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between VO and ːVAC is 49.7°. 1A
(ii) The angle between VP and VR is ɳPVR.
BC
PR 8 cm (mid-pt. theorem) 1M
2
VP VO 2  OP 2 (Pyth. theorem) 1M
62  ( 2) 2 cm
either one
38 cm
VR VO 2  OR 2 (Pyth. theorem)
62  (5 2)2 cm
86 cm
Consider ːPVR.
By the cosine formula, we have
VP 2  VR 2  PR 2
cos ‘PVR 1M
2(VP)(VR)
38  86  82
2( 38)( 86)
‘PVR | 58.34632547q
58.3q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between VP and VR is 58.3°. 1A
(iii) Join PQ.
Let S be the foot of perpendicular from O to PQ.
The angle between VO and ːVPQ is equal to ɳOVS.
AC
PQ 5 2 cm (mid-pt. theorem)
2

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

PQ  OP  OQ
Let s .
2
5 2  2 6
ɺ s cm (3  3 2) cm
2
Consider the area of ːPQO.
1 (3  3 2) u (3  3 2  5 2)
( PQ)(OS ) cm 2 1M
2 u(3  3 2  2) u (3  3 2  6)
1
(5 2)(OS ) 3 cm 2
2
3 2
OS cm
5
Consider ːVSO.
OS
tan ‘OVS
VO
3 2
5
6
‘OVS | 8.049466976q
8.05q (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
ɺ The angle between VO and ːVPQ is 8.05°. 1A
(9)

10. Answer:A
QR 392  362 cm (Pyth. theorem)
15 cm
PR  QR 2 (82  152 ) cm2
2

289 cm2
PQ 2
ɺ ɳPRQ = 90° (converse of Pyth. theorem)
ɻ QR is perpendicular to the plane VPR.
ɺ R is the projection of Q on the plane VPR.
ɺ The angle between VQ and the plane VPR is ɳQVR.
Consider ːVRQ.
VR
cos ‘QVR
VQ
36
39
‘QVR 23q (cor. to the nearest degree)
ɺ The angle between VQ and the plane VPR is 23°.

11. Answer: A
Let BG = h.
Consider ːABG.
BG
cos ‘AGB
AG
h
cos 30q
AG
h
AG
cos 30q

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

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AB
tan ‘AGB
BG
AB
tan 30q
h
AB h tan 30q
Consider ːBCG.
BG
cos ‘BGC
CG
h
cos 20q
CG
h
CG
cos 20q
BC
tan ‘BGC
BG
BC
tan 20q
h
BC h tan 20q
Consider ːABC.
AC 2 AB 2  BC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AC (h tan 30q)2  (h tan 20q) 2
Consider ːACG.
By the cosine formula, we have
AG 2  CG 2  AC 2
cos ‘AGC
2( AG )(CG )
2 2
§ h · § h · 2

¸ ¨ ¸  (h tan 30q)  (h tan 20q)

2 2
¨
© cos 30q ¹ © cos 20q ¹
§ h ·§ h ·
2¨ ¸¨ ¸
© cos 30q ¹© cos 20q ¹
h2 h2
  h 2 tan 2 30q  h 2 tan 2 20q
cos 30q cos 2 20q
2

2h 2
cos 20q cos 30q
h2 h2
(1  sin 2 30q)  (1  sin 2 20q)
cos 30q
2
cos 20q
2

2h 2
cos 20q cos 30q
2h 2
2h 2
cos 20q cos 30q
cos 20q cos 30q
‘AGC 36q (cor. to the nearest degree)

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

12. Answer: D
Let D be a point on BC such that BCʄVD.
V

A D

B
ɻ AD is the projection of VD on the plane ABC and BCʄVD.
ɺ ADʄBC (theorem of three perpendiculars)
Then the angle between the planes VBC and ABC is ɳVDA,
i.e. ɳVDA = θ.
Consider ːABC.
BC 2 AB 2  AC 2 (Pyth. theorem)
BC 92  122 cm
15 cm
Consider the area of ːABC.
BC u AD AB u AC
2 2
15 cm u AD 9 cm u12 cm
2 2
36
AD cm
5
Consider ːVAD.
VA
tan ‘VDA
AD
12
tan T
36
5
5
3

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 6 Applications of Trigonometry in 3-dimensional Problems

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13. Answer: B
Let DC = x cm.
Consider ːBCD.
x cm
tan 67q
BC
x
BC cm
tan 67q
x cm
sin 67q
BD
x
BD cm
sin 67q
Consider ːACD.
AC
tan 31q
x cm
AC x tan 31q cm
x cm
cos 31q
AD
x
AD cm
cos 31q
Consider ːACB.
By the cosine formula, we have
AB 2 AC 2  BC 2  2( AC )( BC ) cos135q
2
§ x · § x ·
( x tan 31q) 2  ¨ ¸  2( x tan 31q) ¨ ¸ cos135q
© tan 67 q ¹ © tan 67q ¹
| 0.901907806 x 2
AB | 0.949688267 x
Consider ːABD.
By the cosine formula, we have
AB 2  AD 2  BD 2
cos ‘BAD
2( AB)( AD)
2 2
§ x · § x ·
0.901907806 x 2  ¨ ¸ ¨ ¸
| © cos 31q ¹ © sin 67q ¹
§ x ·
2(0.949688267 x) ¨ ¸
© cos 31q ¹
‘BAD 61q (cor. to the nearest degree)

14. Answer: C
ɻ AB : BI = 4 : 1 and G is the mid-point of CD.
1 1
ɺ HE GD AB and BI AB
2 4
ɺ BI < HE
FI BF 2  BI 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AH AE  HE (Pyth. theorem)
2 2

ɻ BF = AE and BI < HE
CF GH
ɺ FI < AH and ! , i.e. tan c > tan a
FI AH
ɺ c>a
ɻ CB is a line of the greatest slope of the plane ABCD.
ɺ b>c>a

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

15. Answer: A
Consider ːABQ.
AQ 2 AB 2  BQ 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AQ 122  52 cm
13 cm
ED = GB = (11 + 5) cm = 16 cm
DE 16
PD cm 8 cm
2 2
Consider ːADP.
AP 2 AD 2  DP 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AP 152  82 cm
17 cm
AQ  AP  QP
Let s .
2
13  17  4 x
i.e. s cm (15  2 x) cm .
2
By Heron’s formula, area of ːAQP
(15  2 x)[(15  2 x)  13][(15  2 x )  17][(15  2 x )  4 x ] cm 2
(15  2 x)(2 x  2)(2 x  2)(15  2 x) cm 2
22 ( x  1)( x  1)(15  2 x)(15  2 x) cm 2
2 ( x 2  1)(225  4 x 2 ) cm 2

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