Pythagoras & Trigonometry (Edexcel GCSE Maths: Higher)

Exam Questions

4 hours61 questions
1
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3 marks

X Y Z is a right-angled triangle.

q1-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Calculate the length of X Z. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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2
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3 marks

Here is a right-angled triangle.

q2-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Work out the length of A C. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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3
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3 marks
q3-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

L M N spaceis a right-angled triangle. M N space= 9.6 cm. L M= 6.4 cm.

Calculate the size of the angle marked x degree. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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4
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3 marks
q4-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Calculate the value of x. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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5
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3 marks
q5-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

P Q R spaceis a right-angled triangle. P R = 17 cm P Q space= 25 cm

Work out the size of angle R P Q. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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6
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2 marks

A B C spaceis a right-angled triangle.

q6-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Calculate the length of A B. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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7
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2 marks

P Q R spaceis a right-angled triangle.

q7-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Work out the size of the angle marked x. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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8a
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1 mark

Write down the exact value of cos30°

8b
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2 marks
SjGh85dW_q8b-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Given that sin30° = 0.5, work out the value of x.

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9
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2 marks

A B C spaceis a right-angled triangle.

q9-easy-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Calculate the length of A B. Give your answer correct to 2 decimal places.

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10
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3 marks

The diagram shows triangle ABC

q3-january-2022-1h-edexcel-igcse-maths

Work out the length of the side AB Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

...................................................... cm

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11
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3 marks

The diagram shows a rectangle and a diagonal of the rectangle.

q4-4-ma1-2hr-qp-jan20-paper2-igcse-maths

Work out the length of the diagonal of the rectangle.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

.....................cm

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12
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3 marks

The diagram shows a right-angled triangle.

q7-paper2h-nov2020-edexcel-igcse-maths

Calculate the value ofspace x. Give your answer correct to one decimal place.

x space equals space............................................

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13
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3 marks

Use Pythagoras’ theorem to work out the value of x.

q7-paper-3h-nov-2020-aqa-gcse-maths

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14
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1 mark

Write down the value of sin 45°.

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1
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3 marks
q1-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

A B C spaceis a right-angled triangle. space A C space= 6 cm A B  = 13 cm

Work out the length of B C. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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2
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5 marks

Here is a rectangle.

q2-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

The 8-sided shape below is made from 4 of these rectangles and 4 congruent right-angled triangles.

q2-2-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Work out the perimeter of the 8-sided shape. You must show all your working.

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3
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5 marks

Here is part of a field.

q3-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

This part of the field is in the shape of a trapezium. A farmer wants to put a fence all the way around the edge of this part of the field.

The farmer has 50m of fence.

Does he have enough fence? You must show all your working.

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4
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4 marks

The diagram shows a rectangular framework.

q4-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

The framework is made from 5 metal rods. The metal rods have a weight of 0.9 kg per metre.

Work out the total weight of the framework. Give your answer, in kg, correct to 3 significant figures.

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5
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4 marks

Trianglespace A B C spacehas perimeter 20 cm.

A B space= 7 cm. B C space= 4 cm.

By calculation, deduce whether triangle space A B C spaceis a right-angled triangle.

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6
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3 marks

The diagram shows a ladder leaning against a vertical wall.

q6-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

The ladder stands on horizontal ground.

The length of the ladder is 6 m. The bottom of the ladder is 2.25 m from the bottom of the wall.

A ladder is safe to use when the angle marked y is about 75°.

Is the ladder safe to use? You must show all your working.

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7a
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2 marks

A B C spaceis a right-angled triangle.

q7a-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Work out the size of angle A B C. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

7b
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1 mark

The length of the side space A B spaceis reduced by 1 cm.

The length of the side space B C spaceis still 7 cm. Angle space A C B spaceis still 90°

Will the value of cosspace A B C spaceincrease or decrease? You must give a reason for your answer.

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8a
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3 marks

The diagram shows the positions of three turbines A comma space B and C.

q8a-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

A is 6 km due north of turbine B. C is 4.5 km due west of turbine B.

Calculate the distance A C.

8b
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4 marks

Calculate the bearing of C from A. Give your answer correct to the nearest degree.

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9
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4 marks

A B C spaceis an isosceles triangle.

q9-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Work out the area of the triangle. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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10
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2 marks

Find the exact value of tan30° cross times sin60° Give your answer in its simplest form.

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11
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3 marks
q11-medium-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Calculate the length of P R. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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12
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4 marks

The diagram shows isosceles triangle A B C

q9-january-2022-1h-edexcel-igcse-maths

A B space equals space A C space equals space 17.5 space cm             B C space equals space 28 space cm

Calculate the area of triangle A B C

...................................................... cm2

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13
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3 marks

The diagram shows two vertical phone masts, A B and C D, on horizontal ground.

q12-4ma1-2hr-qp-jan22-paper2-igcse-maths

A B equals 6.2 space straight m      A C equals 244 space straight m     C D equals 30.7 space straight m

Work out the size of the angle of depression of B from D Give your answer correct to one decimal place.

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14
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4 marks

The diagram shows a trapezium.

q7-paper2hr-jan2019-edexcel-igcse-maths

Work out the value of y. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

y equals space space space space space space space space

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15
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1 mark
q6-paper1h-june2018-edexcel-igcse-maths

M comma space N and P are points on a circle, centre O.
M O N is a diameter of the circle.

M P space equals space 3.5 space c m
P N space equals space 9.7 space c m

Angle M P N space equals space 90 degree

Work out the circumference of the circle.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

....................................................... cm 

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16
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3 marks

From point A, Stanley walks 200 straight m due east to point B. From B, he then walks 160 space straight m due south to point C.

Work out the length of A C.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

.......................................metres

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17
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4 marks

A B C D is a trapezium.

q10-paper2hr-june2018-edexcel-igcse-maths

Work out the size of angle x.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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18
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4 marks

The diagram shows an isosceles triangle.

q9-paper1h-spec2016-edexcel-igcse-maths

Work out the area of the triangle.

.........................cm squared

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1
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4 marks

Triangles A B D and B C D are right-angled triangles.

q1-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Work out the value of x.
Give your answer correct to 2 decimal places.

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2
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5 marks

The diagram shows a quadrilateral A B C D.

q2-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

A B space equals space 16 space cm. space
A D space equals space 12 space cm. space
Angle space B C D space equals space 40 degree. space
Angle space A D B space equals space angle space C B D space equals space 90 degree.

Calculate the length of C D.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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3
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4 marks

The diagram shows two vertical posts, A B and C D, on horizontal ground.

q3-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

A B = 1.7 m
C D space colon space A B = 1.5 : 1

The angle of elevation of C from A is 52°.

Calculate the length of B D.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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4
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5 marks

A B C D is a trapezium.

q4-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

A D space equals space 10 space cm space
A B space equals space 9 space cm space
D C space equals space 3 space cm space
Angle space A B C space equals space angle space B C D space equals space 90 degree

Calculate the length of space A C.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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5
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4 marks
q5-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

A B C is a right-angled triangle.
D is a point on A B.

Angle A C D = 30°
space A D space= 10.4 cm
space D B space= 5.2 cm
space A C space= 18 cm

Work out the size of the angle marked x.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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6
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5 marks

A B C D is a trapezium.

q6-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Work out the size of angle C D A.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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7
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5 marks
q7-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

A B = 15 m
B C = 24 m
Angle B A D = 62°

Work out the size of angle B C D.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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8
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4 marks

The diagram shows a triangle D E F inside a rectangle A B C D.

q8-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Show that the area of triangle D E F is 8 cm2
You must show all your working.

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9
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3 marks

Here is a parallelogram.

q9-hard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

D C = 7cm
C B = 5 cm
Angle A B C is 40°


Work out the area of the parallelogram.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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10
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5 marks

The diagram shows a right-angled triangle.

q9-paper1h-june2018-edexcel-igcse-maths

Five of these triangles are put together to make a shape.

q9-2-paper1h-june2018-edexcel-igcse-maths

....................................................... cm

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11
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3 marks

A zip wire is shown as the dashed line A C in the diagram.

q14-4ma1-2h-qp-jan22-paper2-igcse-maths

The zip wire is supported by two vertical posts A B and C D standing on horizontal ground.

C D space equals space 2.6 space straight m         space B D space equals space 12 space straight m

The zip wire makes an angle x with the horizontal, as shown in the diagram.
The design of the zip wire requires the angle x to be at least 5°

Work out the least possible height of the post A B
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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12a
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3 marks

The diagram shows a vertical cliff with a vertical radio mast on top of the cliff and a buoy in the sea.

q12-4ma1-1h-qp-nov21-paper1-igcse-maths

The height of the cliff is 100 metres.
The buoy is at the point B that is space d spacemetres from the base of the cliff.
The angle of elevation from B to the top of the cliff is 20°

Calculate the value of d.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

d space equals ......................................................

12b
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3 marks

The point A at the top of the radio mast is vertically above the top of the cliff.
The angle of elevation from B to A is 25°

Calculate the height of the radio mast.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

....................................................... m

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13
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5 marks

The diagram shows a shaded shape space A B C D spacemade from a semicircle space A B C spaceand a right-angled triangle A C D.

q11-4ma1-2h-qp-jan20-paper2-igcse-maths

A C spaceis the diameter of the semicircle A B C.

Work out the perimeter of the shaded shape.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

....................cm

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14
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5 marks

The diagram shows four congruent right‐angled triangles A B J comma space B C I comma space C D H and D E G.
The diagram also shows the straight line A B C D E F.

q13-paper2hr-nov2020-edexcel-igcse-maths

A J space equals space 15 cm
Angle space B A J space equals space 35 degree

A F space equals space 80 cm

Work out the length of E F.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

............................................. cm

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15
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4 marks

Show that the value of    5 sin space 30 degree space cross times space cos space 30 degree space cross times space 8 tan space 30 degree   is an integer.

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16a
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1 mark

Write down the exact value of tan 60°.

16b
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4 marks

Find the exact area of this triangle.

q17b-paper5-spec2015-ocr-gcse-maths

..................... cm2

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1
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4 marks

A square, with sides of length x cm, is inside a circle.
Each vertex of the square is on the circumference of the circle.

The area of the circle is 49 cm2.

Work out the value of x.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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2
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4 marks
q2-veryhard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

A B C D is a rectangle.
C D E is a straight line.

A B = 12 cm
Angle A C B= 60°
Angle E A C = 90°

Calculate the length of C E.
You must show all your working.

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3a
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1 mark
q3-veryhard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

B comma space C and D are points on the circumference of a circle, centre O. B O D is a diameter of the circle.

A O space equals space 7 cm space space space space space space space space Angle space A B O equals space 90 degree space space space space space space space space space space space space Angle space O A B space equals space 35 degree space space space space space space space space space Angle space D B C equals space 70 degree

Explain why angle B C D is 90 degree

3b
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4 marks

Calculate the length of B C
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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4
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5 marks

The diagram represents a metal frame.

q4-veryhard-4-10-right-angled-triangle-edexcel-gcse-maths

The frame is made from four metal bars, A B comma space A C comma space B C and B D.

Angle A B C = angle A D B = 90°
A B = 5 m
B C = 3 m

Work out the total length of the four metal bars of the frame. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

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5
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4 marks

The table shows some values of x and y that satisfy the equation y space equals space a space cos space x degree space plus space b

x

0

30

60

90

120

150

180

y

3

1 plus square root of 3

2

1

0

1 minus square root of 3

negative 1

Find the value of y when x = 45

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6
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5 marks

Here is triangle A B D.

q10-paper1h-jan2019-edexcel-igcse-maths

The point C lies on B D.

A D space equals space 13 cm space space space space space space B C space equals space 8 cm space space space space space space space angle space A D B space equals space 90 degree space space space space space space angle space C A D space equals space 20 degree

Calculate the size of angle B A C.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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7
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5 marks

In the diagram, A B C is a right-angled triangle and D E F is a semicircular arc.

q9-4ma1-2hr-qp-jan22-paper2-igcse-maths

In triangle A B C

B C space equals space 24 space cm

angle space A B C space equals space 90 degree 

angle space B C A space equals space 30 degree

The points D and F lie on A C so that D F is the diameter of the semicircular arc D E F
The radius of the semicircular arc is 3cm.


Work out the length of A F E D C
Give your answer correct to 2 significant figures.

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8
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5 marks

The diagram shows the side view of a step ladder with a horizontal strut of length 48 cm.

The strut is one third of the way up the ladder.

The symmetrical cross section of the ladder shows two similar triangles.

q23-paper-3h-nov-2018-aqa-gcse-maths

Work out the vertical height, h cm, of the ladder.

...........................cm

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9
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4 marks

Simplify   fraction numerator 2 space sin space 45 degree minus tan space 45 degree over denominator 4 space tan space 60 degree end fraction

Give your answer in the form  fraction numerator square root of a minus square root of b over denominator c end fraction where a comma space b and c are integers.

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10a
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2 marks

A Big Wheel is modelled as a circle with centre O and radius 15 metres.

The wheel turns in an anticlockwise direction.

The lowest point on the wheel is always 2 metres above horizontal ground.

q24-paper2h-specimen2015-aqa-gcse-maths

C is a point on the wheel, h metres above horizontal ground.

Angle C O B space equals space x degree
Show that h equals space 17 space minus space 15 space cos space x degree

10b
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2 marks

D is a point on the wheel.

Angle D O B space equals space 120 degree

q24b-paper2h-specimen2015-aqa-gcse-maths

Work out the height of D above horizontal ground.

........................ metres

10c
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2 marks

Here is a sketch of the graph space h space equals space 17 space minus space 15 space cos space x degree spacefor one complete turn of the wheel.

P is the highest point on the graph.

q24c-paper2h-specimen2015-aqa-gcse-maths

Work out the coordinates of P.

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11
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6 marks

ADB and BCD are right-angled triangles.
BC = CD.
AD equals 10 square root of 6 space mm

Angle BAD = 30°.

tan space 30 degree equals fraction numerator 1 over denominator square root of 3 end fraction

q19b-paper5-nov2019-ocr-gcse-maths

Work out the length of BC.

...........................mm

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12
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5 marks

A, B, C and D are points on the circumference of a circle, centre O.

q8-paper4-june2018-ocr-gcse-maths

Angle CAD = 28° and CD = 6.4cm.
BD is a diameter of the circle.

Calculate the area of the circle.

...................... cm2

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13a
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2 marks

Without using a calculator, show that square root of 20 equals 2 square root of 5.

13b
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3 marks

The point A is shown on the unit grid below.
The point B is 2 square root of 5 units from A and lies on the intersection of two grid lines.

Mark one possible position for B.

q12b-paper4-spec2015-ocr-gcse-maths

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