Triangles

Compiled by: Guzhing

+263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758
[email protected]

Math law “the rate of change of success is directly

proportional to the effort applied and takes place in the
direction applied effort.”

Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758

pg. 1
 31.17691454
2
Area
15.58845727
Pythagoras ∴ 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 15.6𝑐𝑚2
theorem
Trigonometry

Sine rule
Cosine rule
Similarity and Calculate the area of the triangle ACD. [3]
congruency Solution
𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 ×ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Area =
2
5 × 12
AREA 2
There are basically two formulas used to calculate 60
area of a triangle. = 30𝑐𝑚2
1
2
1. 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = × 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 × ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ∴ 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 = 𝟑𝟎𝒄𝒎𝟐
2
This formula is mainly used on right angled
triangles only. Example: 𝒐𝒓 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎

𝑎 × 𝑏 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐
2
1 12 × 5 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛900
2. 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = × 𝑎 × 𝑏 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶
2
2
Where a and b are the sides which makes 60
0
angle sinC 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑛90 = 1 ⇒ = 30𝑐𝑚2
2
This is a universal formula that can used on ∴ 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 = 𝟑𝟎𝒄𝒎𝟐
all triangles including right angled triangles.
Example: PYTHAGORUS THEOREM

It is used to calculate sides on a right angled

triangle only.
The given data for Pythagoras theorem
2 sides given and calculating the missing
side

ABC is a triangle with AB = 9 cm, BC = 4

cm and 𝐴𝐵̂ 𝐶 = 1200 . Find the area of
triangle ABC. [3]

Solution
Since BC and BA are the sides which
makes angle 1200, so apply the formula
𝑎 × 𝑏 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶
Formulas
2
4×9×𝑠𝑖𝑛1200 ℎ𝑦𝑝 = √𝑜𝑝𝑝2 + 𝑎𝑑𝑗 2
Area =
2
ℎ𝑦𝑝2 = 𝑜𝑝𝑝2 + 𝑎𝑑𝑗 2

Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758

pg. 2
 If the angle is at H it means the side AK is the
𝑜𝑝𝑝 = √ℎ𝑦𝑝2 − 𝑎𝑑𝑗 2 opposite side.

𝑜𝑝𝑝2 = ℎ𝑦𝑝2 − 𝑎𝑑𝑗 2 SOH CAH TOA / CHA SHO TAO

𝑜𝑝𝑝
𝑎𝑑𝑗 = √ℎ𝑦𝑝2 − 𝑜𝑝𝑝2 𝑆𝑂𝐻 ⇒ sin 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
𝑎𝑑 2 = ℎ𝑦𝑝2 − 𝑜𝑝𝑝 2 𝑎𝑑𝑗
𝐶𝐴𝐻 ⇒ cos 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
𝑜𝑝𝑝
𝑇𝑂𝐴 ⇒ tan 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝

The given data on a right angle triangle determines

which formula to use. Example

In the diagram K is 5 km due east from M, D is 8 km

due south of K and C is 10 km due east of D.
calculate the length of MC.

SOLUTION

MC is a hypotenuse In the diagram BCD is straight line, AC = 12 cm and

KD is opposite 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷 = 450 .
Add 5 to 10 to make adjacent 15 km Calculate
So ℎ𝑦𝑝 = √𝑜𝑝𝑝2 + 𝑎𝑑𝑗 2 a. BC leaving your answer in surd form, [2]
b. sin 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷, leaving your answer in surd form,
[1]
√152 + 82
c. tan 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷. [2]
Using as much information as given below is
√289 necessary
√2 √2
𝐌𝐂 = 𝟏𝟕 𝐤𝐦 sin 450 = , cos 450 = , tan 450 = 1
2 2

Solution
Given data: hyp AC = 12 cm, angle 450, and 2
TRIGNOMETRY RATIO
missing sides BC and AB.
from the above information we use CAH to find BC
(SOH CAH TOA/ CHA SHO TAO)
𝑎𝑑𝑗(𝐵𝐶)
It is used to find sides and angles on a right angle a. cos 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝(𝐴𝐶)
triangle
𝐵𝐶
cos 450 =
12

Multiply both sides by 12 to make BC the

subject of formulae
12 × cos 450 = 𝐵𝐶
√2
Replace cos 450 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 2
from the given
NB: opposite side is determined by the opposite
interior angle i.e angle at A. information.
Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758
pg. 3
 √2 6√2
𝐵𝐶 = 12 × tan 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐵 =
2 6√2

𝐵𝐶 = 6 × √2 tan 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐵 = 1

∴ 𝐁𝐂 = 𝟔√𝟐 𝐜𝐦 ∵ tan 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷 = − tan 𝐴𝐵̂𝐶

b. Angle ACD is an obtuse angle ̂ 𝑫 = −𝟏

∴ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝑨𝑪

To solve the above triangle, we have to angle Acute angle Obtuse angle
apply Pythagoras theorem to find the Sin 30 = 0.5 150 = 0.5
side AB since we have to sides AC and cos 30 = 0.866 150 = - 0.866
BC. tan 30 = 0.577 150 = - 0.577
AB is an opposite side since it is This means for all obtuse angle in cos
opposite to the interior angle 450. and tan put negative sign.
5
3. It given that sin 𝑦 = 13 and that 𝑦 is an
𝑜𝑝𝑝 = √ℎ𝑦𝑝2 − 𝑎𝑑𝑗 2
acute angle. Find as common fraction.
a. cos(1800 − 𝑦 0 ), [2]
2
𝑜𝑝𝑝 = √122 − (6√2) b. tan 𝑦 0 . [1]
Solution
𝑜𝑝𝑝 = √144 − 72 𝑜𝑝𝑝
Since sin 𝑦 0 = ℎ𝑦𝑝 this means opp = 5 and hyp
= √72 = 13. Apply Pythagoras theorem to find adj.

𝑜𝑝𝑝 = 6√2 𝑐𝑚 𝑎𝑑𝑗 = √ℎ𝑦𝑝2 − 𝑜𝑝𝑝2

∴ 𝐀𝐁 = 𝟔√𝟐 𝐜𝐦 𝑎𝑑𝑗 = √132 − 52

𝑜𝑝𝑝 𝑎𝑑𝑗 = √144

sin 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
𝑎𝑑𝑗 = 12 𝑐𝑚
6√2
sin 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷 = But y0 is an acute angle so (1800 – y0) = obtuse
12
𝑎𝑑𝑗
a. cos 𝑦 0 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
√2 12
sin 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷 = cos 𝑦 0 =
2 13
√𝟐 𝟏𝟐
̂𝑫 =
∴ 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝑨𝑪 ∴ 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝟏𝟖𝟎𝟎 − 𝒚𝟎 ) = −
𝟐 𝟏𝟑

c. tan 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷 is an obtuse angle, so for all b. tan 𝑦 0 =

𝑜𝑝𝑝
𝑎𝑑𝑗
obtuse angle put a negative sign (-).
𝟓
Since tan 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐷 = − tan 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐵 ∴ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒚𝟎 =
𝟏𝟐
𝑜𝑝𝑝 (𝐴𝐵)
tan 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐵 = 𝑎𝑑𝑗 (𝐵𝐶)
Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758
pg. 4
SINE RULE Incomplete set = complete set

is applied when we have an incomplete set and Example:

complete set.
Incomplete set is a set with either side or angle
is missing.
Complete set is a set with both angle and side is
given.

Formula for calculating side

𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 In the diagram AB = 17.7 cm, BC = 12.5 cm and
= =
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴 sin 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶 𝐴𝐶̂ 𝐵 = 1160. Calculate 𝐵𝐴̂𝐶. [3]

In the diagram ABC, B = 390, C = 820, BC = SOLUTION

6.73 cm. Find AB. [3]
Incomplete set = complete set

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶
=
𝑎 𝑐
𝑎 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴 =
𝑐

12.5 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛1160
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴 =
Solution 17.7

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴 = 0.634741558
Sum of interior angle of a triangle is 1800.
Angle of A = 1800 – (820 + 390)
𝐴 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 (0.634741558)
= 590
By using incomplete = complete
Since C is an incomplete set and A is a complete 𝐴 = 39.40081894
set.
𝑐 𝑎 ∴ 𝑨 = 𝟑𝟗. 𝟒𝟎
=
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴
𝑎 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶
𝑐= COSINE RULE
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴

6.73 × sin 820 If all sides are given of a triangle it means apply
= cosine of angles
sin 590
𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐
𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑨 =
= 7.775033062 𝟐𝒃𝒄

∴ 𝒄 = 𝟕. 𝟕𝟖 𝒄𝒎 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐
𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑩 =
𝟐𝒂𝒄
Formula for calculating angle.
𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝒄𝟐
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝑨 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝑩 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝑪 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑪 =
= = 𝟐𝒂𝒃
𝒂 𝒃 𝒄
Example:
Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758
pg. 5
 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 − 𝑐 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐶 =
2𝑎𝑏

82 + 52 − 72
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐶 =
2×8×5
64 + 25 − 49
In the diagram AB = 7 m, BC = 8 m and AC = 5 =
80
m. calculate the interior angle of the shape
giving your answer correct to the nearest 0.10. 40
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐶 =
80
Solution
𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 − 𝑎2 40
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐴 = 𝐶 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )
2𝑏𝑐 80

52 + 72 − 82 𝐶 = 600
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐴 =
2×5×7
∴ 𝑪 = 𝟔𝟎𝟎
25 + 49 − 64 But sum of interior angle of a triangle add upto
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐴 =
70 1800,
Proof
10 A + B + C = 1800
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐴 =
70 81.8 + 38.2 + 60
= 1800 proven
10
𝐴 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )
70 COSINE RULE FOR SIDE
If you are given two side which makes an angle,
𝐴 = 81.7867893 apply cosine to find the third side

∴ 𝑨 = 𝟖𝟏. 𝟖𝟎 Formulas
𝑎 = √𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 − (2 × 𝑏 × 𝑐 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐴)
𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − 𝑏 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐵 =
2𝑎𝑐 𝑏 = √𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − (2 × 𝑎 × 𝑐 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐵)
72 + 82 − 52
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐵 = 𝑐 = √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 − (2 × 𝑎 × 𝑏 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐶
2×7×8
49 + 64 − 25 Example:
=
112
88
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐵 =
112
88
𝐵 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )
112 In the triangle ABC, AB = 9 cm, BC = 4 cm and
𝐵 = 38.2132107 𝐵𝐴̂𝐶 = 1200. Calculate AC. [4]

∴ 𝑩 = 𝟑𝟖. 𝟐𝟎 Solution

𝑏 = √𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − (2 × 𝑎 × 𝑐 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐵)
Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758
pg. 6
 𝑏 = √42 + 92 − (2 × 9 × 4 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠1200 ) SOLUTION
𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒
i. 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒
𝑏 = √133
in this case the larger shape is ABC and smaller
𝑏 = 11.53256259 shape is BDE.
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐵 𝐵𝐶
∴ 𝒃 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟓 𝒄𝒎 = =
𝐷𝐸 𝐵𝐷 𝐵𝐸
SIMILARITY AND CONCRUENCY 𝐴𝐶 10 𝐵𝐶
= =
3 6 𝐵𝐸
Similar triangles
Similar triangles have the same shap, but they 𝐴𝐵 𝐴𝐶
But complete set is 𝑎𝑛𝑑
may have different sizes. For two triangles to 𝐵𝐷 𝐷𝐸
have the same shape, the three angles of one 𝐴𝐶
triangle must be the same as the three angles of And incomplete set 𝐵𝐷
the other. Then the corresponding sides are all in
the same ratio. 10 × 3
Similar shapes are denoted with ///. 𝐴𝐶 =
6
Use the same concept in sine rule to calculate
the sides of similar shapes. 30
𝐴𝐶 =
6
Incomplete set = complete set
𝑨𝑪 = 𝟓 𝒄𝒎
𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒
And
𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 ii. To find the area of the shape ADEC
we have to find the area of the larger
Example: june 2017 ZIMSEC P1 shape.
ADEC = area ABC – area DBE
To find the area of area of triangle
ABC, find the scale factor or
enlargement.
𝐴𝐵 10
=
𝐵𝐷 6
5
∴ 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 3.

To find area square the scale factor

5 2 25
( ) =
3 9
Use proportion to find the area of ABC

9 3,6
In the diagram, ABC is a triangle in which DE is 25 more
parallel to AC. AB = 4cm, BD = 6 cm, and DE =
3 cm. 25
Find × 3,6 = 10𝑐𝑚2
9
i. AC, [2]
ii. The area of ADEC, if the area of the Therefore, area of ABC = 10 cm2
triangle DEB is 3,6 cm2. [3]
Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758
pg. 7
ADEC = ABC – DBE 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ × 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ
= 10 – 3,6 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑡 × 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ
= 6,4 cm2
15 × 6 90 9
∴ 𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑪 = 𝟔. 𝟒𝒄𝒎𝟐 = =
10 × 4 40 4
SIMILAR FIGURES: RATIO OF AREAS 9 3 2
Similar figures have the same shape. All =( )
4 2
corresponding angles are equal and the ratios of
corresponding side are the same. One figure is Example: two cuboids similar. The ratio of their
an enlargement of the other. lenths is 4 : 3. The volume of the smaller one is
54 cm2. What is the volume of the larger one?
Working
1. Divide the given length of the bigger Solution
shape with smaller shape to find the But the scale factor is 4 : 3, then raise the scale
scale factor. factor to power 3.
2. For area square the scale factor to find
area factor 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 4 4 3 64
3. For volume factor raise the scale factor = =( ) =
𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 3 3 27
to power three (3) 64
Therefore the volume factor is
27
Example: given that the length of bigger Use proportion to find the volume of the larger
rectangle is 15 cm and width is 6 cm and the cuboid
length of the smaller triangle is 10 cm, width is 4 If 27 = 54
cm. find the area of ratios. Volume ratio 64 = more

64
Solution × 54 = 128
27
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 ∴ 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑑 = 128 𝑐𝑚3
Two jugs are the same shape. One is 40 cm high
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒
and the other 32 cm high. Find in its simplest
15 form, the ratios of
10
reduce the dimentions to simple term or by i. The heights
dividing with common factor ii. The volumes
iii. The smaller jug holds 800 ml. how
15 5 3 much does the larger holds
÷ = Solution
10 5 2
3 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟 40 8
Therefore the scale factor is 2. i. 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟
= 32 ÷ 8 = 5 ∶ 4
To find the area factor then raise to power two
(2) the scale factor ∴ 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 5 ∶ 4
3 2 9
That is (2) = 4 5 3 125
9 ii. The volume ratio = (4) = 64
∴ 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
4
∴ 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑠 = 125 ∶ 64
Or
𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒
Area ratio = 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 iii.

smaller 800
larger more
Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758
pg. 8
 124 1
× 800 = 1562 𝑚𝑙
64 2

∴ 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐠 = 𝟏𝟓𝟔𝟐. 𝟓 𝐦𝐥

CONCRUENCY

Congruent triangles have both the same shape

and the same size. Two triangles are congruent if
any one of the following sets of conditions is
satisfied
1. the three sides of one triangle are equal
to the three sides of the other.
2. Two sides and the included angle of one
triangle are equal to two sides and the
included angle of the other
3. A side of one triangle is equal to a side
of the other and two pairs of
corresponding angles are equal.
4. They are both right-angled triangles, and
the hypotenuse and a second side of one
equal to hypotenuse and second side of
the other.

Guzha +263 714 078 546/ +263 772 579 758

pg. 9