Geometric reasoning and simple proofs worksheet — GCSE Foundation

1.Two triangular offcuts of wood, PQR and STU, are cut for a construction project. PQ = 8 cm, QR = 6 cm and angle PQR = 90°. ST = 8 cm, TU = 6 cm and angle STU = 90°. A carpenter wants to check the two pieces are identical in shape and size before using them as a matching pair. Using only the measurements given, and without working out any further lengths, which condition proves that triangle PQR is congruent to triangle STU?

2.Lines PQ and RS are parallel. A straight line crosses PQ at point X and crosses RS at point Y. Angle PXY = 63°. Angle PXY and angle XYS are co-interior (allied) angles, which add up to 180°. Work out the size of angle XYS.

3.A builder props a straight plank against a vertical wall to reach a window ledge. The foot of the plank is 2.1 m from the base of the wall, and the plank is 3.5 m long. Work out how high up the wall the plank reaches.

4.Triangles LMN and XYZ have LM = XY, MN = YZ and LN = XZ. Give a reason why triangle LMN is congruent to triangle XYZ.

5.A quadrilateral has angles of 100°, 85° and 95° at three of its vertices. Work out the fourth angle.

6.Two angles lie on a straight line. One angle is 118°. Which reason correctly explains why the other angle is 62°?

7.Triangle ABC is isosceles, with AB = AC. Angle B = 70°. Which reason correctly explains why angle C = 70°?

8.Triangle XYZ has angle X = 90°. Angle Y = 34°. Work out angle Z.

9.A children's slide is built as a right-angled triangle: the vertical ladder side is 2.4 m, the horizontal base along the ground is 3.2 m, and the sloping slide is the third side. Work out the exact length of the sloping slide.

10.In triangle ABC, point D lies on side AB and point E lies on side AC, so that DE is parallel to BC. AD = 3 cm, DB = 6 cm and DE = 4 cm. Work out the length of BC.

11.Triangle ABC is similar to triangle PQR. AB corresponds to PQ, and BC corresponds to QR. AB = 5 cm, PQ = 15 cm and BC = 7 cm. Work out the length of QR.

12.A rectangular gate is braced with a diagonal strut. The gate is 1.2 m wide and 0.9 m tall. Work out the exact length of the diagonal strut.

13.Triangle ABC is extended so that side BC is extended beyond C to a point D, forming exterior angle ACD. Angle BAC = 48° and angle ABC = 67°. Which single angle fact gives angle ACD = 115° in one step, without first working out the interior angle at C?

14.Two straight lines AB and CD cross at point O. Angle AOC = 74°. Work out angle AOD.

15.A vertical flagpole casts a shadow 6 m long at the same time as a 1.2 m vertical post casts a shadow 1.8 m long. The flagpole and the post are both vertical, and the triangles formed by each object, its shadow, and the sun's ray are similar. Work out the height of the flagpole.