Geometric reasoning and simple proofs worksheet — GCSE Foundation

1.Lines JK and LM are parallel. A straight line crosses JK at point P and crosses LM at point Q. Angle KPQ = 118°. Angle KPQ and angle MQP are co-interior (allied) angles. Work out angle MQP.

2.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?

3.In parallelogram PQRS, angle P = 65°. Which reason correctly explains why angle R = 65°?

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

5.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.

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

7.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.

8.A roof truss is shaped like an isosceles triangle resting on a horizontal ceiling joist. The truss's sloping edges are equal in length, and the angle at its apex is 40°. The ceiling joist continues in a straight line beyond the foot of the truss. Work out the angle between the truss's sloping edge and the extended joist, on the outside of the truss.

9.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.

10.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?

11.Triangle PQR has angle P = 90°. The side PQ = 9 cm and the hypotenuse QR = 15 cm. Work out the length of PR.

12.Triangle DEF is isosceles, with DE = DF. Angle E = 58°. Give a reason why angle F = 58°.

13.Three angles meet at a single point on one side of a straight line. Two of the angles are 48° and 65°. Work out the third angle.

14.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.

15.A straight line passes through points A, B and C, with B between A and C. A fourth point D is not on the line. Angle ABD = 132°. Work out the size of angle DBC.