Geometric reasoning and simple proofs worksheet — GCSE Foundation

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

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

3.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.

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

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

6.Triangle ABC is right-angled at B. Triangle DEF is right-angled at E. AB = DE = 6 cm and AC = DF = 10 cm (AC and DF are the hypotenuses of their triangles). A student says this is not enough information to prove the triangles are congruent, because only two sides are given. Which reason shows the student is wrong?

7.Lines AB and CD are parallel. A straight line EF crosses AB at point P and crosses CD at point Q. At P, angle APE = 65°. Angle APE and angle BPQ are vertically opposite. Angle BPQ and angle PQD are co-interior (allied) angles. Work out angle PQD.

8.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.

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

10.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.

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

12.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?

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

14.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.

15.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.