Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometric ratios worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.The top of a clock tower is 25 m above level ground. Oliver stands on the ground 25 m from the foot of the tower. Work out the angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the point where Oliver stands.

2.A flagpole is 12 m tall. Freya stands 9 m from the base of the flagpole on level ground. Work out the angle of elevation of the top of the flagpole from where Freya stands. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

3.A right-angled triangle has its two shorter sides equal to 8 cm and 15 cm. Work out the value of cos θ, where θ is the angle opposite the 8 cm side. Give your answer as a fraction.

4.A right-angled triangle has a hypotenuse of 8 cm, and one of its shorter sides is 4 cm. Work out the size of the angle between that 4 cm side and the hypotenuse.

5.Two vertical masts stand on level ground, 40 m apart. One mast is 30 m tall and the other is 50 m tall. Work out the straight-line distance between the tops of the two masts. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.

6.A support strut for a shed roof is in the shape of a right-angled triangle. The two shorter sides of the strut are 5 m and 9 m. Work out the length of the sloping strut (the hypotenuse). Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

7.A mast stands vertically on level ground and its top is 60 m above the ground. Amelia and Noah stand on the ground on the same side of the mast, in line with its foot. The angle of elevation of the top of the mast is 30° from where Amelia stands and 60° from where Noah stands. Work out the distance between Amelia and Noah. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.

8.A rectangular garden gate is 3 m wide and 4 m high. A straight brace runs from one corner of the gate to the opposite corner. Work out the length of the brace.

9.A right-angled triangle has a hypotenuse of 29 cm and one shorter side of 20 cm. Work out the length of the other shorter side.

10.A right-angled triangle has a hypotenuse of 10 cm and one of its other angles is 45°. Work out the length of one of the two shorter sides. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.

11.A cube has edges of length 5 cm. Work out the length of the diagonal that runs from one corner of the cube to the opposite corner. Give your answer as a surd in its simplest form.

12.A cuboid has length 3 cm, width 4 cm and height 12 cm. Work out the length of the diagonal that runs from one corner of the cuboid to the opposite corner.

13.In triangle ABC the angle at C is 90°, AC = 8 cm and the angle at A is 30°. Work out the length of BC. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.

14.In a right-angled triangle one of the other two angles is 45°, and the side opposite that 45° angle is 7 cm. Work out the length of the hypotenuse. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.

15.A right-angled triangle has two sides of length 5 cm and 12 cm, and the angle between those two sides is 90°. Work out the length of the hypotenuse.