Geometry and Trigonometric Functions: Practice Exercises
Here are various Exercises to accompany the section Geometry
and Trigonometric Functions.
The Geometry of Right Triangles
- Given the indicated measurements in a triangle labeled
as follows:

where C = p/2, determine all the remaining
measurements. Note: This picture should only be used to
indicate the names of angles and their corresponding opposite sides; the
actual measurements in the picture will be different from those in the
Exercises.
- If we know that a = 5 in. and b
= 3 in., compute approximate values for c, A,
and B.
- If we know that b
= 3 ft. and c = 7 ft., compute approximate values for a, A,
and B.
- If we know that A = 0.8 radians
and b
= 3 m., compute approximate values for a, c,
and B.
Solution.
- Solve for the unknown measurement in each of the
following pictures. Note: This pictures are not drawn to
scale; they simply intended to provide an applied context for the question.
- Find the height, h, (to the roofline) of the building:
.
- Find how high, h , the kite is off
the ground:
.
- Find the angle, A, the 6 ft.
ladder makes with the ground:
(side view).
Solution.
Two General Formulas for Triangles
- Given the indicated measurements in a triangle labeled
as follows:

determine all the remaining measurements. Note: This picture
should only be used to indicate the names of angles and their
corresponding opposite sides; the actual measurements in the picture will be
different from those in the Exercises.
- If we know that a = 5 ft., b
= 3 ft., and c
= 7 ft., compute approximate values for C, A,
and B.
- If we know that a = 5 ft., b
= 3 ft., and c
= 9 ft., compute approximate values for C, A,
and B.
- If we know that a = 80 mi., B
= 0.25 radians, and C = 0.65 radians, compute approximate
values for A, c, and b.
- If we know that a = 15 m., A
= 0.4 radians, and c = 30 m., compute approximate values
for C, B, and b.
Solution.
- Solve for the unknown measurement in each of the
following pictures. Note: This pictures are not drawn to
scale; they simply intended to provide an applied context for the question.
- Find the length, L, of the lake:
(top view).
- Find the distance, d, to the top of the
mountain:
(side view)
- Use your answer to part b) to find the height, h, of the
mountain:
.
Solution.
Go to Algebraic
Functions.