ABC is a triangle, right-angled at C. P is the mid-point of AC, < PBC...

MATHEMATICS
WAEC 1999

ABC is a triangle, right-angled at C. P is the mid-point of AC, < PBC = 37° and |BC| = 5 cm. Calculate :

(a) |AC|, correct to 3 significant figures ;

(b) < PBA.

Explanation

solving triangle with cosine rule

Let |PC| = x cm; Hence, |AC| = 2x cm

\(\tan 37° = \frac{x}{5}\)

\(x = 5 \tan 37 \)

\(x = 3.768 cm\)

\(\therefore |AC| = 2 \times 3.768\)

= \(7.536 cm\)

\(\approxeq 7.54 cm\) (3 sig. figs)

(b) From \(\Delta ABC\),

\(\tan < ABC = \frac{7.536}{5} = 1.5072\)

\(< ABC = \tan^{-1} (1.5072) = 56.436°\)

\(\therefore < PBA = < ABC - < PBC\)

= \(56.436° - 37°\)

= \(19.436° \approxeq 19.44°\)



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