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Maths · More trigonometry

Solving problems in 3D

Use Pythagoras and trigonometry in cuboids and pyramids, find the length of a 3D diagonal, and find the angle between a line and a plane.

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Teacher resources

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Student handouts

The same files the students see, to print or hand out.

Warm-up

Answer each one, then check.

  1. 1

    What is Pythagoras' theorem?

    Show answerHide answer

    \(a^2 + b^2 = c^2\)

  2. 2

    What is \(\tan \theta\) in a right-angled triangle?

    Show answerHide answer

    \(\text{opposite} \div \text{adjacent}\)

  3. 3

    What is a diagonal?

    Show answerHide answer

    A line joining two corners that are not next to each other

  4. 4

    What is the volume of a cuboid?

    Show answerHide answer

    \(l \times w \times h\)

  5. 5

    Work out \(\sqrt{169}\).

    Show answerHide answer

    \(13\)

Learning Objectives

  1. 1Find the length of a diagonal of a cuboid.
  2. 2Find the height of a pyramid or a slant edge using Pythagoras.
  3. 3Find the angle between a line and a plane.
  4. 4Draw the right-angled triangle you need out of a 3D shape.

3D PROBLEMS

To solve a 3D problem, find a right-angled triangle inside the shape, draw it separately, then use Pythagoras or trigonometry.

Sketch the flat triangle with its lengths and angle, and work in that triangle.

Diagonal of a Cuboid

Two steps, both using Pythagoras.

  1. 1 Base diagonal

    \(AC^2 = l^2 + w^2\)
  2. 2 Space diagonal

    \(AG^2 = AC^2 + h^2 = l^2 + w^2 + h^2\)
  3. 3 Angle with the base

    \(\tan \theta = \dfrac{h}{AC}\)
  4. 4 Draw it

    Sketch triangle ACG separately with its right angle at C

Space Diagonal of a Cuboid

A cuboid measures 12 cm by 4 cm by 3 cm. Find the length of its longest diagonal.

Show the solutionHide the solution
  1. 1 Formula \(d^2 = 12^2 + 4^2 + 3^2\)
  2. 2 Add up \(d^2 = 144 + 16 + 9 = 169\)
  3. 3 Square root \(d = 13\)

AnswerThe longest diagonal is 13 cm.

Angle Between a Line and a Plane

A cuboid \(ABCDEFGH\) has \(AB = 8\) cm, \(BC = 6\) cm and \(CG = 5\) cm. Find the angle between \(AG\) and the base \(ABCD\).

Show the solutionHide the solution
  1. 1 Base diagonal \(AC = \sqrt{8^2 + 6^2} = 10\)
  2. 2 Right-angled triangle ACG \(\tan \theta = \dfrac{CG}{AC} = \dfrac{5}{10}\)
  3. 3 Inverse tangent \(\theta = \tan^{-1}(0.5) = 26.6^\circ\)

AnswerThe angle between \(AG\) and the base is \(26.6^\circ\) (1 d.p.).

A Square-Based Pyramid

A pyramid has a square base of side 8 cm and a vertical height of 10 cm. The apex is directly above the centre of the base. Find the length of a sloping edge.

Show the solutionHide the solution
  1. 1 Half the base diagonal \(\dfrac{\sqrt{8^2 + 8^2}}{2} = \dfrac{\sqrt{128}}{2} = 5.657\)
  2. 2 Triangle with the height \(\text{edge}^2 = 10^2 + 5.657^2 = 132\)
  3. 3 Square root \(\text{edge} = 11.5\)

AnswerThe sloping edge is 11.5 cm (3 s.f.).

The Angle Between a Line and a Plane

Always use the right angle.

  • Drop a perpendicular

    From the top of the line straight down to the plane.

  • Join to the base

    Draw the line from the foot of the perpendicular to the bottom of the original line.

  • The angle

    This is the angle between the line and the plane, and the triangle formed has a right angle.

  • Then

    Use sin, cos or tan as usual.

Find the Triangle

A cuboid is 9 cm long, 12 cm wide and 8 cm high. (a) Find the base diagonal. (b) Find the space diagonal. (c) Find the angle between the space diagonal and the base.

1. Work in the base first.

2. Then use the height.

A good answer shows: (a) \(\sqrt{9^2 + 12^2} = 15\) cm. (b) \(\sqrt{15^2 + 8^2} = 17\) cm. (c) \(\tan^{-1}(8 \div 15) = 28.1^\circ\).

Can I...?

  1. 1Draw a right-angled triangle from a 3D shape.
  2. 2Find a base diagonal.
  3. 3Find a space diagonal.
  4. 4Use Pythagoras twice.
  5. 5Find a pyramid slant edge.
  6. 6Find an angle between a line and a plane.
  7. 7Use tangent, sine or cosine.
  8. 8Give sensible accuracy.

Summary & Exam Focus

  • Space diagonal: \(d^2 = l^2 + w^2 + h^2\).
  • Angle with the base: \(\tan \theta = \dfrac{\text{height}}{\text{base diagonal}}\).
  • Pyramid: use half the base diagonal with the height.
  • Always sketch the triangle you are using.

Exam focus

\(ABCDEFGH\) is a cuboid with \(AB = 8\) cm, \(BC = 6\) cm and \(CG = 5\) cm. Work out the angle between \(AG\) and the base \(ABCD\). Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place. (4 marks) (4 marks)

Find the base diagonal first, then draw the right-angled triangle with the height.

Key terms

The vocabulary this lesson expects you to use. Each one is linked from the first place it appears above.

Cuboid
A 3D shape with six rectangular faces.
Space diagonal
A diagonal joining opposite corners through the inside of a cuboid.
Plane
A flat surface, such as the base.
Apex
The top point of a pyramid.
Slant edge
An edge from the apex to a base corner.
Angle of elevation
The angle looking up from horizontal.

Questions and answers

12 questions set on this lesson, with the mark schemes and model answers open.

1. Exam question Work out 3 marks Easier

A cuboid is 12 cm long, 4 cm wide and 3 cm high. Work out the length of the longest diagonal of the cuboid.

Mark scheme — 3 marks available

  • \(12^2 + 4^2 + 3^2\) — M1
  • 169 — A1
  • 13 — A1

Model answer

\(\sqrt{12^2 + 4^2 + 3^2} = \sqrt{169} = 13\) cm

2. Exam question Work out 4 marks Easier

\(ABCDEFGH\) is a cuboid with \(AB = 8\) cm, \(BC = 6\) cm and \(CG = 5\) cm. Work out the size of the angle between \(AG\) and the base \(ABCD\). Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

Mark scheme — 4 marks available

  • \(AC = \sqrt{8^2 + 6^2}\) — M1
  • \(AC = 10\) — A1
  • \(\tan \theta = \dfrac{5}{10}\) — M1
  • 26.6 — A1

Model answer

\(AC = \sqrt{8^2 + 6^2} = 10\); \(\tan \theta = \dfrac{5}{10}\), so \(\theta = 26.6^\circ\)

3. Exam question Work out 3 marks Easier

The diagram shows a pyramid with a square base of side 8 cm. The vertical height of the pyramid is 10 cm and the apex \(V\) is directly above the centre of the base. Work out the length of the sloping edge \(VA\). Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

A square-based pyramid with base side 8 cm and vertical height 10 cm, with the sloping edge VA to be found.

Mark scheme — 3 marks available

  • Half diagonal \(5.657\) — M1
  • \(10^2 + 5.657^2\) — M1
  • 11.5 — A1

Model answer

Half the base diagonal \(= \dfrac{\sqrt{8^2 + 8^2}}{2} = 5.657\); \(VA = \sqrt{10^2 + 5.657^2} = 11.5\) cm

4. Exam question Work out 4 marks Easier

A pyramid has a square base of side 8 cm and a vertical height of 10 cm. The apex is directly above the centre of the base. Work out the angle between a sloping edge and the base. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

Mark scheme — 4 marks available

  • Half diagonal \(5.657\) — M1
  • \(\tan \theta = \dfrac{10}{5.657}\) — M1
  • Correct angle expression — A1
  • 60.5 — A1

Model answer

\(\tan \theta = \dfrac{10}{5.657}\), so \(\theta = 60.5^\circ\)

5. Exam question Work out 3 marks Easier

\(AB\) is a vertical pole, 9 m tall, standing on level ground at \(B\). Points \(C\) and \(D\) are on the ground with \(BC = 12\) m, \(CD = 5\) m and angle \(BCD = 90^\circ\). Work out the angle of elevation of \(A\) from \(D\). Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

Mark scheme — 3 marks available

  • \(BD = 13\) — M1
  • \(\tan \theta = \dfrac{9}{13}\) — M1
  • 34.7 — A1

Model answer

\(BD = \sqrt{12^2 + 5^2} = 13\); \(\tan \theta = \dfrac{9}{13}\); \(\theta = 34.7^\circ\)

6. Exam question Explain 2 marks Easier

Explain how to find the angle between a line and a plane.

Mark scheme — 2 marks available

  • Perpendicular to the plane — M1
  • Angle in the right-angled triangle — C1

Model answer

Draw the perpendicular from one end of the line down to the plane. The angle between the line and its projection on the plane (in the right-angled triangle formed) is the angle required.

7. Multiple choice 1 mark Easier

The space diagonal of a cuboid is found using...

  1. A \(l + w + h\)
  2. B \(l^2 + w^2 - h^2\)
  3. C \(\sqrt{l^2 + w^2 + h^2}\) Correct
  4. D \(l \times w \times h\)

Why: Add the squares of length, width and height, then take the square root.

8. Multiple choice 1 mark Core

A cuboid is 3 by 4 by 12. The longest diagonal is...

  1. A 12
  2. B 13 Correct
  3. C 19
  4. D 169

Why: \(\sqrt{9 + 16 + 144} = 13\).

9. Multiple choice 1 mark Core

In a pyramid, the triangle used to find a slant edge contains...

  1. A The height and half the base diagonal Correct
  2. B The height and the whole base side
  3. C The base only
  4. D The apex angle

Why: The vertical height and half the base diagonal.

10. Multiple choice 1 mark Core

To find the angle between a line and the ground, you use a triangle with a...

  1. A The base diagonal only
  2. B Isosceles triangle
  3. C Straight line
  4. D Right angle at the plane Correct

Why: A right angle where the perpendicular meets the plane.

11. Multiple choice 1 mark Core

A base is 6 cm by 8 cm. Its diagonal is...

  1. A 7
  2. B 14
  3. C 10 Correct
  4. D 100

Why: \(\sqrt{36 + 64} = 10\).

12. Multiple choice 1 mark Stretch

For a pole of height \(h\) and a point at distance \(d\) on the ground, \(\tan\) of the angle of elevation is...

  1. A \(d \div h\)
  2. B \(h \div d\) Correct
  3. C \(h \times d\)
  4. D \(h + d\)

Why: Opposite over adjacent: height over distance.