Here is Mario's answer to a question - OCR - GCSE Maths - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 4
Question 3
Here is Mario's answer to a question.
Question 3
$x$ mm
9 mm
88°
43°
6 mm
Work out the value of $x$.
Explain the error in Mario's method.
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Worked Solution & Example Answer:Here is Mario's answer to a question - OCR - GCSE Maths - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 4
Step 1
Work out the value of $x$
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Answer
To find the length x, we can use the sine rule since we have a non-right-angled triangle.
The sine rule states that:
sinAa=sinBb
In our triangle:
Let a=6 mm (opposite angle 88∘)
Let b=x mm (opposite angle 43∘)
Therefore:
sin(88∘)6=sin(43∘)x
Rearranging gives:
x=sin(88∘)6⋅sin(43∘)
Calculating this value:
sin(88∘)≈0.998 and sin(43∘)≈0.682.
Thus:
x≈0.9986⋅0.682≈4.1 mm (2 d.p.)
Step 2
Explain the error in Mario's method
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Answer
Mario’s approach is incorrect because he assumed the triangle is right-angled. However, this triangle does not have a right angle. Thus, the correct method to find x would be to use the sine rule or cosine rule instead of the Pythagorean theorem as he attempted.