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Strange Rectangle 2

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions

From the solution to the problem Strange Rectangle (November 2001) you know angles $SPQ$ and $SRQ$ are right angles, angle $PQR$ is 45 degrees and angle $PSQ$ is 135 degrees.

For the first part you need to know

$ \tan 60^{\circ} = \sqrt3$

When you take $x=\sqrt 3$ and $y=1$ and use the triangles in the diagram you can find the exact values of the sine, cosine and tangent of these angles in surd form.

Look carefully at $AS$ and $SD$ for the second part. Here you take $x=\sqrt 2 + 1$ and $y=1$ to find the exact values of the trigonometric ratios for $22.5$ degrees and $67.5$ degrees.


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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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