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Date May Specimen Marks available 3 Reference code SPM.2.sl.TZ0.2
Level SL only Paper 2 Time zone TZ0
Command term Calculate Question number 2 Adapted from N/A

Question

An office block, ABCPQR, is built in the shape of a triangular prism with its “footprint”, ABC, on horizontal ground. \({\text{AB}} = 70{\text{ m}}\), \({\text{BC}} = 50{\text{ m}}\) and \({\text{AC}} = 30{\text{ m}}\). The vertical height of the office block is \(120{\text{ m}}\) .

Calculate the size of angle ACB.

[3]
a.

Calculate the area of the building’s footprint, ABC.

[3]
b.

Calculate the volume of the office block.

[2]
c.

To stabilize the structure, a steel beam must be made that runs from point C to point Q.

Calculate the length of CQ.

[2]
d.

Calculate the angle CQ makes with BC.

[2]
e.

Markscheme

\(\cos {\text{ACB}} = \frac{{{{30}^2} + {{50}^2} - {{70}^2}}}{{2 \times 30 \times 50}}\)     (M1)(A1)


Note: Award (M1) for substituted cosine rule formula, (A1) for correct substitution.


\({\text{ACB}} = {120^ \circ }\)     (A1)(G2)

a.

\({\text{Area of triangle ABC}} = \frac{{30(50)\sin {{120}^ \circ }}}{2}\)     (M1)(A1)(ft)


Note: Award (M1) for substituted area formula, (A1)(ft) for correct substitution.


\( = 650{\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^2}\) \((649.519 \ldots {\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^2})\)     (A1)(ft)(G2)


Notes: The answer is \(650{\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^2}\) ; the units are required. Follow through from their answer in part (a).

b.

\({\text{Volume}} = 649.519 \ldots \times 120\)     (M1)
\( = 77900{\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^3}\) (\(77942.2 \ldots {\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^3}\))     (A1)(G2)


Note: The answer is \(77900{\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^3}\) ; the units are required. Do not penalise lack of units if already penalized in part (b). Accept \(78000{\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^3}\) from use of 3sf answer \(650{\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^2}\) from part (b).

c.

\({\text{C}}{{\text{Q}}^2} = {50^2} + {120^2}\)     (M1)
\({\text{CQ}} = 130{\text{ (m)}}\)     (A1)(G2)


Note: The units are not required.

d.

\(\tan {\text{QCB}} = \frac{{120}}{{50}}\)     (M1)


Note: Award (M1) for correct substituted trig formula.


\({\text{QCB}} = {67.4^ \circ }\) (\(67.3801 \ldots \))     (A1)(G2)


Note: Accept equivalent methods.

e.

Examiners report

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Syllabus sections

Topic 5 - Geometry and trigonometry » 5.3 » Use of the cosine rule: \({a^2} = {b^2} + {c^2} - 2bc\cos A\) ; \(\cos A = \frac{{{b^2} + {c^2} - {a^2}}}{{2bc}}\).
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