Sine and cosine rules (8300 - Higher - Geometry and measures)

Topic:Sine and cosine rules

Specification references (in recommended teaching order)

Specification content Specification notes
G22
  • Know and apply the Sine rule  
        and Cosine rule   
        to find unknown lengths and angles


    G23
    • Know and apply  to calculate the area, sides or angles of any triangle



      The subject content (above) matches that set out in the Department for Education’s Mathematics GCSE subject content and assessment objectives document.

      The expectation is that:

      • All students will develop confidence and competence with the content identified by standard type
      • All students will be assessed on the content identified by the standard and the underlined type; more highly attaining students will develop confidence and competence with all of this content
      • Only the more highly attaining students will be assessed on the content identified by bold type. The highest attaining students will develop confidence and competence with the bold content.

      Teaching resources

      Teaching resources - see below
      Downloadable resource in format. 29/08/2014

      Diagnostic Questions - sine and cosine rules 1
      AQA have teamed up with Craig Barton's Diagnostic Questions website to share free diagnostic questions assessment for our new 2017 GCSE Maths specification.25/07/2017
      Diagnostic Questions - sine and cosine rules 2
      AQA have teamed up with Craig Barton's Diagnostic Questions website to share free diagnostic questions assessment for our new 2017 GCSE Maths specification.25/07/2017
      Diagnostic Questions - sine and cosine rules 3
      AQA have teamed up with Craig Barton's Diagnostic Questions website to share free diagnostic questions assessment for our new 2017 GCSE Maths specification.25/07/2017

      Teachit Maths - Desktop Revision - Trigonometry
      A revision resource for working with right angled triangles and using the sine and cosine rules and finding the area of a triangle using ½absinC.21/08/2015

      Class sorting - sine and cosine rules
      A set of cards which can be used in a variety of ways, for example as 'entrance cards' in which students must find all of the missing sides and angles. You will need to register for a TES account to access this resource, this is free of charge. 21/08/2015
      Connect 4 sine and cosine rules
      The classic 'Connect 4' game in which students must solve problems involving the sine and cosine rules. You will need to register for a TES account to access this resource, this is free of charge. 21/08/2015
      Maths is Fun - the Sine Rule
      This introduction to the sine rule includes an overview of the 'ambiguous case'. There are also ten online multiple choice questions assessing student understanding of this topic.21/08/2015
      NRICH: Cosine Rule
      A demanding activity in which students must prove a stated result using the cosine rule.21/08/2015
      Proving the sine and cosine rules
      Students cut out the parts of the proof from the given worksheet and place them in the correct order to prove why the sine and cosine rules work. Students are challenged to produce a similar staged proof for the result ½absinC. You will need to register for a TES account to access this resource, this is free of charge. 21/08/2015
      Teachit Maths - Finding lengths using sine
      A matching activity - students must match each triangle with the cards showing the correct calculation and the correct answer. All of the calculations involve the use of the sine ratio.02/09/2015
      Teachit Maths - Matching sin and cos
      A matching activity in which students pair up triangles with sine and cosine ratios.02/09/2015
      Teachit maths - When do we need ½absinC?
      A matching activity which consolidates which method is required to find the area of a range of different types of triangle.21/08/2015

      CIMT Sine and Cosine Rule
      A comprehensive introduction to sine and cosine rules, including a flow chart overview showing how to select the correct trigonometrical method for finding missing sides and angles in triangles. The webpage includes worked examples and an online exercise.21/08/2015

      Topic Tests

      8300 GCSE Higher Cosine Rule Mark Scheme
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 09/02/2023
      8300 GCSE Higher Cosine Rule Topic Test
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 09/02/2023
      8300 GCSE Higher Sine and Cosine Mark Scheme
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 09/02/2023
      8300 GCSE Higher Sine and Cosine Topic Test
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 09/02/2023
      8300 GCSE Higher Sine Rule Mark Scheme
      Downloadable resource in pdf format. 09/02/2023

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