Introduction to trigonometry

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What Trigonometry Is

  • Trigonometry is the branch of mathematics that links the angles of a triangle to the lengths of its sides.
  • It began in the Hellenistic world in the 3rd century BC, growing out of geometry and the study of the stars.
  • Early mathematicians in India produced the first known tables of values for the sine ratio.
  • Trigonometry is used in surveying, navigation, geodesy and celestial mechanics.
  • In this topic we work only with right-angled triangles.

Labelling a Right-Angled Triangle

  • The hypotenuse is the side opposite the 90° angle. It is always the longest side.
  • Choose one of the two acute angles and call it A.
  • The opposite side is the side across from angle A — it does not touch A.
  • The adjacent side is the other side that touches angle A (it is not the hypotenuse).
  • The opposite and adjacent sides swap over if you switch to the other acute angle, but the hypotenuse never changes.
  • The opposite side is sometimes called the perpendicular and the adjacent side the base.

The Three Ratios: SOH CAH TOA

  • Sine: \sin A = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} — remember SOH.
  • Cosine: \cos A = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}} — remember CAH.
  • Tangent: \tan A = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}} — remember TOA.
  • Using letters a (opposite), b (adjacent), h (hypotenuse): \sin A = \frac{a}{h}, \cos A = \frac{b}{h}, \tan A = \frac{a}{b}.
  • The three ratios are linked: \tan A = \frac{\sin A}{\cos A}.
  • Each ratio depends only on the size of angle A, not on how big the triangle is — any two right-angled triangles with the same acute angle are similar.

Why the Ratios Stay the Same

  • Two right-angled triangles with the same acute angle are similar, so their sides are in the same proportion.
  • That is why \sin A, \cos A and \tan A give a single value for a given angle.
  • Because of this, the ratios define functions of the angle, called the trigonometric functions.
  • This means a calculator can return the same value for an angle no matter what triangle you draw.

Finding a Missing Side

  • Label the sides opposite, adjacent and hypotenuse relative to the angle you know.
  • Decide which ratio connects the side you know to the side you want — use SOH CAH TOA.
  • Write the equation, then rearrange it to make the unknown side the subject.
  • Substitute the angle and the known length, then use the sin, cos or tan button on your calculator.
  • Check your answer is sensible: the hypotenuse must be the longest side, and no side can be longer than the hypotenuse.

Finding a Missing Angle

  • Label the sides relative to the angle you are trying to find.
  • Pick the ratio that uses the two sides you know.
  • Form the ratio as a fraction, for example \tan A = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}.
  • Use the inverse function on your calculator: \sin-1, \cos-1 or \tan-1.
  • Make sure your calculator is set to degrees before you start.
  • Check the answer is acute (less than 90°), since it is an angle in a right-angled triangle.

Angles of Elevation and Depression

  • An angle of elevation is measured upwards from the horizontal to an object above you.
  • An angle of depression is measured downwards from the horizontal to an object below you.
  • Both are measured from a horizontal line, never from a vertical one.
  • The angle of elevation from A to B equals the angle of depression from B to A — they are alternate angles.
  • These angles turn real situations (heights, distances, ladders, cliffs) into right-angled triangle problems.

Exact Values for 30°, 45° and 60°

  • \sin 30° = \frac{1}{2}, \cos 30° = \frac{\√{3}}{2}, \tan 30° = \frac{1}{\√{3}}.
  • \sin 45° = \frac{\√{2}}{2}, \cos 45° = \frac{\√{2}}{2}, \tan 45° = 1.
  • \sin 60° = \frac{\√{3}}{2}, \cos 60° = \frac{1}{2}, \tan 60° = \√{3}.
  • Notice \sin 30° = \cos 60° and \sin 60° = \cos 30° — the sine of an angle equals the cosine of its complement.
  • These exact values come from the special triangles: the half-equilateral triangle (30°–60°–90°) and the isosceles right-angled triangle (45°–45°–90°).

Reciprocal Ratios (Extension)

  • The cosecant is the reciprocal of sine: \csc A = \frac{1}{\sin A} = \frac{\text{hypotenuse}}{\text{opposite}}.
  • The secant is the reciprocal of cosine: \sec A = \frac{1}{\cos A} = \frac{\text{hypotenuse}}{\text{adjacent}}.
  • The cotangent is the reciprocal of tangent: \cot A = \frac{1}{\tan A} = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{opposite}}.
  • These are useful for rewriting trigonometric expressions into a more convenient form.

Slide

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Câu hỏi luyện tập

Xem trước miễn phí — 8 trên 63 câu hỏi. Đăng ký để xem tất cả.
  1. 1.In a right-angled triangle, what is the name of the longest side?

    Easy
    • Ahypotenuse
    • Badjacent
    • Copposite
    • Dperpendicular
  2. 2.Which ratio is defined as opposite ÷ hypotenuse?

    Easy
    • Asin A
    • Bcos A
    • Ctan A
    • Dsec A
  3. 3.The tangent of an angle in a right-angled triangle is equal to the opposite side divided by the adjacent side.

    Easy

    True or false?

  4. 4.Which of the following are trigonometric ratios? (select all that apply)

    Medium
    • Asine
    • Bcosine
    • Ctangent
    • Dsecant
    • Ecosecant
  5. 5.Match each trigonometric ratio with its correct definition.

    Medium
    • sin A
    • cos A
    • tan A
    • opposite ÷ hypotenuse
    • adjacent ÷ hypotenuse
    • opposite ÷ adjacent
  6. 6.Arrange the steps to find a missing side in a right-angled triangle using trigonometry.

    Easy
    • Label the sides
    • Choose the correct ratio
    • Set up the equation
    • Solve for the unknown side
  7. 7.Which trigonometric ratio should be used to find the length of the opposite side?

    Medium
    • Atan
    • Bsin
    • Ccos
    • Dsec
  8. 8.Which of these is the correct definition of the cosecant ratio?

    Easy
    • Acsc A = hypotenuse ÷ opposite
    • Bcsc A = opposite ÷ hypotenuse
    • Ccsc A = hypotenuse ÷ adjacent
    • Dcsc A = adjacent ÷ hypotenuse

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