Trigonometry
Trigonometry
B2
B3
C C1 C2 C3 A
The consequent proportions of corresponding sides can
be rewritten as follows:
Define:
sine A = opposite leg sin A
hypotenuse
cosine A = adjacent leg cos A
hypotenuse
tangent A = opposite leg tan A
adjacent leg
Or simply:
sin (A) = 0.5548
Solution:
cos(A) = adjacent / hypotenuse
= 6.00 cm / 7.21 cm
= 0.8322
Or simply:
cos (A) = 0.8322
Solution:
tan(A) = opposite / adjacent
= 4.00 cm / 6.00 cm
= 0.6667
Or simply:
tan (A) = 0.6667
Here is an easy way to remember these relationships
for trig functions and the right triangle.
Or
a = b = c
sin A sin B sin C
Law of Sines
c
b=4
B
C a=7
Solution:
a =b sin B = 0.5519
sin A sin B B = 34°
7/ sin 75° = 4/sin B
4 sin 75 ° = 7 sin B
4(0.9659) = 7 sin B
sin B = 4(0.9659)/ 7
Law of Cosines
Given a triangle, the square of any length of
any side equals the sum of the squares of
the lengths of the other two sides
decreased by twice the product of these
two sides and the cosine of their included
angle.
Law of Cosines
• In symbols,
a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cos A
b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cos B
c2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab cos C
Example
• Given: In a triangle ABC, a=3; b=5; C=60°
C=60°
c=?
b=5
B
A a=3
Solution:
c2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab cos 60°
c2 = 32 + 52- 2 (3)(5)(0.5)
= 9 + 25 -15
= 34 – 15
= 19
c = 4.36
TRIVIA
Fourier Ears Only!