Math Magic Basic Trigonometric Memorizations

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Basic Memorizations:

A. Usually, it is easier to simplify trigonometric expressions to sin A, cos A, or tan A. In keeping with this concept there are certain values of A that are basic: 0; 5 . For this reason, the following table should be memorized: 2 0 sin A cos A tan A 0 1 0
5

5 5 5 , , , and 6 4 3

1 2

/6

3 2 3 3

2 2 2 2 1

/4

1 2

3 2

/3

/2

1 0 undefined

Note: These values are only expressed in radians and only in the first quadrant. If to degrees.

you want the values as expressed in degrees see the section on changing radians

Note: Also, 1/sin A = csc A; 1/cos A = sec A; and 1/tan A = cot A. Therefore, to find the 1. These are the only values you need to know. Once you get out of QI, the values 2. To find values from other quadrants, find its corresponding value from the first quadrant before computing. Ex [1]
115

values for csc A, sec A, and cot A, simply use 1/value in the above chart.

repeat themselves (see below on quadrants) only the s ign might be different.

Note: If you need additional help on this email me a t [email protected].

Ex [2] 5 from QII = 0 in QI

/6 from QIV = 5/6 in QI

Math Magic Basic Trigonometric Memorizations

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B. Sometimes, a number sense question will ask for answers that are not related to the first quadrant. A quadrant is a section of a graph. The upper-right hand section is the first quadrant or QI, the upper-left hand section is the second quadrant or QII, the lower -left hand section is the third quadrant or QIII, and the lower -right hand section is the fourth quadrant or QIV. /2 | | QII | QI | 5 --------------------- 0 | QIII | QIV | | 35 /2
5

1. When working with angles, it is always helpful to know what quadrant we are will be negative or positive. Use the following chart to help: sin A QI + + + QII + QIII + -

talking about. The reason is we use quadrants to tell us if the sign of the a nswer QIV +

cos A tan A
115

Ex [1] sin (115/6) = _________. a.

Ex [2] tan A = 1, A QIII, A = _________radians. value from QIII.

b. Its corresponding value is /6 in QI, so the answer is -1/2.

/6 is in QIV, therefore the answer is going to be negative.

a. For tan A = 1, we know that A = 5/4, but we need the corresponding b. The value is 5 + 5/4 = 55/4. c. The answer is /4.

Math Magic Basic Trigonometric Memorizations

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C. Many times a question will say: sin A = a/b (where the values of a and b are given) and ask you for tan A or cos A. For problems like this is it helpful to know common Pythagorean triples and also to understand what sin, cos, and tan mean: cos A = adjacent side/hypotenuse sin A = opposite side/hypotenuse

Ex [1] If we have a right triangle with sides 3, 4, and 5 and sin A = 3/5 then cos A = _________. a. First, it is important to note that on a number sense test, the question will b. From above, we know that the numerator is the opposite side and the side divided by the hypotenuse or 4/5. So cos A = 4/5. not give you the sides 3, 4, and 5 like this example.

tan A = opposite side/adjacent side

denominator is the hypotenuse. So the cos A would have to be the other

c. To find the tan A, we need the opposite side as the numerator which is 3, D. There are MANY properties in trigonometry that need to m emorized if you want to do well on the number sense tests. Below are only a few of the BASIC trig properties. textbook. These are just the most common found in numbe r sense tests. Note that this list is not exhaustive. There are others which can be found in any trig and the adjacent side as the denominator which is 4. So tan A = 3/4.

cos (-A) = cos A sin 2A = 2sinAcosA sin2 A = 1 - cos2 A tan2 A = sec2 A - 1

sin (-A) = - sin A cos 2A = cos2 A sin2 A cos2 A = 1 - sin2 A 1 = csc2 A - cot2 A

tan (-A) = - tan A cos 2A = 2cos2 A - 1 1 = sec2 A - tan2 A csc2 A = cot2 A + 1

tan A = sin A/cos A sin2 A + cos2 A = 1 sec2 A = tan2 A + 1 cot2 A = csc2 A - 1