Trigonometry: Solution of Right-Angled Triangles
Trigonometry: Solution of Right-Angled Triangles
Trigonometry: Solution of Right-Angled Triangles
TRIGONOMETRY
SOLUTION OF RIGHT-ANGLED
TRIANGLES
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Calculations of these distances depend on the
co
geometric properties of triangles and so we need to
be familiar with the notation for naming sides and The side opposite the right angle is called the
angles of triangles. hypotenuse.
.
With reference to the acute, 𝜃, at A, the side BC is
hs
The standard notation for a triangle opposite to the angle 𝜃 and called the opposite
side.
In the standard notation for a triangle, we
usually name the sides that are opposite an angle, by
the common letter that names the angle. at The third side, AC is called the adjacent side since
it is next to the angle 𝜃.
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Consider another right-angled triangle, PQR with an
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acute angle a , at Q. We use the same principle
as
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2. Two angles and their common arm. 𝑝 𝑞
3. Three sides =
𝑎 𝑏
4. Right angle, hypotenuse and one side.
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Note these ratios are between triangles. However, the
Pythagoras’ Theorem above ratios can be rearranged algebraically so that:
.
𝑝 𝑎
hs
In our study of triangles earlier, we saw that we can =
use Pythagoras’ Theorem to solve for an unknown 𝑞 𝑏
side of a right-angled triangle if we know the lengths
Note that these ratios are now within triangles.
of the other two sides. In applying this theorem, the
three elements to be considered are the right angle
and any two sides. This theorem is stated below. at Similarly, by comparing triangles 1 and 3, we can
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write
𝑝 𝑞
s
=
𝑠 𝑡
as
=
𝑞 𝑡
the sine ratio for the angle 300. We can obtain its
Introducing trigonometric ratios value from a calculator or book of trigonometrical
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will only be concerned with the names of the three
ratios:
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𝑎 𝑏 𝑎
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 Solution
𝑐 𝑐 𝑏
The given side is the hypotenuse and the
.
These ratios are called trigonometric ratios and will unknown side is adjacent to 41.20. The cosine
hs
be defined with reference to the acute angle, A = q ° . ratio connects these two sides.
y
The side opposite the right angle, AB is the cos 41.2° =
8.2
hypotenuse whose length is c.
The side opposite the angle θ, BC is the opposite side at \ y = 8.2 ´ cos 41.2°
= 6.169
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whose length is a.
= 6.17 to 2 decimal places
s
The remaining side, AC is the adjacent side whose
length is b.
as
Example 2
We now define the three commonly used In the figure shown, calculate the value of x.
trigonometric ratios.
sp
.fa
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Solution
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207
m
Solution
We are given the hypotenuse and the side
Solution
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opposite to a . The sine ratio connects these two
sides. We can choose to use Pythagoras’ theorem.
3.6
sin a = Letting h represent the hypotenuse.
.
5.72
hs
3.6 ℎ% = 4.5% + 2.8%
\a is the angle whose sine is .
5.72
ℎ% = 20.25 + 7.84 = 28.09
æ 3.6 ö
This is written as a = sin -1 ç
= 39.00°
÷
è 5.72 ø
at ℎ = √28.09
m
ℎ = 5.3
= 39.0° to the nearest 0.1°
s
Alternatively, we could have used trigonometry, as
shown below.
as
Example 4
4.5
tan q =
Calculate the size of the angle, a to the nearest 2.8
sp
0.10. æ 4.5 ö
q = tan -1 ç ÷
è 2.8 ø
q = 58.1°
.fa
4.5
sin 58.1 =
ℎ
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4.5 4.5
ℎ= =
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Solution
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m
= =
sin A sin B sin Cˆ
ˆ ˆ
a 2 = b2 + c 2 - 2bc cos Aˆ
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In using the rule to find an unknown side, we must
be given any three parts of the ratio: OR b2 = a 2 + c 2 - 2ac cos Bˆ
OR c 2 = a 2 + b2 - 2ab cos Cˆ
.
a b
hs
=
sin Aˆ sin Bˆ Note that each form has four quantities. If we
know any three, the fourth can be found.
or
a
=
c
sin A sin Cˆ
ˆ
at By observing the pattern in each of the above forms
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of the cosine rule, we must note that to solve for an
b c unknown side, the other two sides must be given as
or =
sin B sin Cˆ
ˆ well as the angle opposite the unknown side.
s
as
In some instances, we are given three elements but It should also be noted that the sine and cosine rules
they do not allow the setting up of the sine rule. For hold for any triangle, even right-angled triangles but
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example, if we need to solve the following triangle, it is much easier to use the trigonometric ratios when
there are no matching pairs of sides to angles given. solving right-angled triangles. In solving non-right-
angled triangles, we select either the sine or cosine
rule depending on the given information.
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Example 6
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209
7.6 6.5
=
sin 42° sin Cˆ
7.6 ´ sin Cˆ = 6.5 ´ sin 42°
6.5 ´ sin 42°
sin Cˆ =
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7.6
= 0.5722
co
C = sin -1 ( 0.5722 ) Solution
= 34.9° By the cosine rule
.
c 2 = a 2 + b 2 - 2ab cos Cˆ
hs
Example 7
c 2 = ( 8.4 ) + ( 7.2 ) - 2 (8.4 )( 7.2 ) cos 31.4°
2 2
at c 2 = 19.155
c = 4.377
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Example 9
s
as
a
c
.fa
A C
b
Solution
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6.3 𝐴𝐵
A
=
𝑠𝑖𝑛42 𝑠𝑖𝑛55A
𝐴𝐵 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛42A = 6.3 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛55A
6.3 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛55A
𝐴𝐵 =
𝑠𝑖𝑛42A
𝐴𝐵 = 7.71 𝑐𝑚
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m
These angles are defined in relation to an observer Both the angle of elevation and the angle of
who may be looking up or looking down at an object. depression are measured from the horizontal drawn
co
from the observer. If the observer is at A looking up
Angle of Elevation at the object at B then there is an angle of elevation at
A. If the observer is at B looking down at an object at
.
When an object is above the level of an observer, we A, then there is an angle of depression at B.
hs
have an angle of elevation.
The angle of elevation, as seen by an observer, is the
angle between the horizontal (drawn in line with the
observer’s eye) and the line drawn from the
observer to the object (line of vision or sight). at
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The angle of elevation, denoted by a ° is shown in
the diagram below.
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as
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m
Since the cliff is vertical, angle ACB = 900.
The angle of depression, 240, is shown at the top of
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the cliff.
Consider the triangle ABC
ABC = 240 (alternate angles).
.
Let the distance between the object, B and the base of
hs
the cliff be x.
We can now find the length of TB by using the
We are given the height of the cliff, AC = 50 m and
we wish to find x. With reference to angle ABC, the sine rule in DTAB .
side AC is opposite and the side BC is adjacent.
Hence, we use the tangent ratio. at TB
=
10
sin 27° sin 11°
m
10 ´ sin 27°
50 \ TB =
𝑡𝑎𝑛 24A = sin 11°
𝑥
s
50 = 23 .793m
𝑥 =
as
𝑡𝑎𝑛 24A
We can now solve for the height of the building
using triangle TBF.
𝑥 = 112.3 𝑚
sp
Example 2
An observer, at A, on horizontal ground, observes the
top of a building at an angle of elevation of 27º.
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23.793
\ TF = 23.793 sin 38°
= 14.648
= 14.65 m to 2 decimal places
212
m
co
(a) Calculate the length of (i) RF and (ii) SR,
correct to one decimal place.
.
(b) Calculate, to 1 decimal place, the angle of
hs
Example 3
elevation of the top of the tower, from S.
A tree, 50 m tall and standing at a right angle to the
ground, casts a shadow of 60 m.
Calculate the angle of elevation of the top of the tree
from the furthest edge of the shadow.
at Solution- Part (a)
(a) (i) RTF is a right-angled triangle because FT is
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a vertical tower. Angle TRF is 270 since it is the
angle of elevation of T from R.
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Solution
25
as
tan 27° =
Solution Let a ° be the angle of elevation of the sun. RF
The diagram shows the height of the tree and the 25
\ RF =
length of its shadow. tan 27°
sp
= 49.06 m
= 49.1 m
.fa
and S is south of F,
angle SFR is a right
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angle.
We are given SF and
we calculated RF
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m
co
Using the cardinal points, we can also describe the
Let the angle of elevation, TSF, be a. position of points that do not fall on exactly on any of
25 these eight positions. To describe the position of the
tan a ° =
.
43.3 points P and R from the origin, we follow the
hs
æ 25 ö conventions shown below.
a ° = tan -1 ç ÷
è 43.3 ø
Since P lies closer to
a = 30.00
= 30.0 to 1 decimal place at P North (N) than East
(E). The angle
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measured from the
north is 20°.
Therefore, the
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Bearings direction of P is
as
N, 20° E.
In our study of trigonometry so far, we have been The point R is closer
calculating unknown distances in triangles. We were to East (E) than north
sp
given certain elements of a triangle and used either (N). The angle,
the trigonometric ratios or the sine and cosine rule to R measured from north
solve for any of the elements of the triangles. is 20°. Therefore, the
direction of R is
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distance of journeys. The rules we learned in a measure of direction which does not refer to any
trigonometry can be applied to solve problems cardinal point, only an angle. This measure is
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involving both directions and distances. referred to as bearings. If we were to describe the
four cardinal points using bearings, then the
We use bearings to tell the direction of one point directions would be read as shown below.
from another. We will now compare how bearings
relate to the four cardinal points.
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m
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Assuming that a compass needle is pointing
exactly north, when it makes a clockwise turn of
450, it will be pointing NE.
.
After a clockwise turn of 1350, the needle will
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point to SE.
After a clockwise turn of 2250, the needle will
point to SW.
After a clockwise turn of 3150, the needle will
point to NW.
at The angle that the line AB makes with the North
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line at B is the bearing of A from B. This is shown
We can now define a bearing. by q ° in the diagram.
s
Bearing If however, we were interested in the bearing of B
as
A bearing is a direction measured from North in a from A, then we follow the same steps as above but
clockwise direction and is given only by an angle. the angle is measured at the point A instead of B.
Bearings must always be written using three digits.
sp
Measuring bearings
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Solution
The bearing of P from Q is 120°.Note the bearing is
measured at Q.
m
co
x° = 180° - (48° + 56°) = 76°
(Angles in a straight line = 180º)
.
hs
The bearing of Q from P is 300°.Note the bearing is (ii) Applying the cosine rule to triangle PQR
measured at P. 𝑅𝑃% = 220% + 360% − 2(220)(360) cos 560A
𝑅𝑃% = 48400 + 129600 − (158400)𝑐𝑜𝑠56A
at RP = c178000 − (158400)𝑐𝑜𝑠56A
RP = √89423.84
m
𝑅𝑃 = 299.0 km
de di
(iii) = fghjkl
s
fghdie
mkA %nn
as
= fghjkl
fghdie
mkA×fghjkl
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑅𝑃𝑄 =
%nn
sp
mkA×fghjkl
𝑅𝑃𝑄 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛pq r %nn s
Example 8 = 86.5A
Bearing is the direction measured from north in a
.fa
216
m
E
A Notice that the diagonal AB is the same length as any
diagonal from two similar vertices such as DC, EF
co
D H and GH.
.
hs
To identify an angle between a line and a plane in the
above cuboid, we may first consider the vertical line,
G AC and the plane BGCF. The angle between this line
C at and the plane is angle, ACB = 900.
m
B Now consider the internal diagonal, AB and the plane
F BGFC. This makes an angle, ∝ with the plane BFCG.
s
as
E
To calculate the diagonal that connects A to B is also
the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle, ABC. A
D H
sp
E
.fa
A
D H
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G
∝ C
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B
F
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G
C
B
To calculate ∝, we can use the triangle ABC and any
F trigonometric ratio. Selecting the sine ratio, we have:
𝐴𝐶
sin ∝ =
𝐵𝐴
15
To calculate AB, we must first calculate BC. Since sin ∝ =
19
the solid is a cuboid, the base is a rectangle and all its pq u
15
vertices will be right angles. So using Pythagoras’ ∝= 𝑠𝑖𝑛 v
19
theorem, we have: ∝= 52.1 A
217
m
𝑅𝑃% = 13 600
𝑅𝑃 = √13 600
co
𝑅𝑃 = 116.61
𝑅𝑃 = 116.6 𝑐𝑚 correct
to 1dp
.
hs
(ii)
Solution
𝑇𝑅% = 𝑇𝑆 % + 𝑅
tan 42A =
𝑂𝑃 at
m
𝑇𝑅% = 10% + 24% 𝑇𝑂
𝑇𝑅% = 676 A
𝑂𝑃
tan 42 =
𝑇𝑅 = √676 13
s
𝑇𝑅 = 26 𝑂𝑃 = 13 × tan 42A
𝑂𝑃 = 11.7
as
Example 10
𝑅𝑇 = √14 000
The diagram shows a cuboid. A straight adjustable 𝑅𝑇 = 118.3 𝑐𝑚 correct
wire connects R to P along the top of the cuboid.
.fa
to 1dp
(i) Calculate the length of RP
(ii) The connection at P is now adjusted and
moved to T. Calculate the length of the wire RT. (iii)
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