LESSON 1.

3 TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS

OBJECTIVES: In this lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Find the values of the six trigonometric ratios of an acute angle.
2. Determine the trigonometric ratios of complementary angles.

In this section, we shall study six special ratios, namely, the sine, cosine,
tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant ratios, which in geeneral, are known as the
trigonometrric ratios. These ratios, when applied to a right triangle, relte the length
of the sides to the sizes of the angles.

When we use a ruler or tape measure to determine the thickness of a books,

the length of a pen, the height of a table, or the width of a classroom, we are
making direct measurements.

In some situations, direct measurements are difficult, dangerous, or even

impossible to obtain. For example, it is dangerous for you to climb up the school’s
flagpole to mesure its height. It is difficult and dangerous to obtain the height of
a cliff and it is impossible to measure the hegiht of the highest peak in the world,
Mount Everest, by direct measurement.

The above problems can be solved by indirect measurements with the help of
Trigonometry. Trigonometry is a powerful tool for making indirect measurements of
distance or height. It plays an important role in the filed of surveying, navigation,
engineering, and many other branches of pysical science.

Relations Among Trigonometric Ratios

Figure 1 shows two similar triangles 𝐴𝐵𝐶 and 𝐴𝐷𝐸.
Measure the lengths of ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵, ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶, ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐵𝐶, ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐷, ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐸, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ̅̅̅̅̅
𝐷𝐸.
Find the value of the following ratios.
𝐵𝐶 𝐷𝐸 𝐵𝐶 𝐷𝐸 𝐴𝐵 𝐴𝐷
a. 𝑎𝑛𝑑 b. 𝑎𝑛𝑑 c. 𝐴𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 Figure 1
𝐴𝐵 𝐴𝐷 𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐸 𝐴𝐸
Do you notice that the ratios of the corresponding lengths of two triangles are the same?
In ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 (Figure 2), with respect to 𝜃 (pronounced as theta), the side ̅̅̅̅
𝐵𝐶 is called the
opposite side of 𝜃, the side ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 is called the adjacent side to 𝜃 and side side ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 opposite
the right angle is called the hypotenuse.

Figure 2

For right triangle 𝐴𝐵𝐶:.

𝐵𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝜃
1. The constant ratio or is called the sine of angle 𝜃.
𝐴𝐶 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝜃
2. The constant ratio or is called the cosine of angle θ.
𝐴𝐶 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
𝐵𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝜃
3. The constant ratio or is called the tangent of angle 𝜃.
𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝜃
𝐴𝐶 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
4. The constant ratio or is called the cosecant of angle 𝜃.
𝐵𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝜃
𝐴𝐶 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
5. The constant ratio or is called the secant of angle 𝜃.
𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝜃
𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝜃
6. The constant ratio or is called the cotangent of angle 𝜃.
𝐵𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝜃

The trigonometrical ratios of an angle are numerical quantities. Each of them represents
the ratio of one length to another and therefore does not carry any units.

Example 1 Find all six trigonometric ratios for angle 𝛼 (pronounced as alpha_ in the
right triangle shown below.
Solution From the triangle, 𝑎 = 8, 𝑏 = 15, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐 = 17.
𝑎 8 𝑏 15
sin 𝛼 = = cot 𝛼 = =
𝑐 17 𝑎 8

𝑏 15 𝑐 17
cos 𝛼 = = sec 𝛼 = =
𝑐 17 𝑏 15

𝑎 8 𝑐 17
tan 𝛼 = = csc 𝛼 = =
𝑏 15 𝑎 8

Find the sine, cosine, and tangent for angle 𝛽 (pronounced as beta) in
Example 2
Example 1.

Refer to the figure of Example 1, we have, side opposite of 𝛽 = 15, side

Solution
adjacent to 𝛽 = 8, and hypotenuse = 17. Thus,

15
sin 𝛽 =
17

8
cos 𝛽 =
17

15
tan 𝛽 =
8

12
Example 3 If sin𝜃 = , find the other five trigonometric ratios.
13

𝑎
Because sin𝜃 = , let 𝑎 = 12 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐 = 13. The ratios are defined on a
Solution 𝑐

right triangle, so 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑐 2 , and 122 + 𝑏2 = 13, produces 𝑏 = 5.

5 5
cos𝜃 = 13 cot𝜃 = 12

12 13
tan𝜃 = sec𝜃 =
5 5

13
csc𝜃 =
12
 Math Box
Name Abbreviation Value
side opposite 𝜃
sine of 𝜃 sin 𝜃
hypotenuse
side adjacent to 𝜃
cosine of 𝜃 cos 𝜃 hypotenuse

side opposite 𝜃
tangent of 𝜃 tan 𝜃
side adjacent to 𝜃
side adjacent to 𝜃
cotangent of 𝜃 cot 𝜃 side opposite 𝜃

hypotenuse
second of 𝜃 sec 𝜃
side adjacent to 𝜃

hypotenuse
cosecant of 𝜃 csc 𝜃
side opposite to 𝜃

Trigonometric Ratios of Complementary Angles

Two angles are called complementary angles if their sum is 90°.

In Figure 3, 𝜃 and Φ (pronounced as phi) are complementary angles, that is

𝜃 + Φ = 90° or Φ = 90° − 𝜃.

Figure 3

Referring to 𝜃, we have:

𝑎 𝑏 𝑎
sin𝜃 =𝐶 , cos𝜃 =𝐶, tan𝜃 =𝑏,

𝑏 𝑐 𝑐
cot𝜃 = 𝑎, sec𝜃 =𝑏, csc𝜃 =𝑎.
Referring to Φ, we have:

𝑏 𝑎 𝑏
sinΦ =𝐶 , cosΦ =𝐶, tanΦ =𝑎,

𝑎 𝑐 𝑐
cotΦ = , secΦ = , cscΦ = .
𝑏 𝑎 𝑏

𝑏
Since sinΦ = cos𝜃 = 𝐶 ,

𝑎
cosΦ = sin𝜃 = ,
𝐶

𝑏
tanΦ = cot𝜃 = 𝑎 , and

Φ = 90° − 𝜃

Hence, we have the following formula.

Math Box
sin(90° − 𝜃) = cos𝜃 cot(90° − 𝜃) = tan𝜃
cos(90° − 𝜃) = sin𝜃 sec(90° − 𝜃) = csc𝜃
tan(90° − 𝜃) = cot𝜃 csct(90° − 𝜃) = sec𝜃

Example 4 Find the acute angle 𝜃, if:

a. sin𝜃 = cos29°

b. cos(𝜃 + 40°) = sin(𝜃 − 20°)

c. tan𝜃 = cot(𝜃 − 15°)

 Solutions:
a. sinθ = cos29°
sinθ = sin(90° − 29°) * cos𝜃 = sin(90° − 𝜃)
sinθ = sin61°
Therefore, 𝜃 = 61°

b. cos(𝜃 + 40°) = sin(𝜃 − 20°)

cos(𝜃 + 40°) = cos[90° − (𝜃 − 20°)] *sin𝜃 = cos(90° − 𝜃)

cos(𝜃 + 40°) = cos(90° − 𝜃 + 20°)

cos(𝜃 + 40°) = cos(110° − 𝜃 )
Therefore, 𝜃 + 40° = 110° − 𝜃
2𝜃 = 70°
𝜃 = 35°

c. tan𝜃 = cot(𝜃 − 15°)

tan𝜃 = cot(90° − 𝜃 + 15°) *cot𝜃 = tan(90° − 𝜃)

Therefore, 𝜃 = 105° − 𝜃
2𝜃 = 105°
𝜃 = 52.5°

Practice!
A. For each of the following right triangles, name:
i. the hypotenuse
ii. the side opposite of 𝛼
iii. the side adjacent to 𝛼
1. 2.
B. For each of the following right triangles, find:
i. sin 𝐴 ii. cos 𝐴 iii. tan 𝐴
iv. sec 𝐵 v. sec 𝐵 vi. cot 𝐵

Give your answer as a fraction in its lowest terms.

1. 2.

C. In each of the following, fill in the blank to find the acute angle 𝜃.
1. sin𝜃 = cos34° 2. sin𝜃 = cos(𝜃 − 10°)
sin𝜃 = sin(10° − _____) cos(90° − ______) = _______
𝜃 = ______ 90° − _______ = _______
𝜃 = ______ 𝜃 = _______
D. Express each of the following as a trigonometric ratio of angle less than 45°.
1. cos 78° 2. tan 49° 3. sec 63°10’ 4. sin 71°55’

Assignment:
To be submitted on CANVAS, due date September 25, 2020, 5:00 PM
A. Find all six trigonometric ratios for angle 𝛽 in the given triangle below.
B. In exercises 1-4, refer to the triangles to find the specified ratio.

1. sin 𝐴
2. cot 𝐵
3. sec 𝜃
4. tan Φ

C. Find the values of six trigonometric ratios of 𝐴, given the values of 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐
respectively.
𝑛2 −1 𝑛2 +1
1. 2𝑛, 𝑛2 − 1, 𝑛2 + 1 2. 𝑛, ,
2 2

D. Given 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2, find the six trigonometric ratios of 𝐴 and also the six
trigonometric functions of 𝐵 when 𝑎 = √𝑝 2 + 𝑞 2 and 𝑏 = √2𝑝𝑞 .
.
E. Find the acute angle 𝜃 which satisfies the following condition.
1. cos 𝜃 = sin 56° 4. sin 𝜃 = cos 𝜃
2. csc 𝜃 = sec 13° 5. tan (2𝜃 − 10°) = cot 𝜃
3. sec 2𝜃 = csc 70°

F. In exercise 1-3, where 𝐶 is the right angle, solve each of the following. Give the exact
answer. (Do not approximate)
7
1. Find tan𝐴 if sin 𝐴 = .
25
37
2. If csc 𝐵 = , find cot 𝐵.
12
√5
3. Find sin 𝐴 if tan 𝐵 = .
2