Chapter 22

Introduction to
trigonometry
By Pythagoras’ theorem: e2 = d 2 + f 2
22.1 Trigonometry
Hence 132 = d 2 + 52
Trigonometry is the branch of mathematics that deals 169 = d 2 + 25
with the measurement of sides and angles of trian- d 2 = 169 − 25 = 144
gles, and their relationship with each other. There are √
many applications in engineering where knowledge of Thus d = 144 = 12 cm
trigonometry is needed. i.e. EF = 12 cm

Problem 2. Two aircraft leave an airfield at the

22.2 The theorem of Pythagoras same time. One travels due north at an average
speed of 300 km/h and the other due west at an
With reference to Fig. 22.1, the side opposite the average speed of 220 km/h. Calculate their distance
right angle (i.e. side b) is called the hypotenuse. The apart after 4 hours
theorem of Pythagoras states:
‘In any right-angle triangle, the square on the
hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the N
B
other two sides.’ W E

Hence b2 = a2 + c2 S 1200 km

C A
A
880 km

c b
Figure 22.3
B C After 4 hours, the first aircraft has travelled
a
4 × 300 = 1,200 km, due north, and the second aircraft
Figure 22.1 has travelled 4 × 220 = 880 km due west, as shown in
Fig. 22.3. Distance apart after 4 hour = BC.
Problem 1. In Fig. 22.2, find the length of EF. From Pythagoras’ theorem:
BC 2 = 12002 + 8802
D
f  5 cm
e  13 cm = 1440000 + 774400 and
√
E F BC = 2214400
d
Hence distance apart after 4 hours = 1488 km
Figure 22.2
 188 Engineering Mathematics

Now try the following exercise

7. Figure 22.5 shows a cross-section of a com-
ponent that is to be made from a round bar.
Exercise 84 Further problems on the If the diameter of the bar is 74 mm, calculate
theorem of Pythagoras the dimension x. [24 mm]

1. In a triangle CDE, D = 90◦ , CD = 14.83 mm

x
and CE = 28.31 mm. Determine the length
of DE. [24.11 mm]
2. Triangle PQR is isosceles, Q being a right
Section 3

angle. If the hypotenuse is 38.47 cm find (a)

the lengths of sides PQ and QR, and (b) the m 72 mm
value of ∠QPR. [(a) 27.20 cm each (b) 45◦ ] 4m
f7
3. A man cycles 24 km due south and then 20 km
due east. Another man, starting at the same
time as the first man, cycles 32 km due east
and then 7 km due south. Find the distance Figure 22.5
between the two men. [20.81 km]
4. A ladder 3.5 m long is placed against a
perpendicular wall with its foot 1.0 m from
the wall. How far up the wall (to the nearest
centimetre) does the ladder reach? If the foot
22.3 Trigonometric ratios of
of the ladder is now moved 30 cm further acute angles
away from the wall, how far does the top of
the ladder fall? [3.35 m, 10 cm] (a) With reference to the right-angled triangle shown
in Fig. 22.6:
5. Two ships leave a port at the same time. One
travels due west at 18.4 km/h and the other opposite side
(i) sin θ =
due south at 27.6 km/h. Calculate how far hypotenuse
apart the two ships are after 4 hours.
b
[132.7 km] i.e. sin θ =
c
6. Figure 22.4 shows a bolt rounded off at one
adjacent side
end. Determine the dimension h. [2.94 mm] (ii) cosine θ =
hypotenuse
r  16 mm

a
i.e. cos θ =
c
h
opposite side
(iii) tangent θ =
adjacent side
R  45 mm b
i.e. tan θ =
a
hypotenuse
(iv) secant θ =
adjacent side
c
i.e. sec θ =
a
hypotenuse
(v) cosecant θ =
opposite side
c
Figure 22.4 i.e. cosec θ =
b
 Introduction to trigonometry 189

adjacent side 9
(vi) cotangent θ = Since cos X = , then XY = 9 units and
opposite side 41
a XZ = 41 units.
i.e. cot θ = Using Pythagoras’ theorem: 412 = 92 +YZ 2 from
b √
which YZ = 41 − 9 = 40 unts.
2 2

c 40 40 4
b Thus, sin X = , tan X = =4 ,
41 9 9
q 41 1 41 5
a cosec X = = 1 , sec X = =4
40 40 9 9
Figure 22.6 9

Section 3
(b) From above, and cot X =
40
b
Problem 4. If sin θ = 0.625 and cos θ = 0.500
sin θ b
(i) = ac = = tan θ, determine the values of cosec θ, sec θ, tan θ and cot θ
cos θ a
c 1 1
sin θ cosec θ = = = 1.60
i.e. tan θ = sin θ 0.625
cos θ
a 1 1
sec θ = = = 2.00
cos θ a cos θ 0.500
(ii) = c = = cot θ,
sin θ b b sin θ 0.625
tan θ = = = 1.25
c cos θ 0.500
cos θ
i.e. cot θ = cot θ =
cos θ
=
0.500
= 0.80
sin θ sin θ 0.625
1
(iii) sec θ =
cos θ f (x) f (x)
1 8 8
(iv) cosec θ = 7 B B
sin θ 6 6

(Note ‘s’ and ‘c’ go together) 4 4

3 u
1 A A C
(v) cot θ = 2 2
tan θ
0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8
Secants, cosecants and cotangents are called the recip- (a) (b)
rocal ratios.
Figure 22.8

9
Problem 3. If cos X = determine the value of Problem 5. Point A lies at co-ordinate (2, 3) and
41
the other five trigonometric ratios point B at (8, 7). Determine (a) the distance AB,
(b) the gradient of the straight line AB, and (c) the
angle AB makes with the horizontal
Figure 22.7 shows a right-angled triangle XYZ.

Z (a) Points A and B are shown in Fig. 22.8(a).

In Fig. 22.8(b), the horizontal and vertical lines
AC and BC are constructed. Since ABC is a
41 right-angled triangle, and AC = (8 − 2) = 6 and
BC = (7 − 3) = 4, then by Pythagoras’ theorem:

AB2 = AC 2 + BC 2 = 62 + 42
X Y  √
9 and AB = 62 + 42 = 52 = 7.211,
Figure 22.7 correct to 3 decimal places
 190 Engineering Mathematics

(b) The gradient of AB is given by tan θ, 22.4 Fractional and surd forms of
BC 4 2 trigonometric ratios
i.e. gradient = tan θ = = =
AC 6 3
(c) The angle AB makes with the horizontal is In Fig. 22.11, ABC is an equilateral triangle of side 2
2 units. AD bisects angle A and bisects the side BC. Using
given by: tan−1 = 33.69◦ Pythagoras’ theorem on triangle ABD gives:
3
 √
AD = 22 − 12 = 3.
√
Now try the following exercise BD 1 AD 3
◦ ◦
Hence, sin 30 = = , cos 30 = =
Section 3

AB 2 AB 2
Exercise 85 Further problems on BD 1
and tan 30◦ = =√
trigonometric ratios of acute AD 3
angles √
AD 3 BD 1
sin 60◦ = = , cos 60◦ = =
1. In triangle ABC shown in Fig. 22.9, find sin A, AB 2 AB 2
cos A, tan A, sin B, cos B and tan B. AD √
and tan 60◦ = = 3
B BD
5 3
A
A C 30° 30°
Figure 22.9
⎡ ⎤ 2 2
3 4 3 3
⎢ sin A = 5 , cos A = 5
, tan A =
4⎥
⎢ ⎥ 60° 60°
⎣ 4 3 4⎦
sin B = , cos B = , tan B = B I D I C
5 5 3
Figure 22.11
2. For the right-angled triangle shown in Fig.
22.10, find:
(a) sin α (b) cos θ (c) tan θ P

45° 2
a 17 I
8 45°
q
Q I R
15
Figure 22.12
Figure 22.10
 
15 15 8 In Fig. 22.12, PQR is an isosceles triangle
(a) (b) (c)
17 17 15 √ = QR =√1 unit. By Pythagoras’ theorem,
with PQ
PR = 12 + 12 = 2
12
3. If cos A = find sin A and tan A, in fraction Hence,
13
form.  
5 5 1 1
sin A = , tan A = sin 45◦ = √ , cos 45◦ = √ and tan 45◦ = 1
13 12 2 2
4. Point P lies at co-ordinate (−3, 1) and point A quantity that is not exactly expressible
√ as a rational
√
Q at (5, −4). Determine (a) the distance PQ, number is called a surd. For example, 2 and 3 are
(b) the gradient of the straight line PQ, and (c) called surds because they cannot be expressed as a frac-
the angle PQ makes with the horizontal. tion and the decimal part may be continued indefinitely.
[(a) 9.434 (b) −0.625 (c) −32◦ ] For example,
√ √
2 = 1.4142135 . . . , and 3 = 1.7320508 . . .
 Introduction to trigonometry 191

From above,
4. (tan 45◦ )(4 cos 60◦ − 2 sin 60◦ ) √
sin 30◦ = cos 60◦ , sin 45◦ = cos 45◦ and [2 − 3]
 
sin 60◦ = cos 30◦ . tan 60◦ − tan 30◦ 1
5. √
In general, 1 + tan 30◦ tan 60◦ 3

sin θ = cos(90◦ − θ) and cos θ = sin(90◦ − θ)

For example, it may be checked by calculator that 22.5 Solution of right-angled
sin 25◦ = cos 65◦ , sin 42◦ = cos 48◦ and triangles
cos 84◦ 10 = sin 5◦ 50 , and so on.

Section 3
To ‘solve a right-angled triangle’ means ‘to find the
Problem 6. Using surd forms, evaluate: unknown sides and angles’. This is achieved by using
3 tan 60◦ − 2 cos 30◦ (i) the theorem of Pythagoras, and/or (ii) trigonometric
tan 30◦ ratios. This is demonstrated in the following problems.
√
√ 3
From above, tan 60◦ = 3, cos 30◦ = and Problem 7. In triangle PQR shown in Fig. 22.13,
2 find the lengths of PQ and PR.
1
tan 30◦ = √ , hence
3 P
√ 
√  3
3 3 −2
3 tan 60◦ − 2 cos 30◦ 2
=
tan 30◦ 1 38°
√ Q R
3 7.5 cm
√ √ √
3 3− 3 2 3 Figure 22.13
= =
1 1
√ √
3 3 PQ PQ
√  tan 38◦ = = hence
√ 3 QR 7.5
=2 3 = 2(3) = 6
1 PQ = 7.5 tan 38◦ = 7.5(0.7813)

= 5.860 cm
Now try the following exercise QR 7.5
cos 38◦ = = hence
PR PR
Exercise 86 Further problems on 7.5 7.5
PR = = = 9.518 cm
fractional and surd form of cos 38◦ 0.7880
trigonometrical ratios [Check: Using Pythagoras’ theorem
Evaluate the following, without using calculators, (7.5)2 + (5.860)2 = 90.59 = (9.518)2 ]
leaving where necessary in surd form:
  Problem 8. Solve the triangle ABC shown in
1
1. 3 sin 30◦ − 2 cos 60◦ Fig. 22.14
2
 
7√ 35 mm
2. 5 tan 60◦ − 3 sin 60◦ 3 A B
2
tan 60◦ C
37 mm
3. [1]
3 tan 30◦
Figure 22.14
 192 Engineering Mathematics

To ‘solve triangle ABC’ means ‘to find the length AC Area of triangle XYZ
and angles B and C’.
1
= (base)(perpendicular height)
35 2
sin C = = 0.94595 hence 1 1
37 = (XY )(XZ) = (18.37)(7.906)
2 2
∠C = sin−1 0.94595 = 71.08◦ or 71◦ 5
= 72.62 mm2
∠B = 180◦ − 90◦ − 71.08◦ = 18.92◦ or 18◦ 55 (since
angles in a triangle add up to 180◦ )
Now try the following exercise
Section 3

AC
sin B = hence
37 Exercise 87 Further problems on the
◦ solution of right-angled
AC = 37 sin 18.92 = 37(0.3242)
triangles
= 12.0 mm,
1. Solve triangle ABC in Fig. 22.16 (i).
or, using Pythagoras’
√ theorem, 372 = 352 + AC 2 , from D
B 3 cm
which, AC = 372 − 352 = 12.0 mm G H
4 cm E
35° 41° 15.0 mm
A C
Problem 9. Solve triangle XYZ given ∠X = 90◦ , 5.0 cm F
I
∠Y = 23◦ 17 and YZ = 20.0 mm. Determine also its (i) (ii) (iii)
area
Figure 22.16

[BC = 3.50 cm, AB = 6.10 cm, ∠B = 55◦ ]

It is always advisable to make a reasonably accurate
sketch so as to visualize the expected magnitudes of 2. Solve triangle DEF in Fig. 22.16 (ii).
unknown sides and angles. Such as sketch is shown in [FE = 5 cm, ∠E = 53.13◦ , ∠F = 36.87◦ ]
Fig. 22.15
3. Solve triangle GHI in Fig. 22.16(iii).
◦ ◦
∠Z = 180 − 90 − 23 17 = 66 43 ◦  ◦  [GH = 9.841 mm, GI = 11.32 mm,
∠H = 49◦ ]
XZ
sin 23◦ 17 = hence XZ = 20.0 sin 23◦ 17
20.0 4. Solve the triangle JKL in Fig. 22.17 (i) and
= 20.0(0.3953) find its area.
= 7.906 mm J M 25°35 3.69 m
Q
XY P
cos 23◦ 17 = hence XY = 20.0 cos 23◦ 17 6.7 mm N 8.75 m
20.0 32.0 mm
= 20.0(0.9186) 51° R
K L
O
= 18.37 mm (i) (ii) (iii)

Figure 22.17
 
Z
20.0 mm KL = 5.43 cm, JL = 8.62 cm,
∠J = 39◦ , area = 18.19 cm2
X 23°17 Y 5. Solve the triangle MNO in Fig. 22.17(ii) and
Figure 22.15 find its area.
 
MN = 28.86 mm, NO = 13.82 mm.
[Check: Using Pythagoras’ theorem ∠O = 64.42◦ , area = 199.4 mm2
(18.37)2 + (7.906)2 = 400.0 = (20.0)2 ]
 Introduction to trigonometry 193

(Note, ∠PRQ is also φ – alternate angles between

6. Solve the triangle PQR in Fig. 22.17(iii) and parallel lines.)
find its area.
 
PR = 7.934 m, ∠Q = 65.06◦ , Problem 10. An electricity pylon stands on
∠R = 24.94◦ , area = 14.64 m2
horizontal ground. At a point 80 m from the base of
7. A ladder rests against the top of the perpendic- the pylon, the angle of elevation of the top of the
ular wall of a building and makes an angle of pylon is 23◦ . Calculate the height of the pylon to
73˚ with the ground. If the foot of the ladder is the nearest metre
2 m from the wall, calculate the height of the
building. [6.54 m] Figure 22.21 shows the pylon AB and the angle of

Section 3
8. Determine the length x in Fig. 22.18. elevation of A from point C is 23◦ and
[9.40 mm] AB AB
tan 23◦ = =
BC 80
10 mm
56°
A

x 23°
C B
80 m
Figure 22.18
Figure 22.21

Hence, height of pylon AB = 80 tan 23◦

22.6 Angle of elevation and
depression = 80(0.4245) = 33.96 m
= 34 m to the nearest metre.
(a) If, in Fig. 22.19, BC represents horizontal ground
and AB a vertical flagpole, then the angle of ele-
Problem 11. A surveyor measures the angle of
vation of the top of the flagpole, A, from the point
elevation of the top of a perpendicular building as
C is the angle that the imaginary straight line AC
19◦ . He move 120 m nearer the building and finds
must be raised (or elevated) from the horizontal
the angle of elevation is now 47◦ . Determine the
CB, i.e. angle θ.
height of the building
A

The building PQ and the angles of elevation are shown

q in Fig. 22.22
C B
h
Figure 22.19 In triangle PQS, tan 19◦ =
x + 120
P f hence h = tan 19◦ (x + 120)

i.e. h = 0.3443(x + 120) (1)

Q R

Figure 22.20 P

(b) If, in Fig. 22.20, PQ represents a vertical cliff and

R a ship at sea, then the angle of depression of h
the ship from point P is the angle through which 47° R 19°
the imaginary straight line PR must be lowered S
Q
(or depressed) from the horizontal to the ship, i.e. x 120
angle φ.
Figure 22.22