Trigonometry

Trigonometry which means „measurement of triangles‟ is an ancient branch of mathematics. The

word „Trigonometry‟ is derived from two Greek words; „trigonon‟ meaning triangle, and „metron‟
meaning a measure. Trigonometry is a vast field of study and is extremely important in advance
mathematics, physics and a host of other fields. In this chapter we will be focusing on the basic
concepts of trigonometry, solution of a right angle triangle and identities.

23.1 Measuring Angles:

There are two predominant ways of measuring angles - radians and degrees. The radian is the standard
unit of angular measure, used in many areas of mathematics. In the hexadecimal system, the angles
are measured in degrees, minutes and seconds.
Let‟s first start by understanding radians and then we will do a comparison between radians and
degrees and also discuss how to convert radians to degrees or vice versa.

Definition of a radian: In a circle, the angle subtended by an arc of length equal to the radius of the
circle is called a radian.

Now consider the circumference of the circle, which is nothing but an arc of the circle having arc
length = 2× π × radius. If arc length is equal to „radius‟ the angle subtended is 1 radian so if arc length
is equal to “2× π × radius” the angle subtended should be “2× π × 1 radian” i.e. 2π radians.

Now we know that the angle subtended by a circle in degrees is 360o

Thus 2π radians = 360o
360° 180° 2𝜋 𝜋
⟹ 1 radian = 2𝜋
= 𝜋
and 1 degree = 360 = 180 radians

180° 𝜋 𝜋 180°
To convert radians into degrees multiply with 𝜋
e.g. 12 radians = 12 × 𝜋
= 15˚

𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
To convert degrees into radians multiply with 180 e.g. 60˚ = 60 × 180 = 3 radians
Table of frequently used angles in radians and degrees:
Radians Degrees

0 0°

1 57.3° ( approx)

π/12 15°

π/6 30°

π/5 36°

π/4 45°

π/3 60°

2π/5 72°

π/2 90°

2π/3 120°

π 180°

3π/2 270°

2π 360°

Table of values of trigonometric functions:

angle → 0o 30o 45o 60o 90o 1800 270o 360o

0 π/6 π/4 π/3 π/2 π 3π/2 2π
Sin 0 1/2 1/ 2 3/2 1 0 -1 0

Cos 1 3 / 2 1/ 2 1/2 0 -1 0 1

Tan 0 1/ 3 1 Undefined 0 Undefined 0

3
23.2 Trigonometric Ratios:
Consider the right angle triangle ABC as shown.
Sin  = Opposite Side / Hypotenuse
= BC/ AC
Cos  = Adjacent Side / Hypotenuse
= AB/ AC
Tan  = Opposite Side / Adjacent Side
= BC / AB

Sin, cos and tan in the four quadrants:

Sin All
+ve +ve

Cos Tan
+ve +ve

The meaning of the above diagram is that in the 1st quadrant when angle is between 0˚ and 90˚ (or 0
and π) all trigonometric functions give positive result.
For example let‟s take θ = 30˚
3 1
Sin 30˚ = 1/2, Cos 30˚ = 2
, tan 30˚ = 3

When angle is in the 2nd quadrant i.e. between 90˚ and 180˚ (or π/2 and π) all sine function gives
positive result.
For example sin (π – θ) = sin θ, cos (π – θ) = -cos θ and tan (π – θ) = -tan θ {(π – θ) = (180˚- θ)}
Similarly in the 3rd quadrant (180˚ to 270˚ or π to 3 π/2) only tan is positive and in the 4th quadrant
(270˚ to 360˚ or 3π/2 to 2 π) only cos is positive.

1
How does this help us? Let‟s say you have to find cos120˚. Now we know cos 60˚ = 2 from this we

can calculate cos 120˚.

Cos 120˚= cos (180 -60) = - cos 60˚ = -1/2 (it‟s –ve because 120˚ is in 2nd quadrant
where only sine is +ve)

Example 1: What is sin 210˚ + cos 300˚ =?

Solution:
Sin 210˚ = sin (180˚ + 30˚) = -sin 30˚= -1/2 (sine is –ve in the third quadrant)
Cos 300˚ = cos (270 + 30˚) = cos 30˚ = 1/2 (cos is +ve in the 4th quadrant)
So, sin 210˚ + cos 300˚ =-1/2 + 1/2 = 0

23.3 Basic Trigonometric Identities:

I. Pythagorean Identities:
1. Sin2θ + cos2  = 1 ⟹ 1 – sin2θ = cos2θ ; 1 – cos2θ = sin2θ

2. 1 + tan2  = sec2  ⟹ sec2θ - tan2θ =1

3. 1 + cot2  = cosec2  ⟹ cosec2θ - cot2θ =1

II. Reciprocal Identities:

1. Cosec θ = 1/ sin θ ⟹ sin θ. cosec θ =1
2. Sec θ = 1/cos θ ⟹ sec θ. cos θ =1
3. Cot θ = 1/tan θ ⟹ cot θ. tan θ =1

III. Quotient Identities:

Tan θ = sin θ / cos θ
Cot θ = cos θ / sin θ

IV. Identities for negative angles:

Sin (- θ) = - sin θ {(-θ) is the short form of writing (2π – θ)}
Cos (- θ) = cos θ
Tan (-θ) = - tan θ
Sin (π – θ) = sin θ
Cos (π – θ) = -cos θ
Tan (π – θ) = - tan θ

V. Co-function identities
Cos (π/2 – θ) = sin θ
Sin (π/2 - θ) = cos θ
Tan (π/2 – θ) = cot θ
Cot (π/2 – θ) = tan θ

VI. Sum and Difference identities:

Sin (A + B) = Sin A. Cos B + Cos A. Sin B
Sin (A - B) = Sin A. Cos B - Cos A. Sin B
Cos (A + B) = Cos A. Cos B – Sin A. Sin B
Cos (A - B) = Cos A. Cos B +Sin A. Sin B
tan A+tan B
Tan (A + B) = 1−tan A.tan B
tan A−tan B
Tan (A - B) = 1+tan A.tan B

VII. Double and triple angle identities

Sin 2A = 2 Sin A . Sin B
Cos 2A = Cos2A – Sin2A
2 tan A
Tan 2A =
1−tan 2 A

Sin 3A =3 sin A – 4 sin3A.

Cos 3A = 4 cos3A -3 cos A.
Tan 3A = (3 tan A – tan3 A) / (1 -3 tan2 A).

23.4 Sine rule and Cosine rule:

In  ABC, if a, b, and c denotes the sides opposite to angles A, B and C respectively, then
Sine Rule: In a given triangle ( ABC), the lengths of sides (a, b, c) of a triangle are proportional
to the sine of their opposite angles ( A, B, C )
a / Sin A = b / Sin B = c/ Sin C

Cosine Rules: In a  ABC:

a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cos A
b2 = c2 + a2 – 2ca cos B
c2 = a2 +b2 – 2ab cos C
23.5 Heights and Distances:
The most extensive use of trigonometry is done in navigation. Ships use trigonometry to know the
height of the nearest hill, ship etc. To calculate heights of poles, shadow of building we use two
angles which are as follows:

Angle of Elevation:
Let point X be observed from point O.
If Point X is at high level than O and if XM  OM.
Then  = MOX is called the angle of elevation.

Angle of Depression:
If point X‟ is at a lower level than point O, then  = NOX '
is called the angle of depression.
Example 2: A tree breaks due to storm and the broken part bends so that the top of the tree touches
the ground making an angle 60° with it. The distance between the feet of the tree to the point where
the top touches the ground is 12 m. What is the height of the tree?

Solution:

Let the height of the tree be x + y (refer the diagram below)

Cos 60˚= 12/y = √3/2

Thus y = 24/√3 = 8√3

Tan 60˚ = x/12 = √3

Thus x = 12√3

Therefore the height of the tree = 12√3 + 8√3 = 20√3

Example 3: A circus artist is climbing a 30 m long rope, which is tightly stretched and tied from the
top of a vertical pole to the ground. Find the height of the pole, if the angle made by the rope with the
ground level is 30°.

Solution:

rope
pole 30m

30˚
ground

Let the height of the pole be „x‟.

Sin 30˚ = x/30 = 1/2
Thus, x = 30/2 = 15m

Special cases in right-angle triangles:

a) 30 – 60 -90 triangle:

b) 45- 45-90 triangle:

Example 4: The angle of elevation of the top of a building with respect to a person standing on the
road is 30˚. If the person is standing 200m away from the building what is the approximate height of
the building?

Solution:

30˚
 200
Let the height of the building be „h‟ meters.

Tan 30˚ = h/200 = 1/√3 or h = 200/√3

√3=1.732 approximately

So the approximate height of the building = 200/√3 = 115m

Example 5: A ladder is leaning against a wall. If the length of the ladder is 12 ft and the ladder is
inclined at an angle of 60˚, then how far is the foot of the ladder from the wall?
Solution:

Let the distance between the foot of the ladder and the wall be x.

Cos 60 = x/12 = 1/2

x = 12/2 = 6

Example 6: A person at a distance of 10 m from a tree finds the angle of elevation of the top of the
tree to be 45o. Find the height of the tree.

Solution:

Let PM = h, be the height of the tree.

Tan 45 = h/PM = h/10
h = 10 × tan 45˚ = 10 ×1 = 10m.

Example 7: Angle of depression of the top of a building observed from another building 25 m. high is
30o. If the distance between the two buildings is 20 m. Find the height of the building.

Solution:
Tan 60˚ = PX / OX

i.e., 3 = 20 / OX

 OX = 20/ 3

Height of the building =PB = AX = 250- (20/ 3)

Example 8: The shadow of an electric pole standing on a level ground is found to be 30 metres
longer when the sun‟s altitude is 30o than when it is 45o. Find the height of the electric pole.

Solution:

hm

30˚ 45˚
30 m hm

Let the height of the pole be h m.

From the above diagram,

Tan 30 = h/h+30 = 1/√3

or √3h= h + 30

h√3-h = 30

h(√3-1) = 30

h = 30/(√3-1) =15(√3+1)

Example 9: The angle of elevation of a top of the light house, which sits on a vertical cliff 4400m
high, from a ship moving towards the coast is 30˚. After 40 mins the angle of elevation changes to
60˚. If the ship is moving at a speed of 5√3m/s then what is the height of the light house?

Solution:
Let, the total height of light house from the ground (hill + light house) = 4400 + x

Height of light-house=x

Height of hill = 4400m

30˚ 60˚

Distance covered by ship in y

40 min= 5√3 × 10 × 60 = 3000√3m

4400  x 4400  x
Tan 60˚=  3 y
y 3

Tan 30˚=

4400  x 1

4400  x 3
 3000 3
3
4400  x
 (4400  x) 3   3000 3
3
 3(4400  x)  4400  x  9000
 2 x  13400  13200  200
 x  100

Example 10: A submarine at a certain depth from the seal level fires a torpedo towards a ship moving
away from the submarine. When the torpedo was fired the angle of elevation of the ship from the
submarine was 45˚. If the speed of the ship is 20(√3-1) m/s and the torpedo is fired at the speed of
40m/s then at what angle should the torpedo be fired so that it hits the ship?

Solution:
Ship 20(√3-1)t Ship
45˚ 135˚

40t

45˚
θ
S

Let the torpedo hit the ship after t secs and the angle at which it is fired be θ.

In t secs the ship will cover 20(√3-1)t meters and the torpedo will cover 40t meters. Now, referring to
the diagram above and using sine formula.
20  
3 1 t

40t
sin(45   ) sin135
3 1 2
 
sin(45   ) 1
2
3 1
 sin(45   ) 
2 2
   30

Example 11: From the top of a light house, the angle of depression of an incoming boat is 30˚. The
angle of depression changes to 45˚ in 10min. If the light house sits on top of a vertical cliff 200m high
and the height of the lighthouse is 10m, then what is the speed of the boat in m/min?

Solution:

D
30˚
60˚
210m

30˚ 60˚
A B C

Considering ∆ADC,

Tan 30˚ = 210/AC = 1/√3

AC=210√3

Considering ∆BDC,

Tan 60˚ = 210/BC = √3,

BC =210/√3

Distance covered = 210√3 – 210/√3= 210√3 - 70√3 = 140√3 m

Speed = 140√3/10 = 14√3 m/min

Example 12: There are two trees on the opposite sides of the bank. The angle of elevation of the top of
the taller tree from the top of the shorter tree is 30 degree. Whereas the angle of elevation of the top of
the taller tree from the bottom of the shorter tree is 45˚. If the width of the river is 30m then what is
the height of shorter tree?

Solution:
 30-x m
30˚

xm
30m 45˚

From the diagram above, tan 30 = (30-x)/30 = 1/√3

30-x = 30/√3 =10√3

x= 30 - 10√3 = 10(3-√3)

Example 13: The angle of depression of a ship as observed from the top of a hill is 60o, and the angle
of elevation of an aircraft from the same point is 30o. If the altitude of the aircraft is 500 m above sea
level, and the hill is 100 m high, find the angle of elevation of the aircraft as seen from the ship.
Solution:

In case 1: ship and aircraft on opposite sides of the hill

A
Y
H 400m
30˚

500m
100m
60˚ θ

S X X′

Let S be the ship, H be the top of the hill and A be the aircraft. We have to find θ.

Considering ∆ SHX,

Tan 60 = 100/SX = √3

SX = 100/√3

Considering ∆AHY,

Tan 30 = 400/HY = 1/√3

HY = 400√3 = XX′

Now SX′ = 100/√3 + 400√3 = 100/√3 + 1200/√3 = 1300/√3

Considering ∆SAX′,
Tan θ = 500/(1300/√3)= 5√3/13

θ= tan-1(5√3/13)

In case 2: When the ship and aircraft are on the same side of the hill.

Considering ∆ SHX,

Tan 60 = 100/SX = √3

SX = 100/√3

Considering ∆AHY,

Tan 30 = 400/HY = 1/√3

HY = 400√3 = XX′

Now SX′ = 400√3 – 100/√3= 1100/√3

Considering ∆SAX′,

Tan θ = 500/(1100/√3)= 5√3/11

θ= tan-1(5√3/11)

Example 14: Two sides of a valley meeting in a line at the bottom make angles 30o and 60o with the
horizontal plane. A bridge of length 5003 m spans across the valley. Find the height of the bridge
above the bottom of the valley.
Solution:

We have, length of bridge = (AB) = 500 3 .

Also,  ACB = 1800 – v (  ACD +  DCB) = 900

 cos600 = ( CB / AB)  (CB) = 250 3 .

 (CD) = ( CB) cos 300 =250 3 / 2 .
 Height of bridge = (CD) = 375m.
A D B
60o
30o 60o
C
Example 15: A swimmer, from one end of a swimming pool looks at the person on the diving board
situated at the far end of the pool. He finds the angle of elevation to be 30˚. After swimming 10m
towards the diving board the angle of elevation changes to 45˚ degrees. How high is the diving board
from the surface of the water?
Solution:

Let the person swim from

Point O to point O′

POQ = 30o, tan30 = h/(10+x)

1/3 = h/ (10 +x ) ……(1)

PO′Q =45o,

Tan 45 = h/x

Substituting h = x in eqn. (1),

h/ ( 10 + h) =1/3

3 x h = 10 + h

h=10 / (3 -1) or h = 13.66 m.

Example 16: If α, β, γ and δ be four angles of a cyclic quadrilateral, then the value of cosα + cosβ +
cosγ + cosδ is:

Solution:

Since there is no restriction in the question we can assume the cyclic quadrilateral to be a square. Now
all angles are 90˚, hence cosα + cosβ + cosγ + cosδ =0

Example 17: The value of tan1˚. tan 2˚. tan3˚...........tan89˚ = ?

Solution:

In, tan1˚. tan 2˚. tan3˚...........tan89˚

tan 89 can be written as tan(90-1)=cot 1, because tan(90-θ)=cot θ

Similarly,
tan 88˚ =cot 2˚
tan 87˚= cot 3˚
up to tan 46˚=cot 44˚

Now, middle term i.e. tan 45˚ =1

tan1˚. tan 2˚. tan3˚...........tan89˚ = tan1˚. tan 2˚. tan 3˚.....tan 44˚. 1. cot 44˚. cot 43˚ ......cot1˚

Now, tanθ.cotθ = sin θ/cosθ . cosθ/sinθ =1

So tan and cot cancel out each other and the remaining is 1 .
Thus, tan1˚. tan 2˚. tan3˚...........tan89˚ =1

Example 18: The value of cos1˚. cos 2˚. cos 3˚ …..cos 179˚ = ?

Solution:

Since cos 90˚ =0, thus cos1˚. cos 2˚. cos 3˚ …..cos 179˚ = 0

Example 19: The value of tan 20˚ + tan 40˚ + tan 60˚ +….+ tan 180˚ = ?

Solution:
Use the identity tan (180 –θ) = - tanθ

tan 20˚ + tan 40˚ + tan 60˚ +….+ tan 180˚

= tan 20˚ + tan 40˚ + tan 60˚ + tan 80 + tan (180-80) + tan (180-60) + tan (180-40) + tan (180-20)+
tan 180˚
= tan 20˚ + tan 40˚ + tan 60˚ + tan 80 - tan 80 - tan 60 - tan 40 -tan 20+ 0
=0
1
Example 20: If sec x  a  , then what is the value of sec x + tan x?
4a
Solution:

We can write,

1 1 
Sec x =  2a   ….(i)
2 2a 

Now, Sec2x -1 = tan2x …(ii)

So we square both sides and then subtract 1 from both sides.

1 1 
sec2 x  1   4a 2  2  2   1
4 4a 
Using (ii) we get,
1 2 1 
tan2x =  4a  2  2   1
4 4a 
1 1 
tan2x =  4a 2  2  2 
4 4a 

2
1 1 
tan x =  2a 
2

4 2a 
Taking square root on both sides,
 1 1 
tan x =  2a   …(iii)
2 2a 
Using (i) and (iii)
1 1  1 1 
secx + tanx =  2a   +  2a   =2a
2 2a  2  2a 