The Sides of a Right-Angled Triangle

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Students will be able to determine the sides of a right-angled triangle.

PRIOR LEARNING: NEW KNOWLEDGE:

- know the hypotenuse (from - the sides of a right-

Pythagoras’ Theorem) angled triangle

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For each triangle, NAME the HYPOTENUSE, ADJACENT and OPPOSITE sides.

HYPOTENUSE =
HYPOTENUSE =
ADJACENT =
ADJACENT =
OPPOSITE =
OPPOSITE =

HYPOTENUSE =
HYPOTENUSE =
ADJACENT =
ADJACENT =
OPPOSITE =
OPPOSITE =

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 e

For angle α: For angle β:

HYPOTENUSE = HYPOTENUSE =

ADJACENT = ADJACENT =

OPPOSITE = OPPOSITE =

2024 Textbook: Ex 4-01 Q1 to Q7 (all parts)

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 The Trigonometric Ratios
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Students will be able to calculate using the trigonometric ratios.

PRIOR LEARNING: NEW KNOWLEDGE:

- know sides of a right-angled - SIN, COS, TAN

triangle buttons on calculator

LEARN these ratios (perhaps make up a mnemonic

to help you):

SOHCAHTOA

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 SOHCAHTOA
(1) Complete for the following
right-angled triangles (simplify
the fractions, where
necessary):
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 =

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 =

𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽 =

𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 =

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 =

𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽 =

𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 =

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 =

𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽 =

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 (2) Complete:

𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑨 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑩 =

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑨 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑩 =

𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝑨 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝑩 =

In Question (2), did you notice any comparisons for your trig ratios?

(3) Complete:

𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜶 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜷 =

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜷 =

𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜶 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜷 =

(4) 𝑺𝑻
COMPLETE: 𝐬𝐢 𝐧 𝑹 = 𝑹𝑻

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑹 =

𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝑹 =

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(5) For the following (a) Use Pythagoras’ (b) Complete with a
right-angled triangle: Theorem to find simplified fraction:
the length of the 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 =
unknown side.

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 =

𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽 =

(6) In a right-angled HINT Draw a diagram to illustrate the

triangle ∆𝑷𝑸𝑹, the information given AND find the length of the
right angle is at 𝑹, and unknown side:
𝟓
the 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝑷 = 𝟏𝟐,
evaluate 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑷 and
𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑷.

𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑷 =

𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑷 =

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 𝟐
(7) 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑨 = 𝟓, evaluate
𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑨 and
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝑨, leaving your
answers as surds.

DRAW a neat diagram for EACH question so you can label the sides as HYPOTENUSE, ADJACENT
and OPPOSITE, as appropriate.

2024 Textbook: Ex 4-02 Q1 a b f, Q2 all (HINT: Draw the diagram TWICE in your workbook), Q3 all,
Q4 i, ii, iii, iv for a c e, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8 c.

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 Similar Right-Angled Triangles
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Students will be able to determine similar right-angled triangles.

PRIOR LEARNING: NEW KNOWLEDGE:

- know sides of a right-angled - “similarity”

triangle

- know SIN, COS, TAN

Furthermore, because ∠B = 90°, ∠C = 180° – 90° – 35° = 55° because of the angle sum of a triangle.
These 4 triangles are called similar triangles because they have the same shape but are not the same
size. In fact, they are enlargements or reductions of one another.

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Example 1:

(a) For each triangle below, measure (with your ruler) the length of each side (correct to the
nearest mm) and then calculate sin, cos and tan as decimals (correct to 2 decimal places).

SIDE LENGTHS (mm) TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS (to 2 d.p.)

𝒐𝒑𝒑 𝒂𝒅𝒋 𝒐𝒑𝒑
BC (opp) AB (adj) AC (hyp) sin A = 𝒉𝒚𝒑 cos A = tan A =
𝒉𝒚𝒑 𝒂𝒅𝒋

(b) What do you notice about the value of sin A for all 4 similar right-angled triangles?

___________________________________________________________________________

(c) Use your calculator to find sin 350 (press 35 ) correct to 2 d.p. _______________

(d) What do you notice about your answers to parts (b) and (c)? _________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

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 (e) What do you notice about the value of cos A for all 4 similar right-angled triangles?

___________________________________________________________________________

(f) Use your calculator to find cos 350 (press 35 ) correct to 2 d.p. ______________

(g) What do you notice about your answers to parts (e) and (f)? __________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

(h) What do you notice about the value of tan A for all 4 similar right-angled triangles?

___________________________________________________________________________

(i) Use your calculator to find tan 350 (press 35 ) correct to 2 d.p. _____________

(j) What do you notice about your answers to parts (h) and (i)? __________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2024 Textbook: Ex 4-03 Q2 all ONLY (see over – you can draw your diagrams in THIS booklet).

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DRAW DIAGRAMS BELOW. Use a RULER and PROTRACTOR for your 4 triangles.

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 Degrees, Minutes and Seconds
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Students will be able to calculate angles using degrees, minutes and seconds.

PRIOR LEARNING: NEW KNOWLEDGE:

- know sides of a right- - DMS

angled triangle (degrees/minutes/seconds)
button on calculator
- know SOHCAHTOA

Just like we can round to a number of decimal places or significant

figures, then so too, we can round to the nearest minute:

230 14' 38"  230 15' (to the nearest minute) – since 38 seconds is greater than
or equal to 30 seconds then we ROUND UP to 15 minutes in this
example

740 37' 28"  740 37' (to the nearest minute) – since 28 seconds is less than 30
seconds then we just truncate (“chop off”) the seconds part

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USING THE CALCULATOR:

We can use the degrees/minutes/seconds button to help us.

e.g. Change 32.565 degrees to nearest minute:

On calculator: 32.565 =

On screen will be:

Since 54 seconds is over 30 then write as the final answer: 320 34' (to the nearest
minute)

We can now combine using the trig ratios.

Your calculator defaults to DEGREE mode (a little D is at the top of your

screen) but if it isn’t in the correct mode then press: SHIFT SETUP 3:DEG

Use you calculator to evaluate (correct to 2 decimal places) – check your

calculator gives the answers below:

ON CALCULATOR: 0.466307….

(a) tan 250 tan 25 = = 0.47 (to 2 d.p.)

(b) sin 310 sin 31 = 0.515038….

= 0.52 (to 2 d.p.)

(c) cos 350 29′ cos 35 29 = 0.81428…

= 0.81 (to 2 d.p.)

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 (d) 4sin 650 47′ 4 sin 65 47 3.64800….
This means
= = 3.65 (to 2 d.p.)
0 ′
4 × sin 65 47 but your OR
calculator understands
that 4 × sin 65 47
=
3 3 ÷ tan 17 = 9.81255…
(e)
tan 170
This means division, so = 9.81 (to 2 d.p.)
you can use the fraction
button here (but you OR
MUST put in the closing 3
bracket) =
tan(17)

2024 Textbook: Ex 4-04 Q1 a c e g i k l r s t , Q2 a c e g, Q3 a b c d, Q4 a c e g i k, Q5 a c d g.

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 Finding the Unknown Side in a Right-Angled Triangle
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Students will be able to find the lengths of a side of a right-angled triangle.

PRIOR LEARNING: NEW KNOWLEDGE:

- know sides of a right-angled - finding sides of a

triangle right-angled triangle

- know SOHCAHTOA

EXAMPLE 1: Find the length of the unknown side in this right-angled triangle (answer 1 d.p.):

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EXAMPLE 2: Find q to the nearest centimetre.

EXAMPLE 3: DRAW A RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLE and LABEL IT.

EXAMPLE 4: In the triangle ABC the right-angle is at A, AB = 45.1 cm and the angle at B =
230 45′ . Find the length of AC (to 1 d.p.). DRAW A RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLE and LABEL IT.

2024 Textbook: Ex 4-05 Q1 all, DRAW DIAGRAM in your books - Q2, Q3 a b c g h i, Q4, Q5,

Q6 a b c g h i, Q7, Q8, Q9 all, Q10, Q11, Q13, Q15, Q17, Q19, Q21, Q23.

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Finding the Unknown Side (in the denominator) in a Right-Angled
Triangle
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Students will be able to find the lengths of a side of a right-angled triangle.

PRIOR LEARNING: NEW KNOWLEDGE:

- know sides of a right-angled - finding sides of a

triangle right-angled triangle

- know SOHCAHTOA

SOH CAH TOA

LABEL EACH DIAGRAM WITH Hypotenuse (H), Adjacent (A) side, Opposite (O) side

DECIDE if SIN, COS, TAN SOH CAH TOA

𝑵𝑼𝑴𝑩𝑬𝑹
DIVIDE to find the value of the pronumeral:
𝑻𝑹𝑰𝑮 (𝒅𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆)

If every case for this lesson the pronumeral will be in the DENOMINATOR:

SOH

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 CAH

2024 Textbook: DRAW THE DIAGRAM IN YOUR WORKBOOK for each question - Ex 4-06 Q1 d e f,
Q2 a b c , Q3, Q5 a b, Q6, Q7, Q9, Q10 a b c, Q11, Q12 a b c, Q14, Q16 (altitude = vertical height),
Q19, Q20 all.

SOH CAH TOA

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 Finding Angles Using Trigonometry
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Students will be able to find the angles in a right-angled triangle.

PRIOR LEARNING: NEW KNOWLEDGE:

- know sides of a right-angled - finding angles of a

triangle right-angled triangle

- know SOHCAHTOA

When finding an ANGLE using Trigonometry you MUST press the SHIFT button before the
Trig Function on your calculator.

You will see a little -1 come up above the SIN/COS/TAN – this shows that you are finding the ANGLE.
(1) Find 𝜃 to the nearest DEGREE: (2) Find 𝜃 to the nearest DEGREE:
cos 𝜃 = 0.456 sin 𝜃 = 0.789
On calculator: SHIFT COS 0.456 = On calculator: SHIFT SIN 0.789 =
−1
𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (0.456) 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 (0.789)
𝜃= 𝜃=
∴ 𝜃= (𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒) ∴𝜃 = (𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒)

(3) Find 𝜃 to the nearest MINUTE: (4) Find 𝜃 to the nearest MINUTE:
tan 𝜃 = 1.698 cos 𝜃 = 0.872
On calculator: SHIFT TAN 1.698 = On calculator: SHIFT cos 0.872 =
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (1.698) 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (0.872)
𝜃= 𝜃=
∴𝜃= (𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒) ∴𝜃= (𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒)

(5) Find 𝜃 to the nearest DEGREE: (6) Find 𝜃 to the nearest DEGREE:
23 1.56
cos 𝜃 = 45 tan 𝜃 = 8.9
𝟐𝟑 𝟏.𝟓𝟔
On calculator: SHIFT COS = On calculator: SHIFT tan =
𝟒𝟓 𝟖.𝟗
23 1.56
𝜃= 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (45) 𝜃= 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( 8.9 )
𝜃= 𝜃=
∴𝜃= (𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒) ∴ 𝜃= (𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒)

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 (7) Find 𝜃 to the nearest MINUTE: (8) Find 𝜃 to the nearest MINUTE:
1 17
sin 𝜃 = 6 cos 𝜃 = 36
𝟏 𝟏𝟕
On calculator: SHIFT SIN = On calculator: SHIFT COS =
𝟔 𝟑𝟔
𝜃= 𝜃=
∴𝜃 = (𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒) ∴𝜃 = (𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒)

(9) Find 𝜃 to the nearest DEGREE. SOH CAH TOA

(10)

LABEL THE RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLE: SOH CAH TOA

2024 Textbook: DRAW A DIAGRAM FIRST FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

Ex 4-07 Q1 a c e g i k, Q2 a c e g i k , Q3 a c e, Q5 a b c, Q6 a b d, Q8, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q14, Q16, Q18.

REVISION: Test Yourself 4 – Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q6 a b, Q7 a b, Q8 a c e, Q9 a b, Q10 a b c, Q12 a b,

Q13 a b, Q14.

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