NNPC FSTP Technicians

Mathematics

Course Code:
Trigonometry
 Module 1 – Pythagoras
Theorem
The word trigonometry means ‘triangle
measurement’. The development of this
branch of mathematics can be traced back to
Ancient Greece in the period 330 BCE to 150
CE. Today trigonometry is the basis of
surveying, navigation, engineering, and
astronomy. Trigonometric expressions and
calculations are also used to solve problems
related to electricity, magnetism and
electronics.
 Module 1 – Pythagoras Theorem

c a

c2 = a2 + b2
a2 = c2 - b2
b2 = c2 – a2
 Module 1 - Working with
numbers
Pythagoras’ theorem means that if you know
the lengths of any two sides of a right-angled
triangle, you can work out the length of the
other side.
This is extremely useful for solving real-life
problems. In order to use the theorem, you
have to recognise that right angles are found
in various places (where you have a right
angle you can construct a right-angled
triangle).
 Examples

12
cm
A
B
35 cm
 Z

8 cm

Y
X 17 cm
 Module 1 - Working with
numbers

Exercise
a) a
b) c)
15 cm
b 25 cm 3m
1.6 m
36 cm
c
7 cm
d
d)
65 mm
60 mm
e) A ladder is standing on horizontal ground
and rests against a vertical wall. The
ladder is 4.5 m long and its foot is 1.6 m
from the wall. Calculate how far up the
wall the ladder will reach. Give your
answer correct to 3 significant figures.
 The tangent ratio
• Before you work with the ratios of angles
to sides in triangles, you need to
remember how sides and angles are
named in a right-angled triangle. The
important terms are ‘hypotenuse’,
‘adjacent’ and ‘opposite’. The diagram
below demonstrates this using angle A.

Opposite(O)
A

Adjacent (A)
 Naming the sides of right-angled
triangles
Examples
a) 6 8

A
10

h = 10
Opp (A) = 8
Adj(A) = 6

20
b) h = 29
21 opp (B) = 20
29
adj (B) = 21
B
 Exercises

1. For each of these triangles, write down the length of the

hypotenuse and the values of opp(O) and adj(A).
7
a) A b)
20 24
16
25
A
12
2. For the triangle below, write down the length of the
hypotenuse and the values of opp(A) and adj(A)

200 173

100
Calculating the tangent
ratio
 opp (350)
opp (350)
(a)

adj
adj
(350)
(350)

Triangle opp (350) adj (350)

a 1.4 cm 2 cm 0.70
b 2.1 cm 3 cm 0.70

Note that tan (angle) is equal for both triangles

Sine and Cosine ratios
 Examples

1.For each of these triangles, write down the

values of:
(i) sin (A) (ii) cos (A)
(a)
20
16

A
12
 solution

24
A 25
 Exercises

1. For each of these triangles, write down

the values of :
(i) Sin (A) (ii) Cos (A)
a) 29 (b) 12
21 9

A
20 15
2. The diagram below shows a ramp, AB
which makes an angle of 180 with the
horizontal. The ramp is 6.25 m long.
Calculate the difference in height between A
and B. (This is the length of BC in the
diagram.)
 Some hints on solving trigonometry
problems

• If no diagram is given, draw one yourself.

• In the diagram, mark the right angles
• Show the sizes of the other angles that are
known and the lengths of any lines that are
known.
• Mark the angles or sides you have to
calculate
• Identify the right-angled triangle(s) that
contain(s) the angles or sides you have to
calculate.
 Some hints on solving trigonometry
problems
• If it is a 3-dimensional problem, draw
separate diagrams of the right-angled
triangles you are going to use.
• Consider whether you need to create right-
angled triangles by drawing extra lines in your
diagram(s). For example, an isosceles
triangle can be divided into two congruent
right-angled triangles.
• Decide on the steps you will take to solve the
problem – will you need pythagoras’
theorem, sine, cosine and / or tangent?
 Some hints on solving trigonometry
problems
• Remember that there is often more than one
way of solving a problem – if you can, choose
the shortest method using the given
information.
• If you have to use a length or angle you have
already calculated, use the most accurate
value you have - do not use a ‘rounded’ value.
• Show how you obtained your answer(s) – in
examinations, marks are given for correct
methods as well as for correct answers.
 Solving a triangle
You can construct a triangle if you know:
• The lengths of three sides
• The lengths of two sides and the size of the
angle between them
• The length of one side and the sizes of two
angles
If a triangle can be constructed, it is possible to
calculate its remaining sides and angles. This is
called solving the triangle. The formulae used to
solve a triangle are called the sine rule and the
cosine rule.
The sine rule

C
b a

A c B
 Examples
C

800 300
A
B
 C
Exercise

720 450
A B
20 cm

6m

1400
D E
 The cosine rule

When you know the lengths of three sides of a

triangle or the lengths of two sides and the size
of the angle between them, the sine rule is not
useful because you do not have enough
information to use it. In these cases, you use
the cosine rule. The cosine rule is a
generalisation of Pythagoras` theorem.

The cosine rule is:

For any ABC, c2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab cos C
 Examples

500
B C
18 cm

B A
 Exercises

450
B C
12 cm

S
x 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
sin x 0 0.5 0.87 1 0.87 0.5 0 -0.5 -0.87 -1 -0.87 -0.5 0

Here is the graph

x 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
sin x 3 2.73 2 1 0 -0.73 -1 -0.73 0 1 2 2.73 3

3.5
(a)
3

2.5

1.5

1 Series1

0.5

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
-0.5

-1

-1.5
(b) On the diagram, the line y = 1.4 has been drawn.
It intersects the graph of y = 1 + 2cos x0 at the points
where x = 78 and x = 282. (Each small square on the
x-axis is 6 units.)

y = sin x0

x
x 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
y 1 2.73 3 2 1 -0.73 -1 -0.73 1
• THANK YOU