Year 10 Trigonometry Booklet.

Name: ___________________

1
Pythagoras Theorem.

 Only for right angled triangles

Formula: c 2=a2+ b2

Formula to find a side:

2 2
c=√(a +b )
2 2
a=√ (c −b )
2 2
b=√ (c −a )

Step 1. Label the side

Step 2. Choose formula
Step 3. Put values in
Step 4. Calculate and find answer (with units)

Example.

Find the length of the unknown side in the triangle:

Think: Write:
b
Step 1. Label the sides

a c

Step 2. Choose formula 2

c=√(a +b )
2

Step 3. Put values in 2 2

c=√( 5 + 24 )
Step 4. Calculate and find answer (with c=24.52 cm
units)

2
Questions:

1.

Find the length of the unknown side for each of the following triangles.

a)

Think: Write:

Step 1. Label the sides

Step 2. Choose formula

Step 3. Put values in
Step 4. Calculate and find answer (with
units)

b)

Think: Write:

Step 1. Label the sides

Step 2. Choose formula

Step 3. Put values in
Step 4. Calculate and find answer (with
units)

c)
Think: Write:

Step 1. Label the sides

Step 2. Choose formula

Step 3. Put values in
Step 4. Calculate and find answer (with
units)

3
d)
Think: Write:

Step 1. Label the sides

Step 2. Choose formula

Step 3. Put values in
Step 4. Calculate and find answer (with
units)

e)
Think: Write:

Step 1. Label the sides

Step 2. Choose formula

Step 3. Put values in
Step 4. Calculate and find answer (with
units)

f)
Think: Write:

Step 1. Label the sides

Step 2. Choose formula

Step 3. Put values in
Step 4. Calculate and find answer (with
units)

4
Trigonometric Ratios.

Formula

opposite
sin θ=
hypotenuse
adjacent
cos θ=
hypotenuse
opposite
tanθ=
adjacent
Step 1. Put your finger on the angle you are given and label your sides – opposite, adjacent and
hypotenuse.

Step 2. Work out what formula you will use – sin, cos or tan

Step 3. Write formula

Example:

State the trigonometric ratio you would use for the triangle below:

Think: Write:

Step 1. Put your finger on the angle you

are given and label your sides – opposite, Hypotenuse
adjacent and hypotenuse.

Opposite
Angle
Adjacent

Step 2. Work out what formula you will opposite

use – sin, cos or tan sin θ=
hypotenuse

Step 3. Write formula

5
Questions.

State the trigonometric ratios for the triangles

Think: Write:

Step 1. Put your finger on the angle you

are given and label your sides – opposite,
adjacent and hypotenuse.

Step 2. Work out what formula you will

use – sin, cos or tan

Step 3. Write formula

Think: Write:

Step 1. Put your finger on the angle you

are given and label your sides – opposite,
adjacent and hypotenuse.

Step 2. Work out what formula you will

use – sin, cos or tan

Step 3. Write formula

6
Think: Write:

Step 1. Put your finger on the angle you

are given and label your sides – opposite,
adjacent and hypotenuse.

Step 2. Work out what formula you will

use – sin, cos or tan

Step 3. Write formula

Think: Write:

Step 1. Put your finger on the angle you

are given and label your sides – opposite,
adjacent and hypotenuse.

Step 2. Work out what formula you will

use – sin, cos or tan

Step 3. Write formula

7
Think: Write:

Step 1. Put your finger on the angle you

are given and label your sides – opposite,
adjacent and hypotenuse.

Step 2. Work out what formula you will

use – sin, cos or tan

Step 3. Write formula

Think: Write:

Step 1. Put your finger on the angle you

are given and label your sides – opposite,
adjacent and hypotenuse.

Step 2. Work out what formula you will

use – sin, cos or tan

Step 3. Write formula

8
Angle of Elevation.

Angle of Depression>

9
Finding a SIDE length.

To rearrange the equations:

Original Equation: To find one side: To find the other side:

H
sin θ=
opposite O ¿ sin θ ×hypotenuse
Opposite
Hypotenuse=
opposite
hypotenuse sin θ

adjacent Adjacent ¿ cos θ× hypotenuse adjacent

cos θ= Hypotenuse=
hypotenuse cos θ

opposite Opposite ¿ tan θ × adjacent opposite

tanθ= Adjacent=
adjacent tan θ

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O, H, A)
Step 3. Choose what side you need to find out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula
Step 6. Substitute numbers
Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places (with units)

Example:
Find the length of the unknown side of the given triangle

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula opposite
H=
Step 5. Write formula sin θ

Step 6. Substitute numbers 12

H=
sin( 30)
Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with
units)
H=¿24 mm

10
Questions.

Find the lengths of the unknown sides:

1.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

2.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

11
3.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

4.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

12
5. A girl is standing on a footpath and looks up to the top of a building at an angle of 30⁰. After
walking 50m closer she looks up again to the top of the building at an angle of 40⁰. Calculate how far
away she is from the base of the building when she looks up for the second time. (HINT: use the
diagram to help you out)

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

6. The angle of elevation of the top of the building at a distance of 50 m from its foot on a horizontal
plane is found to be 60 degree. Find the height of the building.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

13
7. A string of a kite is 100 meters long and it makes an angle of 60° with horizontal. Find the height of
the kite, assuming that there is no slack in the string.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

8. A ladder is leaning against a vertical wall makes an angle of 20° with the ground. The foot of the
ladder is 3 m from the wall. Find the length of ladder.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

14
9. A balloon is connected to a meteorological station by a cable of length 200 m inclined at 60
degree angle. Find the height of the balloon from the ground. (Imagine that there is no slack in the
cable)

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

10. The sun is at an angle of elevation of 58⁰. A tree casts a shadow 20m long on the ground. How
tall is the tree?

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

15
11. Ben measures 1.5m high from the floor to his eye level and is standing 75m from the base of a
crane. He looks up to the top pf the crane at an angle of elevation of 35⁰. He then looks at the crane
operator at an angle of elevation of 15⁰. Calculate the height from the top of the crane to the crane
operator.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

16
12. A communications tower is on top of a mountain. Mary stands 4.1km away from the base of the
mountain and looks up to the bottom of the tower at an angle of elevation of 13⁰. She then looks up
to the top of the tower at an angle of elevation of 14⁰. Find the height of the communications tower.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been

given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what side you need to find

out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate to 2 decimal places(with

units)

17
Finding an ANGLE

To rearrange the equations:

Hypotenuse
Original Equation: To find the ANGLE:
Opposite
opposite −1 opposite
sin θ= θ=sin ( )
Angle hypotenuse hypotenuse
Adjacent
adjacent −1 adjacent
cos θ= θ=cos ( )
hypotenuse hypotenuse

opposite −1 opposite
tanθ= θ=tan ( )
adjacent adjacent

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O, H, A)
Step 3. Choose what angle you need to find out
Step 4. Choose the correct formula
Step 5. Write formula
Step 6. Substitute numbers
Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places (with degrees)

Example:
Find the angle of the given triangle

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been
given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula −1 opposite

θ=tan ( )
Step 5. Write formula adjacent

Step 6. Substitute numbers −1 7

θ=tan ( )
10
Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places
(with degrees) θ=34.9 9
∘

18
Questions.

Calculate the angles of the following:

1.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been
given(O, H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

2.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

19
3.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

4.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

20
5.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

6.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

21
7. A 25m ladder leans against a building. The ladder’s base is 13.5m from the building. Find the angle
which the ladder makes with the ground.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

8. In order to reach the top of a hill which is 250m high, one must travel 2km straight up a road
which leads to the top. Find the angle which the road makes with the horizontal.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

22
9. A ladder leans against a building. The top of the ladder reaches a point on the building which is
18m above the ground. The foot of the ladder is 7m from the building. Find the measure of the angle
which the ladder makes with the level ground.

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

10. Two flag poles are in a park on a level surface 30m apart. One pole is 10m tall and the other is
19m tall. What is the angle of elevation of the top of the tall pole from the top of the smaller pole?

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

23
11. Two observers (located at points A and B in the diagram) are watching a rock climber on the
opposite face of a cliff. The cliff is 100m wide. When observer A looks down to the bottom of the
opposite wall of the cliff, he must look down at an angle of depression of 51°. However, observer A
sees the climber at an angle of depression of 20°. Observer B will see the climber at what angle of
elevation? (HINT: draw in the distance and angles you have been given)

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw a triangle (if not given one)

Step 2. Label sides you have been given(O,
H, A)

Step 3. Choose what angle you need to

find out

Step 4. Choose the correct formula

Step 5. Write formula

Step 6. Substitute numbers

Step 7. Calculate with 2 decimal places

(with degrees)

24
 Bearings.

 Taken using compass

 Always
4 start from 0⁰ (North)
1

3 2

Converting True Bearing to Compass Bearings.

Step 1. Draw compass rose and label 0⁰, 90⁰,180⁰, 270⁰, 360⁰
Step 2. Using the True Bearing given draw this on the compass rose.
Step 3. Find the quadrant the true bearing is in
Step 4. Quadrant 1 = N True bearing E
Quadrant 2 = S 180 – True Bearing E
Quadrant 3 = S True bearing – 180 W
Quadrant 4 = N 360 – True bearing W

Example:
Convert 210⁰ T to a compass bearing

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw compass rose and label 0⁰, 90⁰,180⁰,

270⁰, 360⁰
Step 2. Using the True Bearing given draw this on
the compass rose.
Step 3. Find the quadrant the true bearing is in
Step 4. Quadrant 1 = N True bearing E
Quadrant 2 = S 180 – True Bearing E
Quadrant 3 = S True bearing – 180 W
Quadrant 4 = N 360 – True bearing W

Quadrant 3
S (210 – 180) W
S 30⁰ W

25
 Questions.
1. Convert 40⁰ T to a compass bearing

Think: 4 Write:
1
Step 1. Draw compass rose and label 0⁰, 90⁰,180⁰,
270⁰, 360⁰
3 True Bearing
Step 2. Using the 2 given draw this on
the compass rose.
Step 3. Find the quadrant the true bearing is in
Step 4. Quadrant 1 = N True bearing E
Quadrant 2 = S 180 – True Bearing E
Quadrant 3 = S True bearing – 180 W
Quadrant 4 = N 360 – True bearing W

2. Convert 110⁰ T to a compass bearing

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw compass rose and label 0⁰, 90⁰,180⁰,

270⁰, 360⁰
Step 2. Using the True Bearing given draw this on
the compass rose.
Step 3. Find the quadrant the true bearing is in
Step 4. Quadrant 1 = N True bearing E
Quadrant 2 = S 180 – True Bearing E
Quadrant 3 = S True bearing – 180 W
Quadrant 4 = N 360 – True bearing W

26
 3. Convert 300⁰ T to a compass bearing

Think: Write:
4
1
Step 1. Draw compass rose and label 0⁰, 90⁰,180⁰,
270⁰, 360⁰
Step 2. Using the True Bearing given draw this on
3
the compass rose. 2
Step 3. Find the quadrant the true bearing is in
Step 4. Quadrant 1 = N True bearing E
Quadrant 2 = S 180 – True Bearing E
Quadrant 3 = S True bearing – 180 W
Quadrant 4 = N 360 – True bearing W

4. Convert 250⁰ T to a compass bearing

Think: Write:

Step 1. Draw compass rose and label 0⁰, 90⁰,180⁰,

270⁰, 360⁰
Step 2. Using the True Bearing given draw this on
the compass rose.
Step 3. Find the quadrant the true bearing is in
Step 4. Quadrant 1 = N True bearing E
Quadrant 2 = S 180 – True Bearing E
Quadrant 3 = S True bearing – 180 W
Quadrant 4 = N 360 – True bearing W

27
 Converting Compass Bearing to True Bearings.

Formula:

Quadrant 1 = Compass Bearing = True Bearing

Quadrant 2 = 90 + Compass Bearing
Quadrant 3 = 180 + Compass Bearing
Quadrant 4 = 360 – Compass Bearing

Step 1. Identify which quadrant the compass bearing is in

Quadrant 1 = N E
Quadrant 2 = S E
Quadrant 3 = S W
Quadrant 4 = N W
Step 2. Choose formula
Step 3. Calculate the True Bearing

Example:
Convert S 30⁰ W to a True Bearing

Think: Write:

Step 1. Identify which quadrant the compass S 30⁰ W

bearing is in
Quadrant 1 = N E Quadrant 3
Quadrant 2 = S E
Quadrant 3 = S W
Quadrant 4 = N W Quadrant 3 = 180 + Compass Bearing
Step 2. Choose formula Quadrant 3 = 180 + 30
Step 3. Calculate the True Bearing Quadrant 3 = 210⁰

Questions.
1. Convert N 40⁰ W to a True Bearing
Think: Write:

Step 1. Identify which quadrant the compass

bearing is in
Quadrant 1 = N E
Quadrant 2 = S E
Quadrant 3 = S W
Quadrant 4 = N W
Step 2. Choose formula
Step 3. Calculate the True Bearing

28
 2. Convert S 30⁰ E to a True Bearing
Think: Write:

Step 1. Identify which quadrant the compass

bearing is in
Quadrant 1 = N E
Quadrant 2 = S E
Quadrant 3 = S W
Quadrant 4 = N W
Step 2. Choose formula
Step 3. Calculate the True Bearing

3. Convert N 50⁰ E to a True Bearing

Think: Write:

Step 1. Identify which quadrant the compass

bearing is in
Quadrant 1 = N E
Quadrant 2 = S E
Quadrant 3 = S W
Quadrant 4 = N W
Step 2. Choose formula
Step 3. Calculate the True Bearing

4. Convert N 70⁰ W to a True Bearing

Think: Write:

Step 1. Identify which quadrant the compass

bearing is in
Quadrant 1 = N E
Quadrant 2 = S E
Quadrant 3 = S W
Quadrant 4 = N W
Step 2. Choose formula
Step 3. Calculate the True Bearing

29