BASIC
TRIGONOMETRY
TRIGONOMETRY
• The word Trigonometry is derived from the ancient greek language and
means measurement of triangles.
“tri” meaning three. “gon” meaning sides. “metron” meaning measure.
• Trigonometry is the study of triangles. Using trig, you can solve many
problems precisely where you may have only been able to approximate
before.
• Trig is used in everything from architecture to engineering.
TIMELINE…
• The earliest known work on Trigonometry was recorded in Egypt and
Babylon.
• Early astronomers used Trig to find out the distance of the stars and
planets from the Earth.
B PARTS OF A RIGHT
Opposite Side
Hypotenuse TRIANGLE
C A
Adjacent Side
The hypotenuse will always be the
longest side, and opposite from the
The sides are labeled as right angle.
hypotenuse, adjacent or opposite
ACCORDING TO THE ANGLE WE The adjacent side is the side next
ARE INTERESTED IN. to Angle A.
This angle will NEVER be
The opposite side is the side that is
the right angle. on the opposite side of the triangle
from Angle A.
In this example, we will label the sides
according to angle A.
LABELING SIDES
B For Angle A
Hypotenuse (HYP)
This is the Opposite Side
Opposite Side
(OPP) This is the Adjacent Side
A
Adjacent Side (ADJ)
B For Angle B
Hypotenuse (HYP) This is the Opposite Side
This is the Adjacent Side
A
LABELING SIDES
Opposite Side For Angle Z
(OPP)
HYP = XZ
Adjacent Side (opposite the right angle)
Hypotenuse (ADJ)
(HYP) ADJ = YZ
(next to angle Z)
OPP = XY
(opposite angle Z)
For Angle Q
Hypotenuse HYP = QR
Adjacent Side (HYP) (opposite the right angle)
(ADJ) ADJ = PQ
(next to angle Q)
Opposite Side
OPP = PR
(OPP) (opposite angle Q)
LABELING SIDES
For Angle A
ADJ OPP
HYP = AC
(opposite the right angle)
HYP ADJ = AB
(next to angle A)
OPP = BC
(opposite angle A)
For Angle L
HYP
HYP = LM
(opposite the right angle)
ADJ OPP ADJ = LN
(next to angle L)
OPP = MN
(opposite angle L)
LABELING SIDES
For Angle C
OPP
HYP = AC
(opposite the right angle)
ADJ
HYP
ADJ = BC
(next to angle C)
OPP = AB
(opposite angle C)
For Angle B
OPP HYP = BC
ADJ (opposite the right angle)
ADJ = AB
(next to angle B)
HYP
OPP = AC
(opposite angle B)
TRIG RATIOS
TRIGONOMETRIC ABBREVIATION
RATIO
Sine of an angle
Cosine of an angle
Tangent of an angle
TRIG RATIOS
Why are sine, cosine and tangent
called ratios?
Hypotenuse
Opposite
A
The sine, cosine and tangent of a Adjacent
particular angle are defined by comparing
two sides of the right triangle.
HYP
OPP
TRIG RATIOS
ADJ
TRIGONOMETRIC
RATIO DEFINITION
SOHCAHTOA
TRIGONOMETRIC
DEFINITION
RATIO
SOH
CAH
TOA
IDENTIFYING RATIOS
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
OPP
What is
ADJ sin Z?
HYP
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
What is
HYP tan Q?
ADJ
OPP
IDENTIFYING RATIOS
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
ADJ OPP
What is
cos A?
HYP
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
What is
HYP tan L?
ADJ OPP
IDENTIFYING RATIOS
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
OPP
What is
ADJ
HYP cos C?
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
OPP ADJ
What is
HYP sin B?
FINDING MISSING SIDES
Find the length of AC
Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP, OPP, ADJ
Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by identifying Given side: BC – ADJ
the relevant sides (the given side and the side to be found) Side to be found: AC – OPP
Therefore, we need to use TAN
Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio, and
substitute the names of the relevant sides
Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known
Step 5: Solve for the unknown side
Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
FINDING MISSING SIDES
Find the length of PR
Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP, OPP, ADJ
Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by identifying Given side: QR – OPP
the relevant sides (the given side and the side to be found) Side to be found: PR – HYP
Therefore, we need to use SIN
Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio, and
substitute the names of the relevant sides
Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known
Step 5: Solve for the unknown side
Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
HYP OPP
Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP,
ADJ
OPP, ADJ
Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by
identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)
Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,
and substitute the names of the relevant sides
Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known
Step 5: Solve for the unknown side
Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
HYP OPP
Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP,
ADJ
OPP, ADJ
Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by
identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)
Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,
and substitute the names of the relevant sides
Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known
Step 5: Solve for the unknown side
Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
HYP
OPP
Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP,
OPP, ADJ ADJ
Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by
identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)
Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,
and substitute the names of the relevant sides
Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known
Step 5: Solve for the unknown side
Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
HYP OPP
Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP, ADJ
OPP, ADJ
Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by
identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)
Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,
and substitute the names of the relevant sides
Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known
Step 5: Solve for the unknown side
Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
HYP
OPP
Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP,
ADJ
OPP, ADJ
Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by
identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)
Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,
and substitute the names of the relevant sides
Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known
Step 5: Solve for the unknown side
Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
HYP
OPP
Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP, ADJ
OPP, ADJ
Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by
identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)
Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,
and substitute the names of the relevant sides
Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known
Step 5: Solve for the unknown side
Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
