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Trigonometry For Dummies

From Trigonometry For Dummies by Mary Jane Sterling
Trigonometry is the study of triangles. Get to know some special rules for
angles and some other important functions, definitions, and translations.
Sines and cosines factor heavily into trigonometry and have their own
formulas and rules that you'll want to understand, if you plan to study trig
for long.

Special Right Triangles for Trigonometry

Trigonometry is focused on studying triangles , and some right triangles are
special even in trig. The following figures show the 30-60-90 triangle and the
Isosceles triangle for your trigonometry enjoyment:

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Right Triangle Definitions for Trigonometry Functions

Defining the hypotenuse and the adjacent and opposite sides of triangles is what
trigonometry is all about. But trig has a set of definitions for right triangles, which
are shown with the following figure of a right triangle:

Trigonometry Functions for Acute Angles

Trigonometry deals with triangles, which necessarily means dealing with acute
angles — those 90 degrees or less. The following table shows the exact sine,
cosine, and tangent functions for select acute angles:

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Degree/Radian Equivalences for Trigonometry

Radians, as units of plane angles, can be translated into degrees. If you’re using
trigonometry, knowing those equivalences comes in very handy. The following
table shows select equivalences:

Coordinate Definitions for Trigonometry Functions

In trigonometry, you can get up to all sorts of plots — as long as you’re plotting
triangles. The coordinate definitions for each of the trig functions are shown in
the following list:

Signs of Trigonometry Functions in Quadrants

When you plot triangles in trigonometry, trig functions have different signs,
depending on the quadrant they’re in. In quadrant I, for example, all functions are
positive. The following figure shows which functions are positive in each
quadrant:

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Trigonometry Formulas Worth Knowing

Trigonometry is no slouch when it comes to useful formulas. Whether you want to
figure the length of an arc or the area of a triangle, the formulas in the following
list can help you out:

Trigonometry Laws of Sines and Cosines

Trigonometry is the happy home of sines and cosines. However, those sines and
cosines are ruled by mathematical laws. The laws for both are shown in the
following lists:
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