MCR3U0

Exact Trigonometric Ratio Values for Special Angles

General Instructions: 1. Please put away your calculator using it would only make the process below more confusing. 2. Make your drawings as large as you can this will make the measuring process more precise. 3. Make all measurements as accurately as you can. 4. If you have control over the length of a side you are drawing, make it a whole number. Triangle 1: 1. Use a ruler to draw a right triangle, as accurately as you can, so that . Show the measurements of the opposite and adjacent sides on your diagram. 2. Measure the angle with a protractor. Show this value on your diagram. 3. Measure the remaining angle, . Make sure this value makes sense for the sum of angles of your triangle (if the value does not make sense, your diagram is a bit off and needs to be corrected). 4. Calculate the length, in exact form, of the remaining side of your triangle. Make sure to simplify any radicals in your result as much as you can. Triangle 2: 1. Draw a right triangle with a 45o angle, as accurately as you can. 2. Measure the remaining angle and make sure this value makes sense for the sum of angles of your triangle (if the value does not make sense, your diagram is a bit off and needs to be corrected). Label the angle values on your diagram 3. Measure the lengths of the adjacent and the opposite sides. Make sure your measurements make sense for this type of triangle (a triangle with two equal angles). 4. Calculate the length, in exact form, for the hypotenuse. Make sure to simplify any radicals in your result as much as you can. Diagram for Triangle 1: Diagram for Triangle 2:

Conclusions: Fill in the tables below with exact values in simplest form, then memorize the values. Angle: Sine ratio: Cosine ratio: Tangent ratio: = 45o Angle: Cosecant ratio: Secant ratio: Cotangent ratio: = 45o