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TRIGONOMETRY

Trigonometry is the study of relationships between the sides and angles of a

triangle.
Trigonometric Ratios

Side Opposite to C

B Side Adjacent to C C

In the above figure ∆ABC is a right angled triangle. ∠ C is an acute angle. Side BC is
the Side Adjacent to ∠ C and side AB is the Side Opposite to ∠ C .

The trigonometric ratio of ∠ C is given as follows:

Side Opposite to ∠ C AB p
sinC = = =
Hypotenuse AC h
BC b
cosC = =
AC h
AB p
tanC = =
BC b
AC h
cosecC = =
AB p
AC h
secC = =
BC b
BC b
cotC = =
AB p

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Note: The value of trigonometric ratios do not vary with the value of sides if angles
remain the same.

Example: Consider Δ ACB, right-angled at C, in which AB = 35 units, BC = 21 units

and A ABC = θ. Determine the values of
(i) cos² θ + sin² θ,
(ii) cos² θ – sin² θ.

35 Units

C B
21 Units

Solution: (i) cos²θ + sin²θ

b p
= + (p²= h²-b² = 1225-441 =784, So, p=28)
h h
21 28
=( )²+( )²
35 35
441 784
= +
1225 1225
1225
= =1
1225
(ii) cos²θ - sin²θ
441 − 784 − 343
= = = -0.28
1225 1225

Trigonometric Ratios of Some Specific Angles

Trigonometric Ratios of 45°

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In Δ ABC, right-angled at B, if one angle is 45°, then
the other angle is also 45°, i.e., X A = X C = 45°

So, BC = AB , because it is an Isosceles Right Angled Triangle

B C

Now, Suppose BC = AB = a.
Then by Pythagoras Theorem, AC² = AB² + BC² = a² + a² = 2a²,
and, therefore, AC = a 2
Using the definitions of the trigonometric ratios, we have :
AB a 1
sin 45° = = =
AC a 2 2
As cosec is reciprocal to sin
So, cosec 45°= 2
BC a 1
cos 45°= = =
AC a 2 2
And sec 45°= 2
AB a
Tan 45°= = =1
BC a
And cot 45°= 1

Trigonometric Ratios of 30° and 60°

Following triangle ABC is an equilateral triangle and AD ⊥ BC. So ∠ ACD =60°
And ∠ BAD =30°.
As AD bisects BC, so AB=2BD
Or in the right angle triangle ABD
h= 2b
So, p²= h²-b² = 4b²-b²=3b²
Or, p =b 3

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BD b 1
Now sin 30°= = =
AB 2b 2
AD b 3 3
cos 30°= = =
AB 2b 2
BD b 1
tan 30°= = =
AD b 3 3

B D C

Now, similarly ratios for 60° can be calculated as follows:

AD b 3 3
sin 60°= = =
AB 2b 2
BD b 1
cos 60°= = =
AB 2b 2
AD b 3
tan 60°= = = 3
BD b

Trigonometric Ratios of 0° and 90°

When the acute angle is reduced upto 0° then the perpendicular becomes zero and
the hypotenuse lies on the base. The triangle does not remain there, rather it

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becomes a straight line. Similarly, when the acute angle is increased to become 90°
then the base becomes zero and the hypotenuse lies on the perpendicular.
p 0
So, sin 0°= = =0
h h
b b h
cos 0°= = = =1
h b h
p 0
tan 0°= = =0
b b

p p h
sin 90°= = = =1
h p h
b 0
cos 90°= = =0
h h
p p
tan 90= = =Undefined, also depicted as ∞
b 0

Angle Ratios:

∠A 0° 30° 45° 60° 90°

sin A 0 1 1 3 1
2 2 2
cos A 1 3 1 1 0

2 2 2
tan A 0 1 1 3 ∞
3
cosec A ∞ 2 2 2 1
3
sec A 1 2 2 2 1
3
cot A ∞ 3 1 1 0
3

Trigonometric Ratios of Complementary Angles

In the right angled triangle both the acute angles are complementary to each other
as they add up to 90°.

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B C

So, ∠ A is complementary to ∠ C
AB
1. Now, in ∆ABC, sin C =
AC
BC
And sin A =
AC
BC
Or, sin (90°-C) =
AC
BC
The value of cos C =
AC
So it can be written that sin(90°-C) = cos C
Or, sin (90°-θ) = cos θ

AB
2. cos A = = cos (90°-C) = sin C
AC
So, cos (90°-θ) = sin θ
AB
3. tan C =
BC
BC
cot C =
AB
BC
tan (90°-C) = = cot C
AB
Or, tan (90°-θ) = cot θ
And cot (90°-θ) = tan θ

Similarly following relationships can also be calculated:

cos (90°-θ) = cosec θ
cosec (90°-θ) = cos θ

Trigonometric Identities

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An equation is called an identity when it is true for all values of the variables
involved. Similarly, an equation involving trigonometric ratios of an angle is called a
trigonometric identity, if it is true for all values of the angle(s) involved.

Let us prove the following trigonometric identity:

1. cos2 A + sin2 A = 1

This is true for all A such that 0° ≤ A ≤ 90°. So, this is a trigonometric identity.
Solution:
cos² A + sin² A
b p
=( )² + ( )²
h h
b² + p²
=
h²
h²
= = 1 proved
h²
2. 1+tan² A = sec² A
solution:
b²+ p² = h²
dividing the above equation by b² we get
b² p² h²
+ =
b² b² b²
Or, 1 + tan² A = sec² A proved

Similarly dividing the equation by p² in stead of b² will give the following

trigonometric identity:

cot² A + 1 = cosec² A

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