11

TRIGONOMETRY

This chapter is basically written for those students who were either not so good in the secondary
classed maths or who are not in touch with the following concepts from 4-5 years. Hardly a question is asked
in CAT, directly from this chapter, but almost every year there are one or two questions in which we can find
the application of the concepts of trigonometry e.g., sometimes in geometry or in height and distance
problems. So just refresh the concepts of trigonometry. Therefore CAT aspirants are not required to waste so
much of precious time on this chapter. But this chapter is useful for IIFT, NIFT, FMS etc.
Angle : An angle is thought of as traced out by the rotation of a line (called the revolving line) from
the initial position OX to a terminal position OP.

Then O is the vertex, OX is called the initial side and OP is called the terminal side of the angle.
Convention of Sign of Angles : It is customary to regard the angle traced out by a counter-
clockwise rotation as positive and one traced out by a clockwise rotation as negative. The angle is indicated
by using an arrow, starting from the initial line and ending at the terminal line.

Quadrants : Let XOX’ and YOY’ be two mutually perpendicular lines in any plane. These lines divide
the plane into four regions called quadrants, numbered counter-clockwise. Thus the quadrants XOY, YOX’,
X’OY’ and Y’OX are respectively called the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant and the
fourth quadrant.

NOTE ϴ will be more than 360°, if after making one complete revolution, the revolving line does not stop
at the initial position OX but proceeds on further on.
Measures of Angles : There are three different systems of units for measurement in trigonometry,
viz. (i) Sexagesimal system (ii) Centesimal system (iii) Circular system.
Sexagesimal system : In this system, 1 right angle is divided into 60 equal parts and each part (or
division) is called a degree (i.e., 1°, read as 1 degree).
1° = 60‟ (60 sexagesimal minutes)
1‟ = 60” (60 sexagesimal seconds)
 This system is called the Common or the English system.
Centesimal System : In this system, 1 right angle is divided into 100 equal parts and each part (or
division) is called a grade (or 1g).
90° = 100g
1g = 100‟ (K‟ K centesimal minute)
1‟ = 100” (K” K centesimal minute)
Circular Measure : The unit of measurement of angles in this system is a radian (or 1 C)
A radian is defined as the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc whose length is equal to
the radius of the circle and it is denoted by 1 C.

In the figure OA = OB = r, (radius of the circle) and radian or 1C.

1. In all circles, the ratio of the circumference to the diameter is constant.
(Circumference = π × diameter)
π is an incommensurable number, i.e., it cannot be expressed exactly either by a whole number
or by a fraction. Its approximate value is 22/7 or 3.1416, correct to four places of decimal only.
2. A radian is constant angle.
A radian (1C) = a constant angle.
3. π radian = 180° (or 1° = radian)
4. If an arc of length „s‟ subtends an angle ϴ radian at the centre of a circle of radius r, then s = rϴ.
( )
5. (i) Area of the sector AOB = r2ϴ
(ii) Area of the sector AOB = rs

EXAMPLE 1 Express the following angles in radian measure and centesimal measure :
(i) 45° (ii) 20°35‟ (iii) 50°38‟40”

SOLUTION (i) ∵ 180° = π rad

∴ 1° = rad
∴ 45° = 45 rad
Now, 90° = 100 grade
⇒ 45° = 50 grade
(ii) 20°35’ 20 degree = degree
Now, 180 degree = π rad
∴ degree = rad
and ∵ 90° = 100 grade
∴ ( )°
(iii) 50°38’40” 50°38 min = 50° min
= 50° degree
= degree
Now 180° = π rad
∵ ( )° π rad
and 90° = 100g
⇒ ( )° grade
 π
EXAMPLE 2 One angle of a triangle is 54° and another angle is radian. Find the third angle in
centesimal unit.

SOLUTION Let A = 54° and B = rad

∴ B = 45°
Thus, A + B = 99°
∴ C = 180 – 99 = 81° (∵ A + B + C = 180°)

, cos , tan
Cosec , sec , cot

EXAMPLE 3

EXAMPLE 4

EXAMPLE 5 An arc AB of a circle subtends an angle x radians at the centre O of the circle Given that the
area of the sector AOB is equal to the square of the length of the arc AB, find the value of x.
SOLUTION Let are AB = s
Given that area of the sector
AOB = (ARC AB)2
∴ x and x (∵
∴ or x= radian

EXAMPLE 6 Two arcs of two different circles are of equal lengths. If these arcs subtends angles of 45º
and 60º at the centres of the circles. Find the ratio of the ratio of the radii of the two circles.

SOLUTION 45º = and 60º =

Let r1 and r2 be the radii of the two circles and s be the length of each arc.

∴ s = r1 r2 (∵ s = r

Hence the required ratio of radii = 4 : 3

EXAMPLE 7 The wheel of a railway carriage is 4 ft in diameter and makes 6 revolution per second, how
fast is the train going? ( 3 4
SOLUTION Radius (r) of the wheel = 2 ft

∴ Circumference of wheel = 2 3.14 2 2 56

Since the wheel makes 6 revolutions per second,

∴ Distance traversed in 1 second = 6 2 56 75 36

Hence the velocity of the train = 75.36 ft/s

= 51.38 mile/h

EXAMPLE 8 A horse trots uniformly along a circular track of radius 27 m. The angle subtended at the
centre of the track by the arc passed over by the horse in 3 seconds is 70º. What distance will the horse pass
over in

SOLUTION r = 27 m

70º =

∴ s=r = 27 = 33 m (approx.)

∴ Distance passed over by the horse in minute

= 30 330 ((approx.)

Remember :

sin cos tan

P B P ⇒ Pandit Badri Prasad
H H B ⇒ Hari Hari Bol
Cosec sec cot

P P p c l (AC)
B B (BC)
H Hypo (AB)

Thus, sin cosec =1 and tan =

cos sec =1 cot =
tan cot =1

NOTE (sin )– 1 is not written as sin– 1 . Thus sin– 1 ≠ (sin )– 1 etc. but
(sin )2 = sin2 and (sin )3 = sin3
sin2 + cos2 = 1
 sec2 – tan2 = 1
cosec2 – cot2 = 1

SIGN OF TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

sin and All +ve A → All

cosec +ve S A S → sin / cosec
T → tan / cot
tan and cos and T C C → cos / sec
cot +ve sec +ve

+ve → (Positive)

Remember : “Add Sugar To Coffee”

Values of T-Ratios :

Angle =0 = 30° = 45° = 60° = 90° = 180°

sin 0 1/2 1/√2 √3 2 1 0
cos 1 √3 2 1/√2 1/2 0 –1
tan 0 1/√3 1 √3 ∞ 0
cosec ∞ 2 √2 2/√3 1 ∞
sec 1 2/√3 √2 2 ∞ –1
cot ∞ √3 1 1/√3 0 ∞

Remember :
cosec = , sec = , cot =
and tan = , cot =
and tan = or cot =

Range of Trigonometric Ratios :

(i) – 1 ≤ ≤ ⇒| |≤
(ii) – 1 ≤ co ≤ ⇒ |co | ≤
( co c ≤ co c ≥ ⇒ |co c | ≥
(v c ≤– c ≥ ⇒| c | ≥
(v) –∞< <∞ , y yv l

INCREASING AND DECREASING FUNCTIONS OF T-RATIOS

1st quadrant 2nd quadrant 3rd quadrant 4th quadrant
S increases decreases decreases increases
from 0 to 1 from 1 to 0 from 0 to – 1 from 1 to 0
co decreases decreases increases increases
from 1 to 0 from 0 to – 1 from – 1 to 0 from 0 to 1
increases increases increases increases
o 0 o ∞ from – ∞ o 0 o 0 o ∞ from – ∞ o 0

TRIGONOMETRICAL RATIOS OF NEGATIVE AND ASSOCIATED ANGLES

Angle – (90 – (90 + (180 – ( 80 + (360 – (360 +
sin – sin cos cos sin – sin – sin sin
cos cos sin – sin – cos – cos cos cos
tan – tan cot – cot – tan tan – tan tan

SUM, DIFFERENCE AND PRODUCT FORMULAE

1. sin (A + B) = sin A cos B + cos A sin B
 2. sin (A – B) = sin A cos B – cos A sin B
3. cos (A + B) = cos A cos B – sin A sin B
4. cos (A – B) = cos A cos B + sin A sin B
5. tan (A + B) =
6. tan (A – B) =
7. sin (A + B) sin (A – B) = sin2 A – sin2 B
= cos2 B – cos2 A
8. cos (A + B) cos (A – B) = cos2 A – sin2 B
= cos2 B – sin2 A
9. 2 sin A cos B = sin (A + B) + sin (A – B)
10. 2 cos A sin B = sin (A + B) – sin (A – B)
11. 2 cos A cos B = cos (A + B) + cos (A – B)
12. 2 sin A sin B = cos (A – B) – cos (A + B)
13. cot (A + B) =
14. cot (A – B) =
15. sin C + sin D = 2 sin cos
16. sin C – sin D = 2 cos sin
17. cos C + cos D = 2 cos cos
18. cos C – cos D = 2 sin sin

TRIGONOMETRICAL RATIOS OF MULTIPLE AND SUB-MULTIPLE ANGLES

1. sin 2 A = 2 sin A cos A =
2. cos2 A = cos2 A – sin2 A = 2
3. tan 2A =
4. sin 3 A = 3 sin A – 4 sin3 A
5. cos 3 A = 4 cos3 A – 3 cos A
6. tan 3 A =
(
7. sin A = 2 sin ( ) cos ( ) =
(

8. cos A = ( )– sin2 ( ) etc.

(
9. tan A =
(

PROPERTIES OF TRIANGLES
A triangle ABC has three angles and three sides. The three angles are denoted by A, B and C while
the three sides are denoted by a, b and c respectively. The area of the triangle is denoted by and its
perimeter is denoted by 2s, so that a + b + c = 2s. Thus „s‟ is the semiperimeter of the triangle and
. Also we denote the circumradius by R and inradius r.

1. The law of sines : In any triangle the sides are proportional to the sines of the opposite angles
i.e.,
 2. The law of cosines : The square on any side of a triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on
the other two sides, minus twice the product of those two sides and the cosine of the included
angle i.e., a2 = b2+c2 – 2bc cos A
b = c +a2 – 2ca cos B
2 2

c2 = a2+b2 – 2ab cos C

3. Area of a triangle :
(i)
(ii) √ ( ( ( (H o’ o l
4. The area of a segment of a circle :
Area of segment APB
= Area of the sector AOB – Area of AOB
=
= (

5. Circumradius of a circle (R) :

(i)
(ii)
6. Inradius of a circle (r)
( )

HEIGHT AND DISTANCE

Angle of Elevation:
OPM is called as the angle of elevation.
Suppose a person P is looking an object O which is at a higher level than P, then the angle θ( OPM) is the
angle of elevation for that person.

Angle of Depression : OPM in fig (ii) is called as angle of depression.

Suppose a person is looking downward an object O, which is at a lower level than P, then the angle
θ( OPM) is called as the angle of depression.

NOTE It should be noted that the angle of elevation of one position as seen from the other is equal to the
angle of depression of the latter as seen from the former.
EXAMPLE 1 From the top of a tower 180 m high, it was observed that the angle of depression of the
bottom of a cat sitting in the ground was 30°. Find the distance of the cat from the foot of the tower.

SOLUTION Lt PT be the tower and cat is sitting at C

Then MTC = TCP
Now in CPT, TCP = 30°
∵ tan 30° =

√
⟹ PC = 180√3 m
Hence cat is 311.76 m away from the foot of the tower.

NOTE For a particular case, the angle of depression is equal to the angle of elevation.

EXAMPLE 2 The angle of elevation of the top of a tower at a distance of 100 m from its foot on a
horizontal plane is found to be 60°. Find the height of the tower.

SOLUTION Let AB be the tower

then tan 60° =
√3
AB = 100√3 m = 173.2 m

EXAMPLE 3 A person standing on the bank of a river observes that the angle subtended by a tree on the
opposite bank is 60°, when he retreats 40 m from the bank he finds the angle to be 30°. Find the height of the
tree and the breadth of the river.

SOLUTION Let height of the tree be AB and width of the river be AC.

In ABC, tan 60° =

√3 ⟹ √3 …. (1)
and in ABD, 30°
…. (2)
( √
From equation (1) and (2), we get
√
( √
x = 20 m
∴ h = √3 20√3 34 64 m (approx)
Thus the height of the tree is 34.46 m and breadth of the river is 20 m.

EXAMPLE 4 Two towers of the same height stand on either side of a road 60 m wide. At a point on the
road between the towers, the elevations of the towers are 60° and 30°. Find the height of the towers and the
positions of the point.
SOLUTION In

and in ,
(
√3 …. (1)
from equation (1) and (2)
√3 ⟹ x = 45 m
√ (

∴ h= 5√3 5 732 25 98 m
√
Hence, the height of the towers is 25.98 m and the distance of the point „O‟ from A is 45 m and C is 15 m.

EXAMPLE 5 From the top of a cliff, 200 m high, the angle of depression of the top and bottom of a tower
are observed to be 30° and 60°, find the height of the tower.

SOLUTION Let the height of the tower be h m, then

In , tan 60° =
√3
BM = m = AL (also)
√
Now, in ,
tan 30° =

√ ( √

⇒ PL =
∴ LM = PM – PL = 200 – ( )
LM =
But LM = AB = h
∴H h o h ow (h

EXAMPLE 6 A man on the top of a rock rising on a seashore observes a boat coming towards it. If it takes
10 minutes for the angle of depression to change from 30° to 60°, how soon the boat reach the soar?

SOLUTION Let AB be the rock of height „h‟ metres.

Let C and D be the two positions of boat such that

ACB = XBC = 30°
and ADB = XBD = 60°
Let CD = x m and AD = y m

Now, in , tan 60° =

√3 = ….. (1)

and in , tan 30° = …..(2)

√
from equation (1) and (2), we get
√
⇒ 2 ⇒
√
Since the boat takes 10 minutes to cover x m, hence it will take 5 minutes to cover metres. Thus
the required time = 5 minutes.

EXAMPLE 7 The angles of elevation of an aeroplane from two places 10 km apart are found to be 60° and
30° respectively. Find the height of the aeroplane.

SOLUTION Let A and B be the two places such that AB = 10 kms and let C be the position of the
aeroplane at a height of h metres above AB. Let CD be perpendicular to AB.

In Ist case :

In , …. (1)
√
and √3 …. (2)
from equation (1) and (2)
√3 ⇒ x = 7.5 km
√ (

∴ √3 25 √3
√3
= 4.33 km (approx)
In IInd case :

In , √3 …. (1)
In …. (2)
√
Therefore from equation (1) and (2)
h = 5√3 km ⇒ h = 8.66 km.

………….. END……………