TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS OF ACUTE ANGLE

The general relationship between sides and angles is shown in the diagram below.

c=
a=

b=

The Six Trigonometric Functions of an Acute angle

By Pythagorean Theorem, 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 , the trigonometric functions of angle A
may be defined in terms of the sides of the right triangle, as follows:

Example:
Find the trigonometric functions of angle A.

A B
Solution:
Solve the unknown side using Pythagorean Theorem,
𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2

𝑐 = √(8)2 + (15)2
𝒄 = 𝟏𝟕
 The six trigonometric ratios are as follows:
𝑎 8 𝑐 17
sin 𝐴 = = csc 𝐴 = =
𝑐 17 𝑎 8
𝑏 15 𝑏 17
cos 𝐴 = = sec 𝐴 = =
𝑐 17 𝑎 15
𝑎 8 𝑏 15
tan 𝐴 = = cot 𝐴 = =
𝑏 15 𝑎 8

Trigonometric Functions of Complementary Angles

The acute angles A and B of the right triangle ABC are complementary; that is ,
𝐴 + 𝐵 = 90. We have:

These relations associate the functions in pairs—sine and cosine, tangent and
cotangent, secant and cosecant—each function of a pair being called the cofunction of
the other. Thus, any function of an acute angle is equal to the corresponding cofunction
of the complementary angle.

Example
Find the values of the trigonometric functions of the angles of the right triangle ABC

𝑎 3
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛼 = = = cos 𝛽
𝑐 5
𝑏 4
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 = = = sin 𝛽
𝑐 5
𝑎 3
tan 𝛼 = = = cot 𝛽
𝑏 4
𝑐 5
𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝛼 = = = sec 𝛽
𝑎 3
𝑐 5
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝛼 = = = csc 𝛽
𝑏 4
𝑏 4
𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝛼 = = = tan 𝛽
𝑎 3
 𝜋
2. Find the six trigonometric functions of or 600 and its complementary angle
3

Solution
The complementary angle of 600 is 300

𝝅 𝝅
Function of or 𝟔𝟎𝟎 Function of or 𝟑𝟎𝟎
𝟑 𝟔

𝜋 √3 𝜋 1
𝑠𝑖𝑛 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 600 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 300 =
3 2 6 2
𝜋 1 𝜋 √3
𝑐𝑜𝑠 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 600 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 300 =
3 2 6 2
𝜋 𝜋 √3
𝑡𝑎𝑛 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 600 = √3 𝑡𝑎𝑛 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 300 =
3 6 3
𝜋 2√3 𝜋
𝑐𝑠𝑐 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 600 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 300 = 2
3 3 6
𝜋 𝜋 2√3
𝑠𝑒𝑐 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 600 = 2 𝑠𝑒𝑐 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 300 =
3 6 3
𝜋 √3 𝜋
𝑐𝑜𝑡 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 600 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 300 = √3
3 3 6

Activity 3

I. Find the values of the six trigonometric functions of the indicated acute angle.

1. 2.

3. 4.
 𝜋
II. Find the six trigonometric functions of or 300 and its complementary angle.
6

III. Evaluate each of the following.

1. 2 sin 300 cos 300
2. sec 600 cos 600
3. cos 2 450 − sin2 450
4. cos 600 csc 600
5. 1 + tan2 300
sin 300 +cos 300
6.
tan 45
sec 600 −cot 300
7.
cos 45
2 tan 300
8.
1+tan2 300
tan 600 +cot 300
9.
1+sec 600
4cos 600 cos 300
10.
cot 600 𝑡𝑎𝑛450