Introduction To Trigonometry

Trigonometric Ratios
Opposite & Adjacent Sides in a Right Angled Triangle

In the ΔABC right-angled at B, BC is the side opposite to ∠A, AC is the hypotenuse and AB
is the side adjacent to ∠A.

Trigonometric Ratios

For the right ΔABC , right angled at ∠B, the trigonometric ratios of the ∠A are as follows:
opposite side BC
sinA = =
hypotenuse AC

adjacent side
AB
cosA = =
hypotenuse AC

opposite side
BC
tanA = =
adjacent side AB

hypotenuse AC
cosecA = =
opposite side BC

hypotenuse AC
secA = =
adjacent side AB

adjacent side
AB
cotA = =
opposite side BC
Visualisation of Trigonometric Ratios Using a Unit Circle

Draw a circle of unit radius with the origin as the centre. Consider a line segment OP joining
a point P on the circle to the centre which makes an angle θ with the x-axis. Draw a
perpendicular from P to the x-axis to cut it at Q.

PQ PQ
sinθ = = = PQ
OP 1

OQ OQ
cosθ = = = OQ
OP 1

PQ sinθ
tanθ = =
OQ cosθ

OP 1
cosecθ = =
PQ PQ

OP 1
secθ = =
OQ OQ

OQ cosθ
cotθ = =
PQ sinθ
 Visualisation of Trigonometric Ratios Using a Unit Circle

Relation between Trigonometric Ratios

1
cosecθ =
sinθ
1
secθ =
cosθ

sinθ
tanθ =
cosθ

cosθ 1
cotθ = =
sinθ tanθ

Trigonometric Ratios of Specific Angles

Range of Trigonometric Ratios from 0 to 90 degrees

For 0
∘
≤ θ ≤ 90 ,
∘

0 ≤ sinθ ≤ 1

0 ≤ cosθ ≤ 1

0 ≤ tanθ < ∞
 1 ≤ secθ < ∞

0 ≤ cotθ < ∞

1 ≤ cosecθ < ∞

tanθ and secθ are not defined at  90 ∘

.

cotθ and cosecθ are not defined at 0

∘
.

Variation of trigonometric ratios from 0 to 90 degrees

As θ increases from 0 to 90 ∘ ∘

sinθ increases from 0 to 1.

cosθ decreases from 1 to 0.
tanθ increases from 0 to ∞.
cosecθ decreases from ∞ to 1.
secθ increases from 1 to ∞.
cotθ decreases from ∞ to 0.

Standard values of Trigonometric ratios

30
∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘
∠A 0 45 60 90

1 1 √3
sin A 0 1
2 √2 2

√3 1 1
cos A 1 0
2 √2 2

1
tan A 0 1 √3 N ot def ined
√3

2
cosec A N ot def ined 2 √2 1
√3

2
sec A 1 √2 2 N ot def ined
√3

1
cot A N ot def ined √3 1 0
√3

Trigonometric Ratios of Complementary Angles

Complementary Trigonometric ratios

If θ is an acute angle, its complementary angle is 90 ∘

− θ. The following relations hold true
for trigonometric ratios of complementary angles.

∘
sin(90 − θ) = cosθ

∘
cos(90 − θ) = sinθ

∘
tan(90 − θ) = cotθ

∘
cot(90 − θ) = tanθ

∘
cosec(90 − θ) = secθ
 ∘
sec(90 − θ) = cosecθ

Trigonometric Identities
Trigonometric Identities
2 2
sin θ + cos θ = 1

2 2
1 + cot θ = coesc θ

2 2
1 + tan θ = sec θ