Trigonometry Lesson 1 - Trig Ratios

Review from last unit:

Solve each in simplest radical form.
Simplify: ../24

x~
8

Similar triangles - a) C.,o\ { , A>

b) ~ -, ~ WV
D

B
C 4

E
F 12

j 9 3 9 4 12
So here are some ratios of corresponding sides: ·•- :.:-. -=-·
4 12'
-=-
5 15
5 15 '

If you were "standing" at angle B ......... .. Looking into the triangle .... ..

Side AC would be the

A

he
Side BC would be t _ ?ldj a.c erJ-- side

And of course Side AB is always called the AiyrJe,,.~

Please note: In both triangles at the top of the page, the ratio!=~= opp from angle B and the ratio is the
5 15 hyp
same in both triangles.
---- .c
This ratio is call
 The three trig ratio from a right triangle (and ONLY A RIGHT TRIANGLE) are:

Sine (sin)= ~ Cosine (cos) = Tangent (tan)= -=D:/t=-----

0-lj '
dl1~
s (/'N
cew1f}: All of¼
H~
Hd:J/L,t
s 0-
µ

TaJC~ oah-- AW!hl -

c___ t
1~
()_)

Using the given right triangles, find the ratio for each trig function .

h 5" 'D
(A_ 12 Sin B = C 8 B Cos A:;: ~
IY A__i~ olD
C
i
A <ft r
0
9
D 14
D B
C
C
A Tan B =
1=- /).._ Sin A= JL
0----12
IY 16
:Ju
15 t\_ V\.

Express each t rig ratio from angle x.

Sinx = l>
;1
A

~ Cosx= 2:-0
J 1s 27 .:>1

X
Tan x = ~
N 20
),D
0---
 Angle of Elevation/Depression

Angle of Elevation -
t(luv
/~ ,1rI~ U p{/
L,
Angle of Depression -
\( I ,,/.0-f J
, (IT) L, I
l'I
~
II.. lI

IobjectI

~-
~~evaUon

In any right triangle the angles of elevation and depression are the

Ex.1} A lifeguard is watching a beach from a chair 6.5 feet above the water. She
sees a swimme r at an angle
of depression of 18°. Determine how far the swimmer is from the base of the lifeguard
chair. Set up picture
only.

~
Ex. 2) Parker is standing 10 feet from a flagpole that casts a 12 foot shadow such
that Parker's shadow meets
the end of the flagpole's shadow. The angle of elevation from the end of the shadows
to the top of the
flagpole is 35 • . How much taller, to the nearest 10th, is the flagpole than Parker?
Set up picture
only.

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