PLANE & SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY  6 trigonometric functions of acute angle B

Definition
– Involves angles and their relationships with the distances.

Generation of plane angle: opposite side b

It is formed by two intersecting half-lines. The point of sine B  sin B = =
hypotenuse c
intersection is called the vertex while the two half-lines are
called the sides of the angles (see figure below). More often, a adjacent side a
cosine B = cos B = =
plane angle is to be thought of as generated by revolving a hypotenuse c
half-line from the initial position to a terminal position. Then,
the point of rotation is the vertex while the sides are called the opposite side b
tangent B = tan B = =
initial and terminal sides. adjacent side a
hypotenuse c
cosecant B  csc B = =
opposite side b
hypotenuse c
secant B = sec B = =
adjacent side a
adjacent side a
cotangent B = cot b = =
opposite side b

Note: Other Trigonometric Relations:

 Positive angle is generated if the rotation is
counterclockwise. 1 1 vers   1  cos
sin A  csc A 
 Negative angle is generated if the rotation is clockwise. 1
hav   1  sin  
csc A sin A
1 1 2
Trigonometric functions of an acute angle cos A  sec A 
sec A cos A cov ers   1  sin 
 6 trigonometric functions of acute angle A 1 1
tan A  cot A 
cot A tan A sin 2 A  cos 2 A  1
sin A cos A
tan A  cot A 
cos A sin A 1  tan 2 A  1

1  cot 2 A  1
opposite side a
sine A  sin A = = The right triangle and the Pythagorean Theorem:
hypotenuse c
 Right triangle
adjacent side b - A triangle with two acute angles and a 90 angle.
cosine A = cos A = =
hypotenuse c  Acute angles
- Are angles that are less than 90.
opposite side a
tangent A = tan A = =
adjacent side b Note:
hypotenuse c  a, b, and c are the sides
cosecant A  csc A = = of the right triangle
opposite side a  c is the hypotenuse
hypotenuse c  A, B, C are the angles
secant A = sec A = =  C = 90
adjacent side b
adjacent side c Pythagorean Theorem:
cotangent A = cot A = = - It states that the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the
opposite side a
sum of the squares of the two sides.
a2  b2  c2

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 Similar triangles:
- Are triangles whose corresponding angles are equal and
corresponding sides are proportional.

Complementary angles:
– Two angles are complementary if their sum is equal to 90.

Note:
A + B = 90 or
B = 90 - A

Problem Set:
3
Solution of Right Triangles 1. In the right triangle ABC, C  90 , sin A  . Find b.
a. Angle of elevation 5
- The angle of elevation of an object which is above 5
2. In the right triangle RST, T  90 , tan S  .Find t.
the eye of an observer is the angle which the line of 12
sight to the object makes with the horizontal. 3. When the sun is 20 above the horizon, how long is the
shadow cast by a building 150 feet high?
4. From the top of a lighthouse, 36.5 m above the sea, the
angle of depression of a boat is 15 . How far is the boar
from the lighthouse?
5. Find the height of a tree if the angle of elevation of its top
changes from 20 to 40 as the observer advances 22.9 m
toward its base.
b. Angle of depression 6. A boat travels N 2915 E for 54 mi and then turns
'

- The angle of depression of an object which is below

the eye of an observer is the angle which the line of N 6045 W for 95 mi. what is the distance and bearing
'

sight to the object makes with horizontal. from the starting point?
7. A plane flew from a base O, a distance of 126 mi, on a
course 63 until it arrived at an airport R. It then flew
from R to T a distance of 50 mi following a course
of 153 . What is the distance from O to T?

Trigonometric functions of a general angle

c. Bearing of a line or point
- The bearing of a line (or a point) is the angle which
the line makes with the North-South axis. The
bearing is read either from north or from south
toward east or west.
Let  be an angle in standard position and let P(x, y) be
any point, distinct from the origin, on the terminal side of the
angle. The six trigonometric functions of  are defined, in
terms of abscissa, ordinate and distance of P from the origin,
as follows:

d. Course
- The angle which the track makes with the North-
South axis. The course is measured from the north in
a clockwise direction.

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 y
sin   r csc   ry Solutions of Oblique Triangles
Oblique triangle
cos   rx sec   rx - a triangle with no right angle.
y
tan   x cot   xy Four cases:
It is evident from the figures that the values of the I. Two angles and a side given.
II. Two sides and an angle opposite one of them given.
trigonometric functions of  change as  changes.
(Ambiguous case)
When the given angle is acute:
Algebraic signs of the functions
a. If the side opposite the given angle is equal to
or greater than the other given side, one
solution.
b. If the side opposite the given angle is equal to
the product of the other given side and the sine
of the given angle, one solution (a right
triangle)
c. If the side opposite the given angle is greater
than the product of the other given side and the
sine of the given angle but less than the other
given side, two solutions.
d. If the side opposite the given angle is less than
Trigonometric Functions of Any Angles
the product of the other given side and the sine
Angles in Standard Position
of the given angle, no solution.
With respect to a rectangular coordinate system, an
angle is said to be in standard position when its vertex is
When the given angle is obtuse, there will be
at the origin and its initial side coincides with the positive
a. If the side opposite the given angle is less than
x –axis.
or equal to the other given side, no solution.
An angle is said to be a first quadrant angle or to be
b. If the side opposite the given angle is greater
in the first quadrant if, when in standard position, its
than the other given side, one solution.
terminal side falls in that quadrant. Similar definitions
III. Two sides and the included angle given.
hold for the other quadrants.
IV. Three sides given.
Definitions of terms
Case I: Two angles and a side given.
Coterminal Angles
Use sine law: In any triangle the sides are proportional
- Are angles whose terminal sides coincide when the
to the sines of the opposite angles.
angles are in standard position.
Quadrantal Angle a b c sin A sin B sin C
- An angle whose terminal side coincides with one of the   or  
axes when the angle is in standard position. sin A sin B sin C a b c

Case II: Two sides and an angle opposite one of them

Problem Set: given.
1. Draw the angle and find the remaining functions: Use sine law: In any triangle the sides are proportional
1 to the sines of the opposite angles.
a. sin A  and cos A is negative a b c sin A sin B sin C
2   or  
1 sin A sin B sin C a b c
b. tan A  and sin A is negative.
3 Case III: Two sides and the included angle given.
41 Use sine law: In any triangle the sides are proportional
2. If csc A  , find cos A if A is a positive acute angle. to the sines of the opposite angles.
9
a  b  c  2bc cos A
2 2 2
5
3. If sin A  and cos A is negative, find tan A .
34 b  a  c  2 ac cos B
2 2 2

4
If cos A  c  a  b  2ab cos C
2 2 2
4. and A is in the fourth quadrant, find cot A .
5
4
5. cos A   and sin A is positive. Find tan A .
5

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 a b c sin A sin B sin C Logarithm
  or   The logarithm of a number to a given base is equal
sin A sin B sin C a b c
to the exponent to which the number must be raised to
yield the number.
Case IV: Three sides given
Use cosine law: In any triangle, the square of any side is
logb N  x (Logarithmic b x  N (exponential
equal to the sum the squares of the other sides minus
twice their product times the cosine of their included form) form)
angle. log 2 8  3 = 23  8
b c a 1
2 2 2
1
a  b  c  2bc cos A or cos A 
2 2 2
log 4    2 = 4 2 
2bc  16  16
a c b
2 2 2 log3  m  1  x = 3  m 1
x

b  a  c  2ac cos B or cos B 

2 2 2

2ac log10 100  2 = 10 2  100

Types of logarithms
a b c
2 2 2

c  a  b  2ab cos C or cos C  Common logarithm Natural logarithm

2 2 2

2ab Uses the base 10 Uses the base e (e =

2.71828…)
Problem Set: log10 1  0 log e 1  ln1
1. Solve the triangle ABC given that: log10 10  1 log e 10  ln10
a. c  25 , A  35 , B  68
log10 100  2 log e 100  ln100
b. c  628 , b  480 , C  5510
'
log10 0.1  1 log e 0.1  ln 0.1
c. a  31.5 , b  51.8 , A  3340
'
log10 0.01  2 log e 0.01  ln 0.01
d. a  132 , b  224 , C  2840
'

e. a  25.2 , b  37.8 , c  43.4

2. A and B are two points on opposite banks of a river. From Problem Set:
A a line AC  275 ft. is laid off and the angles 1. Transform log 4 64  3 to the exponential form.
CAB  12540 ' and ACB  4850 ' are measured. Find the
2. Transform logb  x  y   2 to the exponential form.
length AB .
1
3. A ship is sailing due east when a light is observed
3. Transform 32 x  2 to logarithmic form.
bearing N 6210 E . After the ship has travelled 685.8 m,
'

Transform  x  2   25 to logarithmic form.

2
4.
the light bears N 4825 E . If the course is continued, how
'

close will the ship approach the light?

4. Two buoys are 137.14 m apart, and a boat is 99 m from Laws on logarithms
a) The logarithm of a product is equal to the sum of the
one of them. The angle subtended by the two buoys at the
logarithms of its factors.
boat is 6450 Find the distance from the boat to the other
'
log b MN  logb M  logb N
buoy.
5. The distance between two points A and B cannot be ln MN  ln M  ln N
measured directly. Engineer Cruz estimated it to be 1.5
mi. A surveyor employed to evaluate the same distance, b) The logarithm of a quotient is equal to the logarithm
located a point C such that AC = 5320 ft., BC = 4050 ft. of the dividend minus the logarithm of the divisor.
and BAC  2230 . How close is the engineer’s
' M 
log b    log b M  log b N
estimate relative to the surveyor’s finding? N
6. Two vehicles start from the same point at the same time  
M
and travel along straight roads that form an angle of ln    ln M  ln N
N
60 with respect to each other. If one vehicle runs at 30
mph and the other at 50 mph, how far apart are they after th
2 hours? c) The logarithm of the m power of a number is equal
to m times the logarithm of the number
7. A ship sails due east from A to B for 6 mi. Then it turns
in the direction N 75W and sails to C which is 2 mi.
log b N m  m log b N
ln N m  m ln N
away from B. If the ship is found to be 3  1 mi away th
from A, what is the bearing of the ship from A? d) The logarithm of the m real positive root of a
th
number is equal to 1/ m of the logarithm of the
Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions number.

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 1 11. log a  log b  log c x   1
log b m
N  log b N
m
1 Problem Set:
ln m N  ln N Solve the following system of exponential equations:
m
3x  2 y 2 x 3 y  12
 
1. 2. x y
Problem Set: 2 3 4
x y
8 9  576
1. Write in expanded form
a. b. c. d.

 
Trigonometric Equations and Identities
x y
3 y
 xy  5x logb 2x A trigonometric equation is any equation that contains a
log b   log b logb
 2  3 y trigonometric function while trigonometric identities are
trigonometric equations that hold true for any angle. There are
2. Write in contracted form. other equations, though, that only are true for certain angles.
1
a.  2 log b x  3log b y  Fundamental Identities
4 a) Reciprocal relations
1 1
b. log b x  3log b y  4 log b 2 sin A 
2 csc A
1
c.  2 log b x  3log b y  log b z  1
3 csc A 
1 1  1 sin A
d. 5  log b x  log b y 6  4log b z 2  1
4 3  cos A 
sec A
Change of base theorem
1
If a and b are bases, a, b > 0, a, b  1 and N > 0, then cos A 
sec A
log b N
log a N  1
log b a tan A 
cot A
Problem Set:
1. Find the value of x if log x 16  4 1
cot A 
2. Solve for x: log x 8  3 tan A
3. Solve for x: log 10
x2
b)Pythagorean relations
4. Solve for x: log 1 49  x
sin 2 A  cos 2 A  1
7

5. log x  x  20   2
1  tan 2 A  sec 2 A
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
Exponential equation contains unknown quantity in an 1  cot 2 A  csc 2 A
exponent while logarithmic equations contain logarithmic
expressions and constants. c) other relations
sin A
tan A 
Problem Set: cos A
Solve for the unknown(s) in the following equations:
x 1
1. 3  81 2. 4
3 x 1
 5 x 1  
3. 4 10  12
x x

cot A 
cos A

  5. 3 x  4
sin A
2
x 1
4. 5  4 2 x4 3
x
6. log 2

7. log x 2   log x 
Functions of the sum and difference of two angles
x 2  16  2
2
8. log 3
sin  A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B
1
9. log  x  2   log  4 x  3   log sin  A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B
cos  A  B   cos A cos B  cos A sin B
x
1
1
10. log  4 x  4  log 2  log x  0 cos  A  B   cos A cos B  sin A sin B
4

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 tan A  tan B 3. 2sin   cot   csc  0, 0    360
tan  A  B  
1  tan A tan B 4. Find x if 1  cos x  sin x, 0  x  2
tan A  tan B
tan  A  B  
1  tan A tan B Inverse Trigonometric Functions
cot A cot B  1
The inverse trigonometric functions are the inverse
cot  A  B   functions of the trigonometric functions.
cot B  cot A
cot A cot B  1
cot  A  B   Trigonometric Inverse Trigonometric Functions
cot B  cot A Functions
sin A sin 1 A or arc sin A
Functions of twice an angle cos A cos 1 A or arc cos A
sin 2 A  2sin A cos A cos 2 A  cos 2 A  sin 2 A
tan A tan 1 A or arc tan A
tan 2 A 
2 tan A  2 cos 2 A  1
1  tan 2 A
csc A csc 1 A or arc csc A
 1  2sin 2 A
cot 2 A -1
sec A sec1 A or arc sec A
cot 2 A  cot A cot 1 A or arc cot A
2 cot A

Functions of half an angle Procedure in Solving Problems Involving Inverse

Trigonometric Functions:
1 1- cos A 1 1  cos A 1. Let  ,  or some other symbol, represent an angle.
sin A cos A  
2 2 2 2 2. Convert the inverse notations into direct functions.
1 1- cos A 1 1  cos A
tan A  cot A 
2 sin A 2 sin A Problem Set:
sin A sin A  2
= =  1. Find the value of tan  arc cos 
1  cos A 1- cos A  3
 3 
Sum and Differences of Functions 2. Find the value of cos  arc tan 
 5 
sin  A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B
 4 12 
3. Find the value of sin  cos 1  sin 1 
 5 13 
cos  A  B   cos A cos B  sin A sin B  4
4. Find the value of tan  2 arccos 
sin  A  B   sin A cos B  cos A sin B  5

cos  A  B   cos A cos B  sin A sin B Inverse Trigonometric Equations:

- Equations which involve inverse trigonometric
functions.
Miscellaneous Functions
1 1
sin A  sin B  2 sin  A  B  cos  A  B  Problem Set:
2 2 
1. Given arc tan 2 x  arctan x  , find x
4
1 1 
cos A  sin B  2 cos  A  B  cos  A  B  2. Solve x if cos 1 x  sin 1 1  x  
2 2 2
1 4
sin A  sin B  2 cos
1 1
 A  B  sin  A  B  3. If arc tan  arctan x  arctan , find x
3 7
2 2
Measures of angles:
1 1
cos A  sin B  2 sin  A  B  sin  A  B  a) Degree, minute, second (  )
2 2 - A measure of the central angle subtended by an
arc of a circle equal to 1/360 of the circumference
of the circle.
Problem Set:
Solve the following trigonometric equations:
1. 2 cos 2   3sin   0 2. tan 2 t cos t  cos t , t   0, 2 

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Note: 1 rev. = 360, 1 = 60, 1 = 60 
b) Radian
- The measure of the central angle subtended by
an arc of a circle equal to the radius of the circle.

Note: 360  = 1 rev. = 2 rad and 180 =  rad

Radian Measure
- The measure of the central angle subtended by an arc of
a circle equal to the radius of the circle.

Note: 360  = 1 rev. = 2 rad or 180 =  rad

Angular Velocity
  r Where:
  angular velocity in radians per unit of time.
  linear velocity in distance per unit of time.
r  radius in unit of distance

Problem Set:
1. The minute hand of a clock is 12 cm long. How far does
the tip of the hand move during the 20 minute?
2. A wheel 4 feet in diameter is rotating at 80 rev min . Find
the distance (in feet) traveled by a point on the rim in 1 s,
that is, the linear speed of the point in feet per second.
3. A bicycle with 20 –in. wheels is travelling down a road at
15 mi h . Find the angular velocity of the wheel in
revolutions per minute.

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 SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 2. Co-op Rule:
The sine of any middle part is equal to the product of
the cosines of the opposite parts.

Problem Set:
Right Spherical Triangle 1. Solve the right spherical triangle ABC given
- A spherical triangle having at least one right angle. that c  7212.5' , A  15617.2 ' .
2. Solve the right spherical triangle ABC given that
Fundamental Relations:
b  13846.4 ' , B  12510.6 ' .
For any spherical right triangle ABC, with the right angle
always at C, 3. Solve the quadrabtal spherical triangle ABC given
that a  11524.6' , b  6018.4' , c  90 .

Oblique Spherical Triangle:

- A spherical triangle with no right angle.

Six Cases:
Case I: Given the three sides.
Case II: Given the three angles.
sin a  sin A sin c sin b  sin B sin c Case III: Given two sides and the included angle.
tan a  tan A sin b tan b  tan B sin a Case IV: Given two angles and the included side.
Case V: Given two sides and an angle opposite one of them.
tan a  cos B tan c tan b  cos A tan c
Case VI: Given two angles and a side opposite one of them.
cos c  cos b cos a cos c  cot A cot B
cos A  sin B cos a cos B  sin A cos b Laws of Sines:
In any spherical triangle ABC,
Laws of Quadrants sin a sin b sin c
If in a right spherical triangle the parts A and c are known,  
sin A sin B sin C
the value of sin a is given by sin a  sin A sin c . Additional
information is needed, however, to determine whether a is less
Law of Cosines for Sides
than or greater than 90°. Such information is given by the laws
In any spherical triangle ABC,
of quadrants:
1. a and A (also b and B) are in the same quadrant. cos a  cos b cos c  sin b sin c cos A ,
2. If c  90 , then a and b (also A and B) are in the same cos b  cos c cos a  sin c sin a cos B ,
quadrant; if c  90 , then a and b (also A and B) are in cos c  cos a cos b  sin a sin b cos C
different quadrants. angles
Law of Cosines for Sides
Functions of Complementary Angles: In any spherical triangle ABC,
sin  90  A  cos A csc 90  A  sec A cos A   cos B cos C  sin B sin C cos a ,
cos 90  A  sin A sec 90  A  csc A cos B   cos C cos A  sin B sin A cos b ,
cos C   cos A cos B  sin A sin B cos c
tan  90  A  cot A cot  90  A  tan A
The Napier’s Rules: Half-Angle Formulas
In any spherical triangle ABC,
1 tan r 1 tan r
tan A  , tan B  ,
2 sin  s  a  2 sin  s  b 
1 tan r
tan C 
2 sin  s  c 
1
Where: s  a  b  c
Select any one of the five parts and call it the middle part, 2
call the two parts next to it adjacent parts, and call the two sin  s  a  sin  s  b  sin  s  c 
parts remaining opposite parts. Then Napier’s Rules are: tan r 
1. Tan-ad Rule: sin s
The sine of any middle part is equal to the product of
the tangents of the adjacent parts.

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Half-Angle Formulas 7. Solve the oblique spherical triangle ABC given
In any spherical triangle ABC, that, A  3552.5 , B  5610.7 , a  4038.6 .
' ' '

1 tan R 1 tan R
cot a  , cot b  ,
2 cos  S  A  2 cos  S  B  Spherical Excess of a Spherical Triangle
- The difference between the sum of its angles and
1 tan R
cot c  180°.
2 cos  S  C  a. If the three angles are known’
1 E  A  B  C   (A, B, and C in radians)
Where: S   A  B  C E  A  B  C  180 (A, B, and C in degrees)
2
cos  S  A cos  S  B  cos  S  C  b. If the three sides are known,
tan R 
 cos S 1 1 1 1 1
tan E tan s tan  s  a  tan  s  b  tan  s  c 
4 2 2 2 2
1
Gauss’ or Delambre’s Analogies Where: s  a  b  c
In any spherical triangle ABC, 2
1 1 1 1 c. If two sides and the included angle such as a, b, and C are
sin  A  B  sin  a  b  sin  A  B  cos  a  b  known,
2  2 2  2
1 1 1 1 1 1
cos C cos c cos C cos c tan a tan b sin C
1 2 2
2 2 2 2 tan E 
2 1 1
1  tan a tan b cos C
1 1 1 1 2 2
cos  A  B sin a  b cos  A  B cos a  b
2  2 2  2
Area of a Spherical triangle
1 1 1 1
sin C sin c sin C cos c A  R2 Er Where: R= radius of sphere
2 2 2 2 Er  spherical excess in radians
R E2
A E  spherical excess in degrees
180
Napier’s Analogies
In any spherical triangle ABC,
1 1 1 1
tan  A  B  sin  a  b  tan  a  b  sin  A  B 
2  2 2  2
1 1 1 1
cot C sin  a  b  tan c sin  A  B 
2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1
tan  A  B cos a  b tan a  b cos  A  B
2  2 2  2
1 1 1 1
cot C cos a  b tan c cos  A  B
2 2 2 2

Problem Set:
1. Solve the oblique spherical triangle ABC given
that, a  12115.4 , b  10454.7 , c  6542.5 .
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2. Solve the oblique spherical triangle ABC given

that, A  11722.8 , B  7238.6 , C  5821.2 .
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3. Solve the oblique spherical triangle ABC given

that, a  10625.3 , c  4216.7 , B  11453.2 .
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4. Solve the oblique spherical triangle ABC given

that, A  4844.6 B  6042.6 , c  7622.4 .
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5. Solve the oblique spherical triangle ABC given

that, a  8026.2 , c  11530.6 , A  7224.4 .
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6. Solve the oblique spherical triangle ABC given

that, b  8142.3 , c  5219.6 , C  4725.2 .
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Prepared by: M.R. Esguerra Review Notes in Plane and Spherical Trigonometry Page 9