Key Words: triangle right triangle bearing complementary angles co-functions angle of elevation angle of depression trigonometric functions Learning Objectives: At the end of the chapter, the student should be able to: evaluate trigonometric functions of a right triangle using a scientific calculator. apply trigonometric functions in solving right triangles. identify functions and co-functions of complementary angles. distinguish angle of elevation from angle of depression. apply functions of right triangles to solve real-life problems. ——oooooeeeeeeeeeeeeEeEee=__ Pi LANE AND SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY 1536.1 Definition of Terms Atriangle is a closed figure bounded by three line segments. A right triangle is a triangle with a right angle (equal to 90° or > 6.2 Trigonometric Functions of an Acute Angle of a Right Triangle Consider the right triangle below. We define the trigonometric functions of acute angle of a right triangle ABC as follows: oppose @ hypotenuse c adjacent b hypotenuse opposite a tana = = adacent b adjacent b cota = Sy opposite hypotenuse _¢ ~~ adjacem ~ b hypotenuse opposite a Pythagorean theorem: The square of the hypotenuse c equals the sum of the squares of the legs a and b of the right triangle ABC, that is, =a? +b? We use the trigonometric functions and the Pythagorean theorem to solve the right triangle. Also, since the sum of the three angles in a triangle is 180° and ifone of these angles is a right angle, then it follows that the sum of the two acute angles and B equals 90° 63 Trigonometric Functions of Complementary Angles my Complementary angles are two acute angles whose sum is 90° _ From the figure above, @ and f are complementary angles, that is : apeThus, we have b ic sin B =—=cosa osc B=<=seca (es 5 an cos B =—=sina sec 8 =—=csca © a b tan B=—=cota cot B=—= tana “a The pairs sine and cosine, tangent and cotangent, secant and cosecant are called co-functions of the other. Any trigonometric function of an acute angle is equal to the co-function of its complement. Aright triangle is solved if all its angles and sides are determined. Examples: 1. Solve the right triangle ABC whose legs area = /3 andb=1. Solution: B 2 a= Ye faaTo find a, use tan a= 3 1 a= tan" (v3) a= FT or 60° es) To find B, use tan B = Sanaa v3 = Ne B= tan A nn = 7 or 30° 8 6 or 2. Solve the right triangle ABC given-b = 1 andc=/> Solution: A c= V2 b=1 4B) eee | B a c To find a, use Pythagorean theorem = a? +b? a= c?- b?a o 8 4 oF 45 Check: a+ 8 = 90°. 3. Akite 100 ft. above the ground is moving horizontally at the rate of 10 fi/sec. If the child holding the string is 3 ft. high, find the length of the string released after 5 seconds. Solution: 400 ft Let s be the length of the ene pong paid out. At atthe end of 5 sec,