Basic Trigonometry

Parts of a Right Triangle

B
Hypotenuse
Opposite Side

A
C Adjacent Side
The hypotenuse will always be the Imagine that you are at Angle A
longest side, and opposite from the
right angle. looking into the triangle.

The opposite side is the side that is

The adjacent side is the side next on the opposite side of the triangle
to Angle A. from Angle A.
 Parts of a Right Triangle
B
Hypotenuse
Opposite Side

A
C Adjacent Side
Now imagine that you move from
Angle A to Angle B.

From Angle B the opposite side is

From Angle B the adjacent side is the side that is on the opposite side
the side next to Angle B. of the triangle.
 B
Review
For Angle A
Hypotenuse
This is the Opposite Side
Opposite Side
Opposite Side
This is the Adjacent Side
A
Adjacent
Adjacent Side
Side

B For Angle B

Hypotenuse This is the Opposite Side

This is the Adjacent Side

A
 Trig Ratios
Use Angle B to name the sides
Using Angle A to name the sides B Hypotenuse
We can use the lengths of the sides of a Opposite
right triangle to form ratios. There are
3 different ratios that we can make. C Adjacent A
The ratios are still the same as before!!
Opposite
Hypotenuse
Adjacent
Hypotenuse
Opposite
Adjacent
 Trig Ratios
Hypotenuse
• Each of the 3 ratios has a name
Opposite
• The names also refer to an angle A
Adjacent

Opposite
Sine of Angle A =
Hypotenuse

Adjacent
Cosine of Angle A =
Hypotenuse

Opposite
Tangent of Angle A =
Adjacent
 Trig Ratios
B
If the angle changes from A to B Hypotenuse
Opposite
A
The way the ratios are made is the Adjacent
same

Opposite
Sine of Angle B =
Hypotenuse

Adjacent
Cosine of Angle B =
Hypotenuse

Opposite
Tangent of Angle B =
Adjacent
 SOHCAHTOA
B
Hypotenuse
Here is a way to remember how Opposite
to make the 3 basic Trig Ratios A
Adjacent
1) Identify the Opposite and Adjacent
sides for the appropriate angle

2) SOHCAHTOA is pronounced “Sew Caw Toe A” and it means

Sin is Opposite over Hypotenuse, Cos is Adjacent over Hypotenuse,
and Tan is Opposite over Adjacent

Put the underlined letters to make

SOH-CAH-TOA
 Examples of Trig Ratios
First we will find the Sine, Cosine and P
Tangent ratios for Angle P. 20
12
Next we will find the Sine, Cosine, and Adjacent
Q
Tangent ratios for Angle Q 16
Opposite
Remember SohCahToa

16 12
Sin P  Sin Q 
20 20

16

12
Cos Q 
Cos P 20 20

12

16
Tan Q 
Tan P 12 16
 Similar Triangles and Trig Ratios
P

B
20
12 5
3
A
Q C
4
R 16
3
ABC  QPR
12
Sin Q  Sin A 
20 5

16 4
They are similar triangles, since Cos Q  Cos A 
ratios of corresponding sides are 20 5
the same
12 3
Let’s look at the 3 basic Trig Tan Q  Tan A 
ratios for these 2 triangles 16 4

Notice that these ratios are equivalent!!

 Similar Triangles and Trig Ratios
• Triangles are similar if the ratios of the
lengths of the corresponding side are the
same.
• Triangles are similar if they have the same
angles
• All similar triangles have the same trig
ratios for corresponding angles