TRIGONOMETRI

C RATIOS OF
SPECIAL ANGLES
LESSON 2
At the end of the lesson, student will
be able to:
 Identify the isosceles and equilateral triangles;
 Evaluate the trigonometric ratios of special
angles;
 Find the measures of the angles by using a
protractor.
 Priming
“When can you add
two to eleven and
get one as the
answer?”
 ACTIVATING PRIOR
KNOWLEDGE
REVIEW:
Rewrite the primary trigonometric ratios with
rationalized denominators.
LESSON DEVELOPMENT
 Activity 1: Special Triangles & Exact Value

 On a piece of paper, draw a square.

 Set the length of each side to 1.
 Cut the square along a diagonal. What triangles are
formed?
 Indicate the right angle in the triangle.
 Determine the exact length of the hypotenuse using the
Pythagorean theorem.
 Label the hypotenuse and all other sides and angles.
 Write the primary trigonometric ratios for 45°(SOH-CAH-
TOA)
 Rewrite the primary trigonometric ratios with rationalized
denominators.
Activity 2: Compare My Size
 Use a protractor to find the measures of the angles
of each triangle (10 minutes by pair)

 What do you call these triangles?

Activity 1: Special Triangles & Exact
Values
CASE 2:
1) On a piece of paper, draw an equilateral triangle.
2) Set the length of each side to 2.
3) What are the measures of the angles of the
triangle?
4) Label each angle.
5) Divide the triangle into two identical triangles
using an altitude.
 CASE 2:
6. The base of the triangle is now divided into equal portions
of length.
7. Consider only one of the new triangles.
8. Indicate the right angle in the new triangle.
9. What is the third angle in the new triangle?
10. Determine the exact height (altitude) using the
Pythagorean theorem.
11. Label the altitude (and all other sides and angles) with
their measures.
12. Write the primary trigonometric ratios for 30° and 60° in
the triangle.
13. Rewrite the primary trigonometric ratios with
rationalized denominators.
Key Concepts:
In Geometry, the following sides of special right
triangles are related as follows:
45°-45°-90° Right Triangle Theorem

In a 45° - 45° - 90 Triangle,

 The legs are congruent;

 The length of the hypotenuse is √2
times the length of a leg

Hypotenuse = √2 leg
 Example: (45°-45°-90°)

a.) b.) 45°

8

45° r 3√2
45°
 𝒎
30°-60°-90° Right Triangle Theorem
In a 30°-60°-90° triangle,

 The length of the hypotenuse is twice the length

of the shorter leg.
 The length of the longer leg is √3 times the
length of the shorter leg

Hypotenuse = 2 shorter leg

Longer leg = √3 shorter leg
Example: (30°-60°-90º)

C.) 9
t
60° 30°
s