BASIC

TRIGONOMETRY
 TRIGONOMETRY
• The word Trigonometry is derived from the ancient greek language and
means measurement of triangles.
“tri” meaning three. “gon” meaning sides. “metron” meaning measure.

• Trigonometry is the study of triangles. Using trig, you can solve many
problems precisely where you may have only been able to approximate
before.

• Trig is used in everything from architecture to engineering.

 TIMELINE…
• The earliest known work on Trigonometry was recorded in Egypt and
Babylon.

• Early astronomers used Trig to find out the distance of the stars and
planets from the Earth.
 B PARTS OF A RIGHT
Opposite Side
Hypotenuse TRIANGLE
C A
Adjacent Side
The hypotenuse will always be the
longest side, and opposite from the
The sides are labeled as right angle.
hypotenuse, adjacent or opposite
ACCORDING TO THE ANGLE WE The adjacent side is the side next
ARE INTERESTED IN. to Angle A.

This angle will NEVER be

The opposite side is the side that is
the right angle. on the opposite side of the triangle
from Angle A.
In this example, we will label the sides
according to angle A.
 LABELING SIDES
B For Angle A
Hypotenuse (HYP)
This is the Opposite Side
Opposite Side
(OPP) This is the Adjacent Side
A
Adjacent Side (ADJ)

B For Angle B

Hypotenuse (HYP) This is the Opposite Side

This is the Adjacent Side

A
 LABELING SIDES
Opposite Side For Angle Z
(OPP)
HYP = XZ
Adjacent Side (opposite the right angle)
Hypotenuse (ADJ)
(HYP) ADJ = YZ
(next to angle Z)

OPP = XY
(opposite angle Z)

For Angle Q

Hypotenuse HYP = QR
Adjacent Side (HYP) (opposite the right angle)

(ADJ) ADJ = PQ
(next to angle Q)
Opposite Side
OPP = PR
(OPP) (opposite angle Q)
 LABELING SIDES
For Angle A
ADJ OPP
HYP = AC
(opposite the right angle)

HYP ADJ = AB
(next to angle A)

OPP = BC
(opposite angle A)

For Angle L
HYP
HYP = LM
(opposite the right angle)
ADJ OPP ADJ = LN
(next to angle L)

OPP = MN
(opposite angle L)
 LABELING SIDES
For Angle C
OPP
HYP = AC
(opposite the right angle)
ADJ
HYP
ADJ = BC
(next to angle C)

OPP = AB
(opposite angle C)

For Angle B

OPP HYP = BC
ADJ (opposite the right angle)

ADJ = AB
(next to angle B)
HYP
OPP = AC
(opposite angle B)
 TRIG RATIOS
TRIGONOMETRIC ABBREVIATION
RATIO

Sine of an angle

Cosine of an angle

Tangent of an angle
 TRIG RATIOS
Why are sine, cosine and tangent
called ratios?

Hypotenuse
Opposite
A
The sine, cosine and tangent of a Adjacent

particular angle are defined by comparing

two sides of the right triangle.
 HYP
OPP
TRIG RATIOS
ADJ

TRIGONOMETRIC
RATIO DEFINITION
 SOHCAHTOA
TRIGONOMETRIC
DEFINITION
RATIO

SOH
CAH
TOA
 IDENTIFYING RATIOS
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
OPP

What is
ADJ sin Z?
HYP

Remember: SOH CAH TOA

What is
HYP tan Q?
ADJ

OPP
 IDENTIFYING RATIOS
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
ADJ OPP
What is
cos A?
HYP

Remember: SOH CAH TOA

What is
HYP tan L?

ADJ OPP
 IDENTIFYING RATIOS
Remember: SOH CAH TOA
OPP

What is
ADJ
HYP cos C?

Remember: SOH CAH TOA

OPP ADJ

What is
HYP sin B?
 FINDING MISSING SIDES
Find the length of AC

Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP, OPP, ADJ

Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by identifying Given side: BC – ADJ
the relevant sides (the given side and the side to be found) Side to be found: AC – OPP
Therefore, we need to use TAN

Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio, and  

 

substitute the names of the relevant sides

Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known  

Step 5: Solve for the unknown side

 Write each side as a fraction
 Cross multiply
 Follow steps to solve
 

 Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.  

 FINDING MISSING SIDES
Find the length of PR

Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP, OPP, ADJ

Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by identifying Given side: QR – OPP
the relevant sides (the given side and the side to be found) Side to be found: PR – HYP
Therefore, we need to use SIN

Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio, and  

 

substitute the names of the relevant sides

Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known  

Step 5: Solve for the unknown side

 Write each side as a fraction
 Cross multiply
 Follow steps to solve
 

 Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.  

 HYP OPP

Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP,

ADJ
OPP, ADJ

Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by

identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)

Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,

and substitute the names of the relevant sides

Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known

Step 5: Solve for the unknown side

Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
 HYP OPP

Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP,

ADJ
OPP, ADJ

Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by

identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)

Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,

and substitute the names of the relevant sides

Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known

Step 5: Solve for the unknown side

Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
 HYP
OPP

Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP,

OPP, ADJ ADJ

Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by

identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)

Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,

and substitute the names of the relevant sides

Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known

Step 5: Solve for the unknown side

Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
 HYP OPP

Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP, ADJ

OPP, ADJ

Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by

identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)

Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,

and substitute the names of the relevant sides

Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known

Step 5: Solve for the unknown side

Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
 HYP
OPP

Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP,

ADJ
OPP, ADJ

Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by

identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)

Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,

and substitute the names of the relevant sides

Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known

Step 5: Solve for the unknown side

Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.
 HYP
OPP

Step 1: Label the sides of the triangles as HYP, ADJ

OPP, ADJ

Step 2: Determine the trig ratio to be used by

identifying the relevant sides (the given side and
the side to be found)

Step 3: State the formula for the identified ratio,

and substitute the names of the relevant sides

Step 4: Substitute the values for what is known

Step 5: Solve for the unknown side

Write each side as a fraction
Cross multiply
Follow steps to solve
Use calculator and give your answer to 3 sf.