TRIGONOMETRY IN

ARCHITECHTURE
DEP1A [ GROUP 3 ]
INTRODUCTION

Trigonometry is simply the study of triangles, but it has

several practical applications. Suppose you want to
determine how tall a tower is, navigate the solar system to
determine how far the sun is from earth of the distance
between planets and stars, build state of the art building and
others. In that case, you must know how to use trigonometry.
Without the knowledge of trigonometry, modern industrial
mechanisms and sciences simply cannot exist.
With the help of trigonometry, we are able to witness
some of the most iconic building structures like Petronas
Twin Tower, Pisa Tower, Burj Al Khalifa Hotel, Taj Mahal,
St. Paul Cathedral, Pyramid of Giza, and Empire State
Building and others. Without trigonometry, we had not
been able to witness these masterpieces.
QUESTION

Figure 10-1 displays a very large stair placed 10m from the base of the building and makes an
angle of 60° as measured from the ground to the top of the building. Mr David wants to
reach the top of a building using this stair. What is the height of the building ?
SOLUTION
Thus we have :
Adjacent – 10m
Opposite – h
θ - 60°
We know that the tangent function is the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side
tan θ = opposite
adjacent
Substituting adjacent =10, θ = 60°  and opposite = h in the formula:
tan 60°  = h
10

√3 = h
10
h = √3 (10)
h = 17.3m
EXPLANATION

The use of trigonometry in architechture is something that should not

be missed. The creation of the plan and subsequent implementation
depends on it’s use.
The creation of a house or building must follow certain parameters. For
example , every corner of all walls and Columns should be measured to
avoid any defects that could cause the building to collapse overtime.
Clear examples of the use of trigonometry in architecture are observed
in the Egyptian pyramids and in the constructions Mase by the
civilization that inhabited the American before the arrival of spain.
CONCLUSION

It is essential to correctly layout a curved wall, measuring the

accurate gradient of a roof or the precise height and rise of the
staircase. Architectures and Engineers use trigonometry to solve
complex calculations to build iconic buildings. Without trigonometry,
it would have been impossible to create the masterpiece buildings.
QUESTION
SOLUTION