Right Triangle Trigonometry

Trigonometry is based upon ratios of the sides of

right triangles.
The six trigonometric functions of a right triangle,
with an acute angle , are defined by ratios of two sides
of the triangle.
hyp opp
θ
adj
The sides of the right triangle are:
 the side opposite the acute angle ,

 the side adjacent to the acute angle ,

 and the hypotenuse of the right triangle.

 Right Triangle Trigonometry

The hypotenuse is the longest side and is always

opposite the right angle.
The opposite and adjacent sides refer to another angle,
other than the 90o.

A
 Trigonometric Ratios

hyp
opp
θ
The trigonometric functions are: adj
sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant.
opp
sin  = cos  = adj tan  = opp
hyp hyp adj
hyp hyp
csc  = sec  = cot  = adj
opp adj opp

S OH C AH T OA
 Reciprocal Functions

sin  = 1/csc  csc  = 1/sin 

cos  = 1/sec  sec  = 1/cos 
tan  = 1/cot  cot  = 1/tan 
 Finding the ratios

The simplest form of question is finding the decimal

value of the ratio of a given angle.

Find using calculator:

1) sin 30 =
sin 30 =

2) cos 23 =

3) tan 78 =

4) tan 27 =

5) sin 68 =
 Using ratios to find angles
It can also be used in reverse, finding an angle from a ratio.
To do this we use the sin-1, cos-1 and tan-1 function keys.
Example:
1. sin x = 0.1115 find angle x.

sin-1 0.1115 =

( )
shift sin

x = sin-1 (0.1115)
x = 6.4o
2. cos x = 0.8988 find angle x

cos-1 0.8988 =

( )
shift cos

x = cos-1 (0.8988)
x = 26o
Calculate the trigonometric functions for  .
Calculate the trigonometric functions for .

The six trig ratios are 5
4
4 3
sin  = sin α = 
5 5
3 4 3
cos  = cos α =
5 5
4 3 What is the
tan  = tan α =
3 4 relationship of
3
cot  = 4 α and θ?
4 cot α =
3
5 5 They are
sec  = sec α =
3 4 complementary
5 5 (α = 90 – θ)
csc  = csc α =
4 3
 Cofunctions

sin  = cos (90  ) cos  = sin (90  )

sin  = cos (π/2  ) cos  = sin (π/2  )

tan  = cot (90  ) cot  = tan (90  )

tan  = cot (π/2  ) cot  = tan (π/2  )

sec  = csc (90  ) csc  = sec (90  )

sec  = csc (π/2  ) csc  = sec (π/2  )
 Finding an angle from a triangle

To find a missing angle from a right-angled triangle we

need to know two of the sides of the triangle.

We can then choose the appropriate ratio, sin, cos or tan

and use the calculator to identify the angle from the
decimal value of the ratio.

1. Find angle C
a) Identify/label the names of
14 cm the sides.

C b) Choose the ratio that

6 cm contains BOTH of the
letters.
1. We have been given the
h adjacent and hypotenuse so
14 cm we use COSINE:
adjacent
Cos A = hypotenuse
C
6 cm
a

Cos A = a
h
Cos C = 6
14
Cos C = 0.4286

C = cos-1 (0.4286)

C = 64.6o
2. Find angle x
Given adj and opp
x need to use tan:
3 cm a
opposite
Tan A = adjacent
o 8 cm

Tan A = o
a
Tan x = 8
3
Tan x = 2.6667
x = tan-1 (2.6667)

x = 69.4o
3.
Given opp and hyp
12 cm need to use sin:
10 cm
opposite
y Sin A = hypotenuse

sin A = o
h
sin x = 10
12
sin x = 0.8333
x = sin-1 (0.8333)
x = 56.4o
 Finding a side from a triangle

4. We have been given

the adj and hyp so we
7 cm use COSINE:
adjacent
Cos A = hypotenuse
30o
k

Cos A = a
h
Cos 30 = k
7
Cos 30 x 7 = k
6.1 cm = k
5. We have been given the opp
and adj so we use TAN:
50o
4 cm
Tan A =

Tan A = o
a
Tan 50 =
r
4
Tan 50 x 4 = r

4.8 cm = r
6. We have been given the opp
and hyp so we use SINE:
k 12 cm
Sin A =

25o

sin A = o
h
sin 25 = k
12
Sin 25 x 12 = k

5.1 cm = k
1. Cos A =
a
h
x Cos 30 = 5
x
5
30o x =
cos 30
5 cm
x = 5.8 cm

2.
Tan A = o
a
50o r
Tan 50 =
4 cm 4
Tan 50 x 4 = r

r 4.8 cm = r

3.
sin A =
o
h
12 cm sin y = 10
10 cm 12
y sin y = 0.8333

y = sin-1 (0.8333)

y = 56.4o
Example: Given sec  = 4, find the values of the
other five trigonometric functions of  .
Solution:
Draw a right triangle with an angle  such
hyp 4 4 15
that 4 = sec  = = .
adj 1
θ
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve
1
for the third side of the triangle.

sin  = 15
csc  = 1 = 4
4 sin  15
1 1
cos  = sec  = =4
4 cos 
1
tan  = 15 = 15 cot  =
1 15
 Applications Involving Right Triangles

A surveyor is standing 115 feet from the base of the

Washington Monument. The surveyor measures the angle
of elevation to the top of the monument as 78.3.
How tall is the Washington Monument?

Solution:

where x = 115 and y is the height of the monument. So, the height of the
Washington Monument is
y = x tan 78.3

 115(4.82882)  555 feet.

 Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Reciprocal Identities
sin  = 1/csc  cos  = 1/sec  tan  = 1
cot  = 1/tan  sec  = 1/cos  csc  = 1/sin 
Co function Identities
sin  = cos(90  ) cos  = sin(90  )
sin  = cos (π/2  ) cos  = sin (π/2  )
tan  = cot(90  ) cot  = tan(90  )
tan  = cot (π/2  ) cot  = tan (π/2  )
sec  = csc(90  ) csc  = sec(90  )
sec  = csc (π/2  ) csc  = sec (π/2  )

Quotient Identities
tan  = sin  /cos  cot  = cos  /sin 
Pythagorean Identities
sin2  + cos2  = 1 tan2  + 1 = sec2  cot2  + 1 = csc2 