Trigonometric

Ratios
A RATIO is a comparison of
two numbers. For example;
boys to girls
cats : dogs
right : wrong.

In Trigonometry, the
comparison is between sides
of a triangle ( right triangle).
 Trig. Ratios
Name Sine Cosine tangent
“say”

Abbreviation Sin Cos Tan

Abbrev.

Ratio of an Sinθ = opposite side cosθ = adjacent side tanθ =opposite side
angle hypotenuse hypotenuse adjacent side
measure
 Three Trigonometric Ratios
• Sine – abbreviated ‘sin’.
– Ratio: sin θ = opposite side
hypotenuse
Θ this is the symbol for
an unknown angle
measure. It’s name is
‘Theta’.

• Cosine - abbreviated ‘cos’.

Easy way to remember trig
– Ratio: cos θ = adjacent side ratios:

hypotenuse SOH CAH TOA

• Tangent - abbreviated ‘tan’.

– Ratio: tan θ = opposite side
adjacent
side
 Let’s practice…
Write the ratio for sin A
B Sin A = o = a
h c
c
Write the ratio for cos A
a
Cos A = a = b
h c
C b A
Write the ratio for tan A
Let’s switch angles:
Tan A = o = a
Find the sin, cos and
a b
tan for Angle B:

Sin B = b Tan B = b
Cos B = a
c a
c
Make sure you have a calculator…
I want to find Use these calculator keys
SIN
sin, cos or tan
COS
ratio TAN
SIN-1
Angle measure COS-1
TAN-1

Set your calculator to ‘Degree’…..

MODE (next to 2nd button)
Degree (third line down… highlight it)
2nd
Quit
 Let’s practice…
Find an angle that has a
tangent (ratio) of 2
C 3
2cm Round your answer to the
nearest degree.

Process:
B 3cm A I want to find an ANGLE
I was given the sides (ratio)
Tangent is opp
adj
TAN-1(2/3) = 34°
 Practice some more…
Find tan A: Tan A = opp/adj = 12/21
24.19 12 Tan A = .5714

A 21

Find tan A:
Tan A = 8/4 = 2 8

A
4
 Trigonometric Ratios
• When do we use them?
– On right triangles that are NOT 45-45-90 or
30-60-90

Find: tan 45

Why?

tan = opp
hyp
 Using trig ratios in equations
Remember back in 1st grade when you had
to solve:
(6)12 = x (6) What did you do?
6
72 = x
Remember back in 3rd grade when x was in
the denominator?
(x)12 = 6 (x) What did you do?
x
__ = 6
12x __
12 12 x = 1/2
 Ask yourself:
In relation to the angle,
34° what pieces do I have?
15 cm Opposite and hypotenuse

Ask yourself:
What trig ratio uses
x cm Opposite and Hypotenuse?
SINE

Set up the equation and solve:

(15) Sin 34 = x (15)
15
(15)Sin 34 = x
8.39 cm = x
 Ask yourself:
In relation to the angle,
53° what pieces do I have?
12 cm
Opposite and adjacent

x cm
Ask yourself:
What trig ratio uses
Opposite and adjacent?
tangent

Set up the equation and solve:

(12)Tan 53 = x (12)
12
(12)tan 53 = x
15.92 cm = x
 Ask yourself:
x cm
In relation to the angle,
what pieces do I have?
Adjacent and hypotenuse
68°
Ask yourself:
18 cm

What trig ratio uses

adjacent and hypotnuse?
cosine
Set up the equation and solve:
(x) Cos 68 = 18 (x)
x
(x)Cos
_____68 =_____
18
cos 68 cos 68
X = 18 X = 48.05 cm
cos 68
 This time, you’re looking for theta.T
HI
Ask yourself: S
IS
42 cm In relation to the angle, what pieces IMP
OR
22 cm do I have? Opposite and hypotenuse TA
NT
θ Ask yourself: ! !

What trig ratio uses opposite

and hypotenuse? sine

Set up the equation (remember you’re looking for theta):

Sin θ = 22
42
Remember to use the inverse function
when you find theta
Sin -1 22 = θ
42
31.59°= θ
 You’re still looking for theta.
TH
IS
IS
θ IM P
OR
TA
22 cm Ask yourself: NT
!!
What trig ratio uses the parts I
17 cm was given? tangent

Set it up, solve it, tell me what you get.

tan θ = 17
22

tan -1 17 = θ
22
37.69°= θ
 Using trig ratios in equations
Remember back in 1st grade when you had
to solve:
(6)12 = x (6) What did you do?
6
72 = x
Remember back in 3rd grade when x was in
the denominator?
(x)12 = 6 (x) What did you do?
x
__ = 6
12x __
12 12 x = 1/2
 Types of Angles
• The angle that your line of sight makes
with a line drawn horizontally.
• Angle of Elevation Line of Sight
Angle of Elevation

Horizontal Line

• Angle of Depression
Horizontal Line

Angle of Depression

Line of Sight
 Indirect Measurement
opposite
tan 59  =
adjacent

h
tan 59  =
45

h
45 tan 59  = h

74.9  h

59  45 ft
SOA CAH TOA

SOA CAH TOA

Solving a right triangle
• Every right triangle has one right angle,
two acute angles, one hypotenuse and two
legs. To solve a right triangle, means to
determine the measures of all six (6) parts.
You can solve a right triangle if the
following one of the two situations exist:
– Two side lengths
– One side length and one acute angle
measure
 E.Q
• How do we use right triangles to solve
real life problems?
WRITE THIS DOWN!!!
• In general, for an acute angle A:
– If sin A = x, then sin-1 x = mA
– If cos A = y, then cos-1 y = mA
– If tan A = z, then tan-1 z = mA

The expression sin-1 x is read as “the inverse sine

of x.”

• On your calculator, this means you will be

punching the 2nd function button usually in yellow
prior to doing the calculation. This is to find the
degree of the angle.
 C
Example 1:
3
• Solve the right 2

triangle. Round
A
the decimals to the B c
nearest tenth.
HINT: Start by using the Pythagorean Theorem.
You have side a and side b. You don’t have the
hypotenuse which is side c—directly across from
the right angle.
 C

Example 1: 3 2

B A
c
(hypotenuse)2 = (leg)2 + (leg)2 Pythagorean Theorem
c2 = 32 + 22 Substitute values
c2 = 9 + 4 Simplify
c2 = 13 Simplify
c = √13 Find the positive square root
c ≈ 3.6 Use a calculator to approximate
Example 1 continued
• Then use a calculator to find the measure
of B:
2nd function
Tangent button
2
Divided by symbol
3 ≈ 33.7°
Finally
• Because A and B are complements,
you can write
mA = 90° - mB ≈ 90° - 33.7° = 56.3°

The side lengths of the triangle are 2, 3

and √13, or about 3.6. The triangle has
one right angle and two acute angles
whose measure are about 33.7° and
56.3°.
 Ex. 2: Solving a Right Triangle (h)
g
• Solve the right triangle. HRound 25° decimals
J
You are looking for
to the nearest tenth.
opposite and h
13
hypotenuse which is
the sin ratio.
G
opp. Set up the correct ratio
sin H =
hyp.
h 13 Substitute values/multiply by reciprocal
13 sin 25° =
13
Substitute value from table or calculator
13(0.4226) ≈ h
Use your calculator to approximate.
5.5 ≈ h
 Ex. 2: Solving a Right Triangle (g)
g
• Solve the right triangle. HRound 25° decimals
J

to the nearest tenth.

You are looking for h
adjacent and 13
hypotenuse which is
the cosine ratio. G
adj.
cos G = Set up the correct ratio
hyp.
g 13
13 cos 25° = Substitute values/multiply by reciprocal
13

13(0.9063) ≈ g Substitute value from table or calculator

11.8 ≈ h Use your calculator to approximate.

Using Right Triangles in Real Life
• Space Shuttle: During its approach to Earth, the space
shuttle’s glide angle changes.
• A. When the shuttle’s altitude is about 15.7 miles, its
horizontal distance to the runway is about 59 miles.
What is its glide angle? Round your answer to the
nearest tenth.
 Solution: Glide  = x° altitude
15.7
miles
• You know opposite
and adjacent sides. distance to runway

If you take the 59 miles

opposite and divide tan x° =

opp.
Use correct ratio
adj.
it by the adjacent
15.7 Substitute values
sides, then take tan x° =
59
the inverse tangent Key in calculator 2 function,
nd

of the ratio, this will tan 15.7/59 ≈ 14.9

yield
 When you the slide
the space shuttle’s altitude is about 15.7 miles, the glide
angle.
angle is about 14.9°.
 B. Solution Glide  = 19° altitude
h
• When the space
shuttle is 5 miles distance to runway
from the runway, 5 miles
its glide angle is opp.
tan 19° = Use correct ratio
about 19°. Find adj.
the shuttle’s tan 19° =
h Substitute values
altitude at this point 5
in its descent. 5 tan 19° =
h 5 Isolate h by
Round your 5 multiplying by 5.
 The shuttle’s
answer to thealtitude is 1.7 ≈ h Approximate using calculator
about 1.7 miles.
nearest tenth.