CHAPTER 4

TRIGONOMETRY
WHAT IS TRIGONOMETRY?

Trigonometry is a branch of Mathematics

that studies relationship between lengths
and angles of triangles, particularly triangles
in a plane where one angle of the triangle is
90 degrees. Trigonometry is derived from
the Greek word’s, trigōnon (triangle) and
metron (measure)
MEASUREMENT OF ANGLE
• An angle commonly measured in terms of degrees and radians

• One (1) degree is the measure of an angle subtended at the centre of the circle by
one arc

• 1° is obtained when the circumference of a circle is divided into 360 equal arcs

(Note: A circle has 360°)

• So that,
1°
1
1° = complete revolution
360
 MEASUREMENT OF ANGLE
• A radian is the measure of an angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc
whose length is equal to the radius of that circle

• The angle ∠XOY in the figure is one radian since the length of the arc XY is equal to
the radius of the circle

• Therefor,

∠XOY = 1 radian

• Note: The length ''l'' of an arc that subtends an angle 𝜃 at the center of a circle of
radius, r is given by l = r𝜽
i.e. Arc length is angle times radius of the circle. (𝜽 is in radians, not in degrees)
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEGREES
AND RADIANS
• We know that for a circle of radius, 𝑟and the circumference, C of the circle is given by
C = 2𝜋𝑟

Since, l = 𝑟𝜃 ......................... (i)

Also l =2𝜋𝑟 for a complete circle of radius, 𝑟 ..................... (ii)

Then
2𝜋𝑟 = 𝑟𝜃

2𝜋𝑟
𝜃=
𝑟

𝜃 = 2𝜋 radians

continues…
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEGREES
AND RADIANS
• We know that for a complete revolution, the angle measure in degrees is 360°

2𝜋 radians = 360°

𝜋 radians = 180°

180°
1 radian =
𝜋

1 radian = 57.296°
𝜋
• Also 1° = radians = 0.0175 radians
180°

1 degree = 0.0175 radians (0.0175 rad)

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEGREES
AND RADIANS
Measurement of smaller angle than measurement of degrees is written in form of
minute and second
1
1 degree = 60 minute or 1 minute = degree
60
1
1° = 60’ written as 1’ = degree
60

1
1 minute = 60 second or 1 second = minute
60
1′
1’ = 60” written as 1” =
60

𝜋 180
1° = radian 1 radian =
180 𝜋
Example:
1. Convert 3 radians to degree
180°
1 rad =
𝜋

180°
3 rad = 3 = 171.89°
𝜋

2. Convert 45° to radian

𝜋
1° =
180°

𝜋
45° = 45 = 0.7854 rad
180°
Example:
3. Convert 45.3 °into degrees and minutes.

45.3° = 45 + 0.3°

We have 1° = 60’

So,
45.3 ° = 45 + 0.3°
= 45 ° + (0.3 * 60)’
= 45 ° + 18’
= 45 ° 18’
Example:
4. Convert the angle 25012’ into degrees.

25°12’ = 25°+12’

𝟏
We have 1’= degree
𝟔𝟎

So,
25°12’ = 25°+12’
= 250+(12/60) °
= 25°+0.2°
=25.2°
Example:
5. Convert 42°15’45’’ into degrees.

We have

1’= 1/60°

1”= 1/3600”

So,
42°15’45’’ = 42° + (15/60) °+ (45/3600) °
= 42° + 0.25° + 0.0125°
= 42.26250
ANGLE AND QUADRANT

Initial side

Initial side
ANGLE AND QUADRANT
90o

Quadrant II Quadrant I
90o - 180o 0o - 90o

180o 0o,360o

Quadrant III Quadrant IV

180o - 270o 270o-- 360o

270o
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION
In a right triangle, the shorter sides are called legs and the longest side (which is the
one opposite the right angle) is called the hypotenuse
First let’s look at the three basic functions.

SINE

COSINE
𝛼 TANGENT
They are abbreviated using their first 3 letters

opposite opposite
sin   tan  
hypotenuse adjacent
adjacent
cos  
hypotenuse
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION
Example:
Given a right triangle ABC, right-angled at ∠ ABC. If the length of the side AB = 3
units, BC = 4 units. Determine sin A, cos A, and tan A.

C AC = 𝐴𝐵2 + 𝐵𝐶 2

AC = 32 + 42
5 units
AC = 5 units
4 units

A 3 units B continue…
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒

sin 𝐴 = cos 𝐴 = tan 𝐴 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝐵𝐶 𝐴𝐵 𝐵𝐶
sin 𝐴 = cos 𝐴 = tan 𝐴 =
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
𝟒 𝟑 𝟒
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝑨 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑨 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝑨 =
𝟓 𝟓 𝟑
PROBLEM 1
C
Find the length of AB
(cos 60° = 0.5)

600
A B
PROBLEM 2
Nabil is standing 8 m in front of a coconut
tree with height of 9.5 m. If the height of
Nabil is 1.5 m, calculate the angle of
elevation, 𝛼 from his eyes to the peak of the
coconut tree.

9.5m
𝛼
1.5 m

Continue…
8m
PROBLEM 2 (cont)
Solution:

Redraw the situation, we have:

Since 𝛼 is opposite to AB and become an adjacent
A to line CB, then we use tangent function:
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan 𝛼 =
8m 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝛼 𝐴𝐵
C tan 𝛼 = 𝛼 = tan−1 1
8m B 𝐵𝐶
𝛼 = 0.7853 𝑟𝑎𝑑
AB = 9.5 – 1.5 = 8 8
(The height of the tree minus tan 𝛼 = 𝛼 = 44.99°
the height of Nabil) 8

tan 𝛼 = 1 𝜶 ≈ 𝟒𝟓°
PROBLEM 3
The angle of elevation of the top of the
building at a distance of 50 m from its foot
on a horizontal plane is found to be 60
degree. Find the height of the building.
PROBLEM 4
A ladder placed against a wall such that it
reaches the top of the wall of height 6 m
and the ladder is inclined at an angle of 60
degree. Find how far the ladder is from the
foot of the wall.
SINE, COSINE & TANGENT IN
QUADRANTS
y

Quadrant II
sin +ve Quadrant I
cos –ve ALL +ve
tan –ve

0 x
Quadrant III Quadrant IV
tan +ve cos +ve
sin –ve tan –ve
cos –ve sin –ve
 SINE, COSINE & TANGENT IN
QUADRANTS
y
Quadrant II (900 – 1800) Quadrant I (00 – 900)
sin (+) All (+)

sin (1800 – α) = sin α sin (900 – α) = cos α

cos (1800 – α) = – cos α cos (900 – α) = sin α
tan (1800 – α) = – tan α tan (900 – α) = cotan α

x
sin (1800 + α) = – sin α sin (3600 – α) = – sin α
cos (1800 + α) = – cos α cos (3600 – α) = cos α
tan (1800 + α) = tan α tan (3600 – α) = – tan α

Quadrant III (1800 – 2700) Quadrant IV (2700 – 3600)

tan (+) cos (+)
 SINE, COSINE & TANGENT IN
QUADRANTS
If 𝜃 = 0𝑜 , then P(1,0)
Y
• sin 0° = y = 0
• cos 0° = x = 1
P(x, y) 𝑦 0
• tan 0° = = = 0
𝑥 1
y

O ᶿ x N 1
X
If 𝜃 = 90𝑜 , then P(0,1)
• sin 90° = y = 1
• cos 90° = x = 0
• tan 90° =y/x =1/0, undefined

𝑦 𝑥 𝑦
sin 𝜃 = = 𝑦 cos 𝜃 = = 𝑥 tan 𝜃 =
1 1 𝑥
 PROBLEM 5
3
If sin 𝛼 = and in quadrant I, determine the value of cos 𝛼 if cos 𝛼 is also in the
5
same quadrant

3

A 5

B 1
4
C
5
4
D 
5
E 1
 PROBLEM 6
Given a point A (-12, 5) and ∠𝑋𝑂𝑌 = 𝛼. Determine the value of sin 𝛼, cos 𝛼 and tan 𝛼.

Solution:

x = -12 and y = 5
Quadrant II
Y
5
𝐴𝑂 = 12 2 + 52 sin 𝑎 = A(-12, 5)
13
= 144 + 25 13
12
cos 𝑎 = − 5
13
= 169 𝛼
X
= 13 5 12 O
tan 𝑎 = −
12
 SINE, COSINE & TANGENT IN
QUADRANTS

𝐴𝐶 = 𝐴𝐵2 + 𝐵𝐶 2
A 11
𝑜
= 1+1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 45 = = 2
2 2
= 2
45o 11
𝑜
𝑐𝑜𝑠 45 = = 2
2 2 2
1
1
𝑡𝑎𝑛 45𝑜 = =1
1
45o
B 1 C
 PROBLEM 7
1
Calculate 𝛼 in degree if given sin 𝛼 =
2

1
sin 𝛼 =
2
2
1 −1 1
𝛼= sin
𝛼 2

𝜶 = 𝟑𝟎°
 SINE, COSINE & TANGENT IN
QUADRANTS
𝑀𝑃 = 𝑀𝐿2 − 𝑃𝐿2

= 4−2
1 3 1
= 3 sin 30𝑜 = sin 60𝑜 = = 3
2 2 2

𝑜
3 1 1
M cos 30 = = 3
2 2 cos 60𝑜 =
2

30o 1 3
tan 30𝑜 = = 3
2 3 3 tan 60𝑜 = = 3
3 1

60o
P 1 L
 TABLE OF SPECIAL ANGLE
TRIANGLE
∠ 0° 30° 45° 60° 90° 120° 135° 150° 180°

sin 0 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 0
2 2 2 2 2 2
cos 1 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 -1
− − −
2 2 2 2 2 2
tan 0 1 1 3 ∞ − 3 −1 1 0
−
3 3
cosec ∞ 2 2 3 1 23
3 2 2 ∞
2
sec 1 23
3 2 2 ∞ −2 − 2 −2 3
3 -1

cot ∞ 3 1 1 0 1 −1 − 3 ∞
−
3 3
RECIPROCAL IDENTITIES
1 cos x
cot x  
tan x sin x

1
csc x 
sin x

1
sec x 
cos x
PROBLEM 8:
Given a right-angled triangle as shown in Figure1:
A

𝜃
C 6 B

Calculate the value of:

(a) cot x
(b) csc x
(c) sec x
TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES
Tutorial 1:
Convert the following into degrees:
(1) 89° 11' 15"
(2) 42° 24' 53"
(3) 12° 15' 0"
(4) 38° 42' 25"
(5) 33° 30'
(6) 29° 30' 30"
(7) 71° 0' 30"
(8) 0° 49' 49"
Tutorial 2:
1.

2. Find the value of

x and H
 Tutorial 3:
1) A string of a kite is 100 meters long and it makes an angle of
60° with horizontal. Find the height of the kite, assuming that
there is no slack in the string.

2) From the top of the tower 30m height a man is observing the
base of a tree at an angle of depression measuring 30 degree.
Find the distance between the tree and the tower.

3) A man wants to determine the height of a light house. He

measured the angle at A and found that tan A = 3/4. What is the
height of the light house if A is 40 m from the base?

4) A ladder is leaning against a vertical wall makes an angle of

20° with the ground. The foot of the ladder is 3 m from the wall.
Find the length of ladder.
Tutorial 4:
5) A kite flying at a height of 65 m is attached to a string inclined
at 31° to the horizontal. What is the length of string ?

6) The length of a string between a kite and a point on the

ground is 90 m. If the string is making an angle θ with the level
ground such that tan θ = 15/8, how high will the kite be?

7) An aeroplane is observed to be approaching the airport. It is at

a distance of 12 km from the point of observation and makes an
angle of elevation of 50 degree. Find the height above the ground.

8) A balloon is connected to a meteorological station by a cable

of length 200 m inclined at 60 degree angle . Find the height of
the balloon from the ground. (Imagine that there is no slack in the
cable)
Tutorial 5:
THE END