Taming Trigonometry!

Skip the intro & take me straight to the examples! Id like to do the intro!

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Trigonometry is that branch of mathematics that deals with sides and angles in triangles. In Years 9 and 10, we work with

Right Angled Triangles.

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

1. Naming the angles

In triangles, the three angles are usually named using capital letters, for example A, B and C.
A

Hypotenuse AB

It is important to note C that in this diagram, Angle C (also called C) is 90. The side opposite the 90 is always the longest side in the triangle (called the hypotenuse)

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

2. Naming the sides

We have already seen how angles are labelled (with capital letters). Now we introduce a method of labelling the sides opposite those angles (with small letters). Its very simple! Pretend the triangle is a yard. A

c
C

If we stand in corner C and look out across the triangular yard, the fence we can see furthest away is called c.

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

A
In the same way, if we stood in corner B and looked out across the triangular yard then the fence furthest away would be called b.

b
C

And likewise if we stood at corner A, then the side furthest away would be called a.

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Exercise 2 questions to test your knowledge! R

1. Label all the sides using lower case letters ANSWER P M

2. Which side is the hypotenuse? ANSWER

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

m
P How did you go??

r
BACK

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

The hypotenuse is the longest side, which is always opposite the 90.

m
P

Here, the hypotenuse is side p.

You could also call it RM

Next section
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

2. Naming the sides

We have already met the hypotenuse. Its the side that sits opposite the 90

(continued)

C The other two sides are called adjacent and opposite, but these names are interchangeable, depending on which angle we are working with.

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

This is often represented by the Greek letter (called theta) rather than C drawing a little person!

OPPOSITE

Suppose we decide our reference angle (i.e. the angle where we are standing inside the yard) is B

ADJACENT

The side furthest away from is called the OPPOSITE, and... The side next to (other than the Hypotenuse) is called the ADJACENT.
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

This would make the names of the other two sides change.

ADJACENT

Suppose instead, our reference angle was in corner A

B OPPOSITE

The opposite side would now be here, because this side is the furthest away from reference angle .
The hypotenuse stays where it is (its still the longest side!) This means that the remaining side must be the adjacent.
NOTE!! The reference angle is never the 90, but always one of the other 2 remaining (acute) angles
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Now try

Worksheet #1

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

3. Similar Triangles

A
5cm 4cm

In this triangle ABC, 3cm the sides are 3cm, 4cm and 5cm. The angle at B C is .

Now suppose all the sides are doubled.

Because this is a magnification or enlargement of the smaller triangle, its shape will still be the same, and so its angles will remain the same.

6cm

10cm

8cm

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Now, in the smaller triangle using as our reference angle, find which sides are opposite and adjacent and calculate the ratio Opposite
Adjacent

A
Opp 3cm 5cm 4cm Adj

O 3 A 4

0.75
same!

C A
Opp 6cm

Now do the same thing for the big triangle

O 6 A 8

0.75
ratio Opposite Hypotenuse for

10cm

Now calculate the both triangles.

8cm Adj

You should get 3/5 or 0.6 for BOTH

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Summary so far
(1) When all 3 of a triangles sides are multiplied (or divided) by the same number, the shape of the triangle doesnt change (only the size). All angles stay the same size. Two triangles related this way (where one is an enlargement or blow-up of the other) are called SIMILAR. (2) Whenever we have two similar triangles, and calculate the fractions (or ratios) of matching pairs of sides like we did on the previous slide, we always get the same result. So the size of the triangle doesnt matter, only the shape!

So, suppose we have a triangle like the one on the next slide

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Lets say this triangles sides are doubled, halved and tripled to get three new triangles drawn below. (not to scale, of course!)

8cm

17cm 15cm

16cm

x2

34cm

4cm

30cm 8.5cm

7.5cm

24cm

x3

51cm

45cm
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

If we now take all 4 triangles and for each one, pick the same 2 sides and work out the ratio of their lengths, well get the same result! Try it for Adjacent
Hypotenuse

Original Orig x2 Orig 2 Orig x3

A 15 0.88 H 17 30 0.88 34 7.5 0.88 8.5 45 0.88 51

Opposite Hypotenuse

Opp

Hyp

Adj

Now try it for

Did you get 0.47 for all four ?

And finally

Opposite Adjacent

Hopefully you got 0.53 for all four ?

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

4. New names for the ratios!

Opposite Hypotenuse Adjacent Hypotenuse

is called SINE (abbreviated to sin) is called COSINE (cos)

Opposite Adjacent

is called TANGENT (tan)

SOHCAHTOA
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Now try

Worksheet #2

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

4. Finding a side
Now well actually use trigonometry to find unknown sides, but first we may need a brief refresher course on 2 important Algebra skills!
Do the refresher

Skip the refresher

SOHCAHTOA
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Skill #1 Solving an equation when the unknown

is in the top of a fraction Example.. Solve

x 3 5

Method..multiply both sides by the bottom number, 5

x x5 5

= 3 x5

The 5s cancel out

x = 15answer

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Skill #2 Solving an equation when the unknown

is in the bottom of a fraction Example.. Solve

5 3 x

Method..interchange the x and the 3. Keep the top number (5) where it is

Previous slide

5 x 3

This enables you to make x the subject in one step

x = 1.67answer
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Next section

4. Finding a side Example 1

Find x in this shape.
xm
Opp
23m Hyp Adj

32

STEP 1

Look at your reference angle (32). Carefully label the hyp, then opp and adj. Remind me how Choose which two sides you are concerned with. They are labelled one has 23m, the other x m.

STEP 2

These are the Opp and Hyp

We do not bother with Adj.

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Remember Slide 18? We use ONE of these formulas now.

Opposite Hypotenuse Adjacent Hypotenuse

is called SINE (abbreviated to sin) is called COSINE (cos)

Opposite Adjacent

is called TANGENT (tan)

Which do you think we use?

If you said sin youd be right, because were dealing with Opp and Hyp
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

STEP 3

Set up this equation:

xm

23m

32

sin 32 =

Opp Hyp

x 0.5299 23

Now get sin 32 from calculator, and replace Opp with x and Hyp with 23

Solve using Algebra Skill #1 (Slide 21: x is in the top)

x = 0.5299 23

x = 12.19 (to 2 dec places)

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Next example

This is often represented by the Greek letter (called theta) rather than C drawing a little person!

OPPOSITE

Suppose we decide our reference angle (i.e. the angle where we are standing inside the yard) is B

ADJACENT

The side furthest away from is called the OPPOSITE, and... The side next to (other than the Hypotenuse) is called the ADJACENT.
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

This would make the names of the other two sides change.

ADJACENT

Suppose instead, our reference angle was in corner A

B OPPOSITE

The opposite side would now be here, because this side is the furthest away from reference angle .
The hypotenuse stays where it is (its still the longest side!) This means that the remaining side must be the adjacent.
NOTE!! The reference angle is never the 90, but always one of the other 2 remaining (acute) angles
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Back to Example 1

4. Finding a side Example 2

Find y in this triangle.
STEP 1
STEP 2

y cm
Opp

Hyp

28 Adj

5.2 cm

Look at your reference angle (28). Label the hyp, then opp and adj. Opp is not labelled, so we dont use it. Hyp and Adj are the ones we use. This is COS

SOHCAHTOA
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

STEP 3

y cm
cos 28 Adj Hyp

28

5.2 cm

5.2 0.8829 y

5.2 0.8829

using Algebra Skill #2 (Slide 22: x is in the bottom)

y 5.89

to 2 dec places

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

4. Finding a side Example 3

Looking at the angle 41, OPP and ADJ are lablled so this time well use TAN
Opp tan 41 Adj p 0.8693 20 p 20 0.8693

Find p 41 20m

pm

Skill #1: Slide 21

p = 17.39 SOHCAHTOA
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Now try

Worksheet #3

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

5. Finding an angle Example 1

Find the size of angle , to the nearest minute STEP 1 STEP 2
Look at your reference angle (). Label the hyp, then opp and adj. Opp

8cm
Adj

Hyp

10cm

Which two are labelled? Opp (8cm) and Adj (10cm), which means well use Tan
tan =

Once you have decimal degrees on your screen, hit 2nd ANGLE DMS to get degrees and minutes (Texas calculators)

Opp Adj 8 tan = 10

= tan 1
8 10

Key this in as

2nd TAN (8/10)

= 3840
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

5. Finding an angle Example 2

Find the size of angle , to the nearest minute STEP 1 STEP 2
Look at your reference angle (). Label the hyp, then opp and adj. Adj11m Opp

Hyp 15m

Which two are labelled? Hyp(15cm) and Adj (11cm), which means well use Cos
cos =

Once you have decimal degrees on your screen, hit 2nd ANGLE DMS to get degrees and minutes (Texas calculators)

Adj Hyp 11 cos = 15

= cos -1
11 15

Key this in as 2nd COS (11/15)

= 4250
Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005

Now try

Worksheet #4

Rick Bowman The Algebra Toolbox 2005