Trigonometry Review

Consider a right angle triangle B a C b c A

Let BAC = , Side AB = c and side BC = a. We can calculate Side AC = b, by Pythagorean Theorem

a2 + b2 = c2

We can define 6 trigonometric ratios : Sin = Opposite Side = a Hypotenuse c Cos = Adjacent Side = b Hypotenuse c Tan = Opposite Side = a Adjacent Side b From these definitions we can derive: 1 1 Csc = Sin = Csc Sin Csc = Sec = Cot = Hypotenuse = c Opposite Side a Hypotenuse = c Adjacent Side b Adjacent Side Opposite Side = b a

Cos =

1 Sec 1 Cot Sin Cos

Sec = Cot =

1 Cos 1 Tan Cos Sin

Tan = Also, Tan =

Cot =

For Example We have previously defined a 1 c Sin = = = Csc , c Sin a This can be done for the other trigonometric functions as well.

Copyright 2006. Steve Saffell. Center for Academic Support. 271-4524

Signs of function values

2nd Quadrant Sin and Csc are positive 3rd Quadrant Tan and Cot are positive

1st Quadrant All functions are positive 4th Quadrant Cos and Sec are positive

A trick to remember this would be to remember the phrase All Silver Tea Cups or A Smart Trig Class, starting in the first quadrant.
To find function values of special angles

Consider an equilateral triangle, length of each side being 2 units (see figure). Let us bisect this triangle as shown. We will end up with two 30-60 triangles. B B 60 30 2 2 30 2 2 60 D 60 A 60 D 60 A

Now let us consider one of the bisected triangles B 30 By Pythagorean theorem, 2 1 + ( BC ) 2 = 2 2 , (BC) 2 = 4 1 = 3 3 C 2 60 A Therefore, BC = 3

1 We can no find values for 30.

Sin 30 = OppositeSide 1 = Hypotenuse 2 Cos 30 =

3 AdjacentSide = Hypotenuse 2

Tan 30 =

3 1 OppositeSide = = AdjacentSide 3 3

Similarly we can find values for 60.

Sin 60 =

3 OppositeSide = Hypotenuse 2

Cos 60 =

AdjacentSide 1 = Hypotenuse 2

Copyright 2006. Steve Saffell. Center for Academic Support. 271-4524

Tan 60 =

OppositeSide = 3 AdjacentSide

To find values for 45, we consider a 45- 45 triangle B 45 By Pythagorean Theorem 1 2 (AB) 2 = 1 2 +12 = 2 45 AB = 2 C A 1
Sin 45 =

2 OppositeSide 1 = = Hypotenuse 2 2
OppositeSide =1 AdjacentSide

Cos 45 =

2 1 AdjacentSide = = Hypotenuse 2 2

Tan 45 =

Table for the most commonly used angles

Angle 0 30

Sine 0 1 2
2 2 3 2 1 0

Cosine 1
3 2 2 2 1 2

Tangent 0
3 3 1 3

45

60

90 180

0 -1

Undefined 0

Copyright 2006. Steve Saffell. Center for Academic Support. 271-4524

Let us now derive some trigonometric identities: B By the Pythagorean Theorem, a c a 2 + b 2 = c 2 (1.1)

From earlier definitions we have a b a c c b Sin = , Cos = , Tan = , Csc = , Sec = , Cot = c c b a b a
The three trigonometric identities:

Let us divide equation 1.1 by c 2 , We get a2 b2 c2 + = c2 c2 c2 a2 b2 + =1 c2 c2

( Sin ) 2 + (Cos ) 2 = 1 or Sin 2 + Cos 2 = 1

If we divide equation 1.1 by a 2 we get,

b2 c2 = a2 a2

1+

1 + (Cot ) 2 = (Csc ) 2

or 1 + Cot 2 = Csc 2

Finally we divide equation 1.1 by b 2 we get,

a2 c2 1 + = b2 b2

(Tan ) 2 + 1 = ( Sec ) 2 or Tan 2 + 1 = Sec 2

Copyright 2006. Steve Saffell. Center for Academic Support. 271-4524