Topic 7 - Trigonometry

EEE501-ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS 2011
TRIGONOMETRY
Introduction to trigonometry
Trigonometry
Trigonometry is the branch of mathematics that deals with the measurement of sides and angles
of triangles, and their relationship with each other. There are many applications in engineering
where knowledge of trigonometry is needed.
Trigonometric ratios of acute angles
a) With reference to the right-angled triangle shown in Figure above:
b) From above:
Secants, cosecants and cotangents are called

the reciprocal ratios.
LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE Page 1

TRIGONOMETRY
Exercise: For the right-angled triangle shown in Figure find:
(a) sin α (b) cos θ (c) tan θ
Fractional and surd forms

Fractional and surds forms of trigonometric ratios
In Figure on the right hand side, ABC is an equilateral triangle of side 2 units. AD bisects angle A
and bisects the side BC. Using Pythagoras’ theorem on triangle ABD gives:
A quantity that is not exactly expressible as a rational number is called a surd. For example, √2
and √3 are called surds because they cannot be expressed as a fraction and the decimal part may
be continued indefinitely. For example,
√2 = 1.4142135 . . . and √3 = 1.7320508 . . .
From above:
sin 30˚ = cos 60˚, sin 45˚ = cos 45˚ and sin 60˚ = cos 30˚.
Problem. Using surd forms, evaluate:
3 tan 60° − 2 cos 30°

tan 30°

TRIGONOMETRY
Exercise:
a) 3 sin 30˚ −2 cos 60˚ [1/2]
𝟕
b) 5 tan 60˚ −3 sin 60˚ [ 𝟑 ]
𝟐
tan 60°−tan 30° 𝟏

c) 1+tan 30° tan 60° 𝟑
Solution of right-angled triangles
To ‘solve a right-angled triangle’ means ‘to find the unknown sides and angles’. This is achieved
by using (i) the theorem of Pythagoras, and/or (ii) trigonometric ratios.
Problem: In triangle PQR shown in Fig, find the lengths of PQ and PR.

TRIGONOMETRY
Problem. Solve the triangle ABC shown in Figure below:
Exercise: Solve triangle ABC

TRIGONOMETRY
Angle of elevation and depression
a) If, in Figure shown, BC represents horizontal ground and AB a vertical flagpole, then the
angle of elevation of the top of the flagpole, A, from the point C is the angle that the
imaginary straight line AC must be raised (or elevated) from the horizontal CB, i.e. angle
θ.
b) If, in Fig. 22.20, PQ represents a vertical cliff and R a ship at sea, then the angle of
depression of the ship from point P is the angle through which the imaginary straight
line PR must be lowered (or depressed) from the horizontal to the ship, i.e.angle φ.
Problem. An electricity pylon stands on horizontal ground. At a point 80 m from the base
of the pylon, the angle of elevation of the top of the pylon is 23˚. Calculate the height of the
pylon to the nearest metre.
Exercise: A surveyor measures the angle of elevation of the top of a perpendicular building
as 19˚. He move 120 m nearer the building and finds the angle of elevation is now 47˚.
Determine the height of the building.

TRIGONOMETRY
Exercise:
1) If the angle of elevation of the top of a vertical 30 m high aerial is 32˚, how far is it to the
aerial? [48m]
2) From the top of a vertical cliff 80.0m high the angles of depression of two buoys lying
due west of the cliff are 23˚ and 15˚, respectively. How far are the buoys apart? [110.1m]

2011 [EEE501-ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I TRIGONOMETRY]
Trigonometric identities and equations

Trigonometric identities
A trigonometric identity is a relationship that is true for all values of the unknown variable.
Applying Pythagoras’ theorem to the right-angled triangle shown in Fig. below gives:
Dividing each term of equation by c2 gives:
Problem 1. Prove the identity sin2 θ cot θ sec θ = sin θ
FNU | LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE 1

Problem 2.
Problem 3. Show that: cos2 θ − sin2 θ =1−2 sin2 θ

Worked problems on trigonometric equations
Problem 4. Solve the trigonometric equation: 5 sin θ +3=0 for values of θ from 0˚ to 360˚.
5 sin θ +3=0, from which sin θ=−3/5=−0.6000
Hence θ =180˚ +36.87˚, i.e. 216.87˚ or θ =360˚ − 36.87˚, i.e. 323.13˚
Problem 5. Solve: 1.5 tan x −1.8=0 for 0◦ ≤x ≤360◦
Hence, x=50.19◦ or 180◦ +50.19◦ =230.19◦
Exercise: Solve: 4 sec t =5 for values of t between 0◦ and 360◦
Ans: t = 36.87◦ or 360◦ − 36.87◦ = 323.13◦

January 1,
EEE501-ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I TRIGONOMETRY
2011
Triangles and some practical applications

Sine and cosine rules
For a non-right-angled triangle, trigonometric ratios and Pythagoras’ theorem cannot be used.
Instead, two rules, called the sine rule and cosine rule, are used.
Sine rule
With reference to triangle ABC, the sine rule states:
The rule may be used only when:

I. 1 side and any 2 angles are initially given, or
II. 2 sides and an angle (not the included angle) are initially given.
Cosine rule
With reference to triangle ABC above, the cosine rule states:
The rule may be used only when:

I. 2 sides and the included angle are initially given, or
II. 3 sides are initially given.
Area of any triangle
The area of any triangle such as ABC above is given by:
LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE 1
January 1,
2011
Problem 1. In a triangle XYZ, ∠X =51◦, ∠Y =67◦ and YZ =15.2 cm. Solve the triangle and
find its area.
The triangle XYZ is shown. Since the angles in a triangle add up to 180˚, then z =180˚ −51˚ −67˚
=62˚.
Note: It is always worth checking with triangle problems that the longest side is opposite
the largest angle, and vice-versa. In this problem, Y is the largest angle and XZ is the
longest of the three sides.
Exercise. Solve the triangle PQR and find its area given that QR=36.5 mm, PR=26.6mm
and ∠Q=36◦
January 1,
2011
Problem 2. Solve triangle DEF and find its area given that EF =35.0 mm, DE =25.0mm and
∠E =64˚
January 1,
2011
Exercise. A triangle ABC has sides a=9.0 cm, b=7.5 cm and c=6.5 cm. Determine its three
angles and its area
Hence A= cos−1 0.1795=79.66˚
January 1,
2011
Exercise. Solve triangle XYZ, shown in Fig. 25.8, and find its area given that Y =128◦, XY
=7.2 cm and YZ =4.5 cm
January 1,
2011
EEE501-ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I
2011
TRIGONOMETRY
Cartesian and Polar co-ordinates

Introduction
There are two ways in which the position of a point in a plane can be represented. These are
(a) By Cartesian co-ordinates, i.e. (x, y), and
(b) By polar co-ordinates, i.e. (r, θ), where r is a ‘radius’ from a fixed point and θ is an angle
from a fixed point.
Changing from Cartesian into polar co-ordinates
If lengths x and y are known, then the length of r can be obtained from Pythagoras’ theorem
since OPQ is a right-angled triangle.
The angle θ, which may be expressed in degrees or radians, must always be measured from
the positive x-axis
Problem 1. Change the Cartesian co-ordinates (3, 4) into polar co-ordinates.
From Pythagoras’ theorem, r =5 (note that −5 has no meaning in this context). By trigonometric
ratios, θ = tan−1 (4/ 3) =53.13◦ or 0.927 rad.
Hence (3, 4) in Cartesian co-ordinates corresponds to (5, 53.13˚) or (5, 0.927 rad) in polar
co-ordinates.
2011
TRIGONOMETRY
Problem 2. Express in polar co-ordinates the position (−4, 3)
Hence the position of point P in polar co-ordinate form is (5, 143.13◦) or (5, 2.498 rad).
Exercise.
1. Express (−5, −12) in polar co-ordinates
[(−5, −12) in Cartesian co-ordinates corresponds to (13, 247.38◦) or (13, 4.318 rad) in
polar co-ordinates]
2. Express (2, −5) in polar co-ordinates.
[(2, −5) in Cartesian co-ordinates corresponds to (5.385, 291.80◦) or (5.385, 5.093 rad)
in polar co-ordinates]
Changing from polar into Cartesian co-ordinates
From the right-angled triangle OPQ
If length r and angle θ are known then x = r cos θ and y = r sin θ are the two formulae we need to
change from polar to Cartesian co-ordinates.
Problem 3. Change (4, 32˚) into Cartesian co-ordinates.
2011
TRIGONOMETRY
Hence (4, 32◦) in polar co-ordinates corresponds to (3.39, 2.12) in Cartesian co-ordinates.
Problem 4. Express (6, 137◦) in Cartesian co-ordinates
Thus (6, 137˚) in polar co-ordinates corresponds to (−4.388, 4.092) in Cartesian co-
ordinates.
Exercise: Express (4.5, 5.16 rad) in Cartesian co-ordinates.
Thus (1.948, −4.057) in Cartesian co-ordinates corresponds to (4.5, 5.16 rad) in polar co-
ordinates.
EEE501-ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS I TRIGONOMETRY 2011
Trigonometric waveforms
Graphs of trigonometric functions
Angles of any magnitude
In the first quadrant of Fig. 23.1 all of the curves have positive values; in the second only sine is
positive; in the third only tangent is positive; in the fourth only cosine is positive.
Problem. Solve the equation cos−1 (−0.2348) =α for angles of α between 0◦ and 360˚
Cosine is positive in the first and fourth quadrants and thus negative in the second and third
quadrants.
Angle θ = cos−1 (0.2348) = 76.42˚
Measured from 0˚, the two angles whose cosine is −0.2348 are α =180˚ −76.42˚ i.e. 103.58˚ and
α =180˚ +76.42˚, i.e. 256.42˚
Exercise: Determine all of the angles between 0˚ and 360˚ whose sine is:
(a) 0.6792 (b) −0.1483
A) 42.78˚ and 137.22˚ B) 188.53˚ and 351.47˚
Sine and cosine curves - Graphs of sine and cosine waveforms
Table of values for y = sin A and y = sin 2A is shown below:
Periodic time and period
I. y = sin A repeat themselves every 360˚ (or 2π radians); thus 360˚ is called the period of
these waveforms y =sin 2A repeat themselves every 180˚ (or π radians); thus 180˚ is the
period of these waveforms.
II. In general, if y = sin pA or y = cos pA (where p is a constant) then the period of the
waveform is 360˚/p (or 2π/p rad). Hence if y=sin 3A then the period is 360/3, i.e. 120˚ ,
and if y=cos 4A then the period is 360/4, i.e. 90˚.
Amplitude
Amplitude is the name given to the maximum or peak value of a sine wave.
If y = 5 cos 2A, the amplitude is 5 and the period is 360˚/2, i.e. 180˚.
Problem. Sketch y=sin 3A between A=0˚ and A=360˚
Amplitude=1 and period=360◦/ 3=120◦
Problem. Sketch y =4 cos 2x form x =0˚ to x =360˚
Amplitude=4 and period=360◦/2=180◦
Lagging and leading angles
I. A sine or cosine curve may not always start at 0˚. To show this a periodic function is
represented by y = sin (A±α) or y = cos (A±α) where α is a phase displacement compared
with y=sin A or y=cos A.
II. If y = sin A is assumed to start at 0˚, then y = sin (A−60˚) starts 60˚ later (i.e. has a zero
value 60˚ later). Thus y = sin (A−60◦) is said to lag y = sin A by 60˚.
Problem. Sketch y = 5 sin (A+30˚) from A=0˚ to A=360˚
Amplitude = 5 and period=360˚/1=360˚.
5 sin (A+30˚) leads 5 sin A by 30˚ (i.e. starts 30˚ earlier).
Problem. Sketch y = 7 sin (2A−π/3) in the range 0 ≤ A ≤ 360˚
Amplitude =7 and period=2π/2=π radians.
In general, y = sin (pt −α) lags y = sin pt by α/p, hence 7 sin (2A−π/3) lags 7 sin 2A by (π/3)/2,
i.e. π/6 rad or 30˚.
Exercise: State the amplitude and period of the waveform and sketch the curve between 0˚
and 360˚.
a) y = cos 3A
b) y = 3 sin 4t
c) y = 6 sin (t −45˚)
Sinusoidal form A sin (ωt ±α)
Problem. An alternating current is given by i=30 sin (100πt +0.27) amperes. Find the
amplitude, periodic time, frequency and phase angle.
Amplitude = 30A.
Problem. An oscillating mechanism has a maximum displacement of 2.5m and a frequency

of 60 Hz. At time t =0 the displacement is 90 cm. Express the displacement in the general
form A sin (ωt ± α)
Amplitude = maximum displacement = 2.5m
Angular velocity, ω=2π f =2π (60) =120π rad/s
Hence displacement=2.5 sin (120πt +α) m
When t =0, displacement = 90 cm = 0.90m
0.90
Hence, 0.90 = 2.5 sin (0 + α), i.e. sin α = = 0.36
2.5
Hence α = sin−1 0.36 = 21.10˚ = 0.368 rad
Thus, displacement = 2.5 sin (120πt +0.368)m
Exercise: The instantaneous value of voltage in an a.c. circuit at any time t seconds is given
by v=340 sin (50πt −0.541) volts.
Determine the:
a) amplitude, periodic time, frequency and phase angle (in degrees)
b) value of the voltage when t =0
c) value of the voltage when t =10 ms
d) time when the voltage first reaches 200V, and
e) time when the voltage is a maximum
f) Sketch one cycle of the waveform

Topic 7 - Trigonometry

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EEE501-ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS 2011

Trigonometric ratios of acute angles

a) With reference to the right-angled triangle shown in Figure above:

Secants, cosecants and cotangents are called

LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE Page 1

Fractional and surd forms

Problem. Using surd forms, evaluate:

3 tan 60° − 2 cos 30°

LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE Page 2

tan 60°−tan 30° 𝟏

Solution of right-angled triangles

LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE Page 3

Problem. Solve the triangle ABC shown in Figure below:

Exercise: Solve triangle ABC

LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE Page 4

LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE Page 5

LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE Page 6

Trigonometric identities and equations

Dividing each term of equation by c2 gives:

Problem 1. Prove the identity sin2 θ cot θ sec θ = sin θ

FNU | LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE 1

Problem 3. Show that: cos2 θ − sin2 θ =1−2 sin2 θ

FNU | LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE 2

Worked problems on trigonometric equations

5 sin θ +3=0, from which sin θ=−3/5=−0.6000

Hence θ =180˚ +36.87˚, i.e. 216.87˚ or θ =360˚ − 36.87˚, i.e. 323.13˚

Problem 5. Solve: 1.5 tan x −1.8=0 for 0◦ ≤x ≤360◦

Hence, x=50.19◦ or 180◦ +50.19◦ =230.19◦

Exercise: Solve: 4 sec t =5 for values of t between 0◦ and 360◦

Ans: t = 36.87◦ or 360◦ − 36.87◦ = 323.13◦

FNU | LECTURER: RAJEEV.K.PIYARE 3

Triangles and some practical applications

With reference to triangle ABC, the sine rule states:

The rule may be used only when:

With reference to triangle ABC above, the cosine rule states:

The rule may be used only when:

Area of any triangle

The area of any triangle such as ABC above is given by:

Hence A= cos−1 0.1795=79.66˚

Cartesian and Polar co-ordinates

Changing from Cartesian into polar co-ordinates

Problem 1. Change the Cartesian co-ordinates (3, 4) into polar co-ordinates.

Problem 2. Express in polar co-ordinates the position (−4, 3)

1. Express (−5, −12) in polar co-ordinates

2. Express (2, −5) in polar co-ordinates.

Changing from polar into Cartesian co-ordinates

From the right-angled triangle OPQ

Problem 3. Change (4, 32˚) into Cartesian co-ordinates.

Problem 4. Express (6, 137◦) in Cartesian co-ordinates

Exercise: Express (4.5, 5.16 rad) in Cartesian co-ordinates.

Angles of any magnitude

A) 42.78˚ and 137.22˚ B) 188.53˚ and 351.47˚

Sine and cosine curves - Graphs of sine and cosine waveforms

Table of values for y = sin A and y = sin 2A is shown below:

Periodic time and period

Problem. Sketch y=sin 3A between A=0˚ and A=360˚

Amplitude=1 and period=360◦/ 3=120◦

Problem. Sketch y =4 cos 2x form x =0˚ to x =360˚

Amplitude=4 and period=360◦/2=180◦

Lagging and leading angles

Problem. Sketch y = 5 sin (A+30˚) from A=0˚ to A=360˚

Amplitude = 5 and period=360˚/1=360˚.