Trigonometry is the study of triangles, which
contain angles.
Formulas to Help You in Trigonometry
Special Right Triangles
Every right triangle has the property that the sum of the
squares of the two legs is equal to the square of the
hypotenuse (the longest side). The Pythagorean theorem
is written: a² + b² = c². . When you have a 30-60-90 right
triangle, the measure of the hypotenuse is always twice
the measure of the shortest side, and the other leg is
always √ 3or about 1.7 times as big as the shortest side.
With the isosceles right triangle, the two legs measure
the same, and the hypotenuse is always √ 2 or about 1.4
times as long as those two legs.
Right Triangle Definitions for Trigonometry
Functions
The basic trig functions can be defined with ratios
created by dividing the lengths of the sides of a right
triangle in a specific order. The label hypotenuse always
remains the same — it’s the longest side. But the
designations of opposite and adjacent can change —
depending on which angle you’re referring to at the time.
The opposite side is always that side that doesn’t help
make up the angle, and the adjacent side is always one of
the sides of the angle.
Degree/Radian Equivalences for Selected Angles
As you study trigonometry, you’ll find occasions when
you need to change degrees to radians, or vice versa. A
formula for changing from degrees to radians or radians
to degrees is:
The formula works for any angle, but the most
commonly used angles and their equivalences are shown
below.
θ° θR
=
180° π
Plane Geometry is the building blocks of
Geometry. It is about flat shapes like lines, circles
and triangles ... shapes that can be drawn on a piece
of paper.
Here are some definitions you will need to remember.
Point – names an exact location on a plane.
Line – a collection of points forming a straight path that
extends infinitely in opposite directions.
Plane – a perfectly flat surface that extends forever in all
directions.
Segment – part of a line between two endpoints.
Ray – part of a line that starts at one endpoint and
extends forever in one direction.
Angle – formed by 2 rays with a common endpoint
called a vertex. Pleural of vertex is vertices.
Congruent - figures that have the same size and shape.
Segments that have the same length are congruent.
Angles that have the same measure are congruent.
The symbol for congruence is ≅ , which is read “
congruent to”.
Types of angles
Acute angle - any angle which measures less than 90°
Right angle - any angle which measures exactly 90°
Obtuse angle - any angle which measures >90°, but
<180°
Straight angle - any angle which measures exactly 180°
There are also some special relationships between
pairs of angles
Adjacent angles – 2 angles which share a vertex, share a
side but do not overlap.
Angle 1 and angle 2 are adjacent angles.
Angle 1 and angle ABC are not adjacent
Vertical angles – 2 angles formed by intersecting lines.
They can not be adjacent, and they are always equal in
measure. They are across from one another.
Angle 1 and angle 3 are vertical angles.
Angle 2 and angle 4 are vertical angles.
Angle 1 and angle 2 are not vertical.
Complementary angles – 2 angles whose measures add
up to 90°. Complementary angles can be placed so that
they form perpendicular lines.
Angle 1 and angle 2 are complementary.
Angle XYZ and angle 1 are not complementary.
Line segment XY is perpendicular to line segment YZ
Supplementary angles – 2 angles whose measures add
up to 180°. Supplementary angles can be placed so that
they form a straight line.
Angle 1 and angle 2 are supplementary.
The line passing through points A, B, and C is a straight
line.
Parallel lines and angles
Angles formed by parallel lines and transversals (lines
intersecting parallel lines), have a very interesting
relationship.
The most important angles needed for most math
applications are called alternate interior angles, alternate
exterior angles and corresponding angles.
Transversal – a line that intersects 2 or more lines.
Corresponding angles – angles formed by a transversal
that are in the same relative position.
Alternate interior angles –a pair of angles on the inner
sides of two lines cut by a transversal and are on
opposite sides of the transversal.
Alternate exterior angles – a pair of angles on the outer
sides of two lines cut by a transversal and are on
opposite sides of the transversal.
Adjacent angles – angles that share a common vertex
and a side.
 180°. (Adjacent angles share a vertex, share a side, and
do not overlap.)

Certain angle “names” describe “where” the angles are

located.
Alternate interior angles are between the parallel lines.
Alternate interior angles are congruent (equal)!

Interior Angles
Sum of Interior Angles = (n−2) × 180°
Each Angle (of a Regular Polygon) = (n−2) × 180° / n

What about a Regular Decagon (10 sides) ?

Sum of Interior Angles

= (n−2) × 180°

= (10−2) × 180°
Alternate exterior angles can be easily found because
their “name” describes “where” they are. = 8 × 180°
Alternate exterior angles are outside the parallel lines.
Alternate exterior angles are congruent (equal)!
= 1440°

And for a Regular Decagon:

Each interior angle = 1440°/10 = 144°

Triangle Inequality Theorem

The sum of the lengths of any two sides of a triangle is
greater than the length of the third side.

In the figure, the following inequalities hold.

Corresponding angles are on the same side of the a+b>c

transversal, one is interior and the other is exterior and a+c>b
they are not adjacent (they don’t touch). b+c>a
Corresponding angles are congruent (equal)!
Example :
Check whether it is possible to have a triangle with the
given side lengths.
7,9,13
Add any two sides and see if it is greater than the other
side.
The sum of 7 and 9 is 16 and 16 is greater than 13.
The sum of 9 and 13 is 21 and 21 is greater than 7.
The sum of 7 and 13 is 20 and 20 is greater than 9.
This set of side lengths satisfies the Triangle Inequality
Adjacent angles create a straight angle or line. Theorem.
Since a straight angle is 180°, adjacent angles add up to These lengths do form a triangle.
 a Surface = 6a²

Cube
Volume = a³