CHAPTER 2

Sine Function Definition

In trigonometry, the sine function can be defined as the ratio of the length of the
opposite side to that of the hypotenuse in a right-angled triangle. The sine function is
used to find the unknown angle or sides of a right triangle.

For any right triangle, say ABC, with an angle α, the sine function will be:

Sin α= Opposite/ Hypotenuse

Sine Function Formula

In a right-angled triangle, the sine of an angle is equal to the ratio of side opposite to the
angle (also called perpendicular) and hypotenuse.

Suppose, ‘α’ is the angle, in a right triangle ABC.

Then, the sine formula is given by:

Sin α= Opposite side/ Hypotenuse

or

Sin α = Perpendicular/Hypotenuse

As per the given figure, the sine formula becomes,

Sin α = a/h
where ‘a’ is the opposite side to angle ‘α’ and ‘h’ is the hypotenuse.

Properties of Sine function as per Quadrants

The sine function has values positive or negative depending upon the quadrants. In the
above table, it is seen that sine 270 is negative while sine 90 is positive. For the sine
function, the value depends upon the quadrants and is positive for the first and second
quadrants while it is negative for values in the third and fourth quadrants.