CAMBRIDGE SECONDARY 3

MODERNLAND

SINE, COSINE & TANGENT TRIGONOMETRY

Understanding the tangent, cosine and sine ratios
• The hypotenuse is the longest side of a right-angled triangle.
• The opposite side is the side opposite a specified angle.
• The adjacent side is the side that forms a specified angle with the hypotenuse.
the opposite side
• The tangent ratio is
the adjacent side
of a specified angle.
opp(θ ) opp(θ )
tanθ = , opp(θ ) = adj(θ ) × tanθ , adj(θ ) =
adj(θ ) tanθ
the opposite side
• The sine ratio is
the hypotenuse
of a specified angle.
opp(θ ) opp(θ ) hypotenuse
sinθ = , opp(θ ) = hyp × sinθ , hyp = opposite side
hyp sinθ
the adjacent side
• The cosine ratio is
the hypotenuse
of a specified angle. θ
adjacent side
adj(θ ) adj(θ )
cosθ = , adj(θ ) = hyp × cosθ , hyp =
hyp cosθ

Exercise 15.3
1 Copy and complete the following table:
a b c d
B q A
x y e g
c
a
z r
A f p
A b C A

hypotenuse
opp(A)
adj(A)

2 Copy and complete the statement(s) alongside each triangle.

Remember, when working with
right-angled triangles you may a opp(30°) =
60°
still need to use Pythagoras. adj(60°) =
= y cm
x cm

30°
y cm
b p cm (40°) = q cm
50° (50°) = q cm
= p cm

q cm

40°
 3 Calculate the value of the following tangent ratios, using your calculator. Give your answers
The memory aid,
to two decimal places where necessary.
SOHCAHTOA, or the triangle
diagrams a tan 33° b tan 55° c tan 79°
O A O d tan 22.5° e tan 0°
S H C H T A
4 Copy and complete the statements for each of the following triangles, giving your answer as a
may help you remember the
fraction in its lowest terms where necessary:
trigonometric relationships.
a b c
B y A
55° B
1.2 cm x
3 cm x d cm 1 cm
1.8 cm
C A C
4 cm
tan A = tan x = tan 55° =
tan y = x=
tan B =
d e
Z 5m X A
1.5 cm
12 m
y C 2.5 cm B

Y
tan y = AC =
angle X = tan B =
tan X = tan C =

5 Calculate the unknown length (to two decimal places) in each case presented below.
a b c
B ym A
Z X
37° c cm
3 cm 72 m 15°
B
65°
C x cm A Y 2.5 cm
C
d e
B am C A
55° B

13 m 25 cm x cm
45°
C
A