UNIT III.

SOLUTIONS OF RIGHT TRIANGLES

Overview: This unit discusses the different practical applications of the trigonometric functions to
the solution of right triangles.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the unit, I must be able to:

1. solve the unknown parts of a right triangle;
2. solve problems involving indirect measurements of triangles;
3. define, illustrate and solve problems dealing with angles of elevation and depression.
Lesson Proper

Solution of right triangles

To solve a right triangle means to determine all its parts. The solution is possible only if a
minimum of three parts of the triangle are known. If the problem requires the determination of the
sides, it is sometimes required to “find the sides” and if the angles are unknown, it is usually required
to “find the angles”.

Right Triangle obtained from angle of elevation and angle of depression

The angle of elevation is the angle formed between the horizontal line and the imaginary line of sight
which is above the horizontal line.

The angle of depression is the angle formed between the horizontal line and the imaginary line of
sight which is below the horizontal line.

Illustration: Horizontal Line

Angle of depression

Line of sight Line of sight

Angle of Elevation
Horizontal Line

Pattern in Solving Triangle Problems:

1. Read the problem carefully and analyze what is to be done.

2. Sketch the triangle that is described in the problem.
3. Assign values for the known and unknown quantities.
4. Express the desired side or angle in terms of unknown trigonometric retios.
5. Solve the problem.
Illustrative Problems:
1. Find the legs of the right triangle shown.
Solution:

65 a

35o

From the figure shown:

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒
sin 𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
𝑎
then: sin35𝑜 =
65

a = (65) (sin35𝑜 )
a = (65)(0.5736)
a = 37.28 units
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒
Also, cos 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
𝑏
cos35𝑜 =65
b = (65) (cos35𝑜 )
b = (65)(0.8192)
b = 53.25 units

2. In the right triangle ABC shown below, the side opposite 600 is 12. Find the hypotenuse and
the other leg.
B
Solution:

c a = 12

600
A C
from sine function, b

12 √3
sin 600 = 𝑐
since sin 600 = 2
,

√3 12
then 2
= 𝑐
 12
Solving for c, c = sin 600
12 12(2)
c= √3
= = 13.856
√3
2

using the tangent function,

12
tan 600 = 𝑏 but tan 600 = √3
12 12
b= =
tan 600 √3
b = 6.928
3. A ladder leans against the side of a building with its foot 4 ft from the base of the building.
The ladder makes an angle of 600 with the base . How far from the ground is the top of the
ladder? How long is the ladder?
Figure:

Ladder, l building, h

base
600
0

base, 4 ft
Solution:
ℎ
Using tangent function, tan 600 = tan 600 = √3
4
ℎ
√3 = 4
Solving for h, h = 4√3
4 1
From the cosine function, cos 600 = l ; cos 600 = 2
1 4
2
=l
l = 8 ft. ; length of ladder

4. A cadet standing 100 ft from the base of a flagpole in Luneta observes that the angle of
elevation of the top of the pole is 15°. Find the height of the flagpole.
Figure:

h, height of flagpole

150

Base of flagpole, b = 100

Let h be the height of the flagpole. Using the tangent function,

 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan θ = 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
ℎ
tan θ = 100

h = 100 (tan 15°)

h = 26.79ft (height of the flagpole)

5. Joshua who is 1.7m tall cast a shadow 2.5m long on the ground. What is the elevation of the
sun?
Figure:

Let 𝜃 be the angle of elevation of the sun

1.7
tan 𝜃 = ; 𝜃 = 34.21O
2.5

6. A car is seen from a window of a building 50m from the ground. If the car is 20 m from the
building, what is the angle of depression of the car from the building?

50m

car𝜃
20m
Solution:
Using the tangent function
50𝑚
Tan 𝜃 = 20𝑚
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 2.5

𝜃 = 68.20o
Assessing Learning

Activity 3

Name: ____________________________________ Score________

Year & Section: _________________________ Date: ________

Solve the right triangles below given the following conditions. Sketch the figure.
A. 1. a=2 .c=3

2. a = 12, < 𝐴 = 48o24’

3. b = 14 , < 𝐵 = 24o 15’

4. a = 7 , b= 15
B. Solve the word problems below.

1. A tree broken, down by strong winds, makes a right triangle with the ground. Its topmost
part makes an angle of 35o with the ground at a point 15 feet from its foot. How high above
the foot of the tree is the break? How high was the tree before it was hit by the wind?

2. From a point on the ground, the angle of elevation of the top of a pine tree is 36 o. Twenty
five feet nearer the tree, the angle of elevation is 70o. Find the height of the pine tree?

3. A plane takes off on a runway that is 500 ft horizontal distance from a building 115 ft high.
What must be the minimum take-off angle of elevation of the plane to assure that it will
not hit the building if it flies in a straight line?

4. A submarine at a depth of 27m receives sonar reflections from a ship on the water surface.
The reflections are released 30o from the horizontal. How far is the ship from the
submarine?

5. From the top of a rest house 20m above sea level, a boy is observed swimming in a nearby
pool at an angle of depression of 35o. How far is the boy from the point of observation?

6. A flagpole is in front of a classroom. The angle of elevation of the top of the pole as seen
from the window of an adjacent classroom is 30o and the angle of depression of the
flagpole’s base is 45o. If the distance between the window and the flagpole is 10m, how
high is the flagpole?
UNIT IV. TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES
Overview: This unit discusses the fundamental trigonometric identities which are often used in more
advanced mathematics and in practical applications.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the unit, I must be able to:

1. derive the fundamental trigonometric identities: ratio, reciprocal and Pythagorean

identities;
2. simplify trigonometric expressions in terms of another functions; and
3. prove trigonometric identities.
Lesson Proper

Fundamental Identities

An identity is an equation that is true for all acceptable replacements for the variable. To
prove that a certain equality is an identity, a good and considerable mastery of the basis identities is
required.

Proving and Simplifying Identities

By using the fundamental identities, (reciprocal, ratio, Pythagorean identities), many other
identities that involve circular functions may be obtained. In doing so, we have to work with each
side of the equation separately and this can be done in the following possible ways:

1. Transform either the left or right side of the equation into exactly the form of the other
side.
2. Transform both sides of the equation separately until they are exactly of the same form.
From the discussion in Unit II, for a unit circle whose radius is 1,
𝑦 𝑟
sin 𝜃 = 𝑟
csc 𝜃 = 𝑦

𝑥 𝑟
cos 𝜃 = 𝑟
sec 𝜃 = 𝑥

𝑦 𝑥
tan 𝜃 = 𝑥
cot 𝜃 = 𝑦

a. Reciprocal Identities. (from discussion in Unit II, one function can be expressed as a
reciprocal of another function)
1 1
sin 𝜃 = csc𝜃 =
𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

1 1
cos 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜃
sec 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

1 1
tan 𝜃 = cot 𝜃 =
𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝜃 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃
 b. Pythagorean Identities ( also called squared identities derived from the equation of the
unit circle.)
from x + y2 = 1 and
2 x = cos 𝜃 y = sin 𝜃, then

cos2 𝜃 + sin2 𝜃 = 1; or Eq. 1

sin2 𝜃 = 1 - cos2 𝜃 and

cos2 𝜃 = 1 - sin2 𝜃

dividing the terms of eq. 1 by sin2 𝜃, the equation becomes

cot2𝜃 + 1 = csc2𝜃 or Eq. 2

cot2𝜃 = csc2𝜃 -1

dividing the terms of eq. 1 by cos2 𝜃, the equation becomes

1 + tan2𝜃 = sec2 𝜃 or Eq. 3

tan2𝜃 = sec2 𝜃 - 1

c. Ratio Identities
𝑦
tan 𝜃 = 𝑥 if x = cos 𝜃 and y = sin 𝜃 then

sin 𝜃
tan 𝜃 = cos 𝜃 and similarly,

cos 𝜃
cot 𝜃 = sin 𝜃

Examples: Using the fundamental identities, simplify into a single function only.
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
1. Find the equivalent single function of 𝐶𝑠𝑐𝜃 . tan 𝜃

Solution
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 1 sin 𝜃
𝐶𝑠𝑐𝜃 . tan 𝜃 = sin 𝜃 . sin 𝜃
cos 𝜃

1 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃
= sin 𝜃 . sin 𝜃
, cancelling sin𝜃 in the numerator and
Denominator

cos 𝜃
= sin 𝜃

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝐶𝑠𝑐𝜃 . tan 𝜃 = cot 𝜃

1+𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝜃
2. Find the equivalent single function of
csc 𝜃
Solution:
From the Pythagorean trigonometric identity ,

1 + cot 2 θ = csc 2 θ

1+cot2θ csc2θ
csc θ
= csc θ

1+cot2θ csc θ csc θ

csc θ
= csc θ

1+cot2θ
csc θ
= csc 𝜃

3. Prove the identity : cot 2 θ − cos2 θ = cot 2 θ cos2 θ

In this problem, it is easier to transform the right side of the equation into the form of the left
side, therefore

cos2θ
cot 2 θ − cos2 θ = - cos2 θ
sin2θ

cos2 θ− sin2 θ (cos2 θ)

cot 2 θ − cos2 θ = sin2 θ

cos2θ cos2 θcos2 θ

cot 2 θ − cos2 θ = -
sin2θ sin2 θ

cot 2 θ − cos2 θ = cot 2 θ − cos2

4. Prove the identity :( sin 𝜃 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)2 + 2 sin 𝜃 = 1

The left side of the equation is easier to transform.

( sinθ − cosθ)2 + 2 sin θ = 1

sin2 θ − 2 sin θ cos θ + cos2 θ + 2 sin θ cos θ = 1
sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1 ( From Pythagorean trigonometric identity)
sin2 θ + cos2 θ=1
1=1
Assessing Learning

Activity 4

Name: ____________________________________ Score________

Year & Section: ________________________ Date: ________

I. Express the following in terms of a single function only.

1a. Sec 𝜃 sin 𝜃 1b.sin𝜃 cot 𝜃

𝑆𝑒𝑐 𝜃
2a. tan 𝜃
2b.tan𝜃 csc 𝜃

𝐶𝑠𝑐 𝜃 𝐶𝑠𝑐 𝜃
3a. 3b.
𝐶𝑜𝑡 𝜃 𝑆𝑒𝑐 𝜃

tan 𝜃
4a. 𝐶𝑜𝑡 𝜃 4b. Sec 𝜃 Cot 𝜃

𝑡𝑎𝑛2𝜃 √1+𝐶𝑜𝑡 2 𝜃
5a. 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝜃 5b. 1−𝐶𝑜𝑠2 𝜃
II. Prove the following Identities.
1−cos 𝜃 sin 𝜃
1. sin 𝜃
- 1+ cos 𝜃 = 0

(1−cos 𝜃) ( 1+cos 𝜃
2. = sin 𝜃
sin 𝜃

cot 𝜃 cos 𝜃
3. - = csc𝜃 – 1
sec 𝜃 sec 𝜃+tan 𝜃

𝑡𝑎𝑛2𝜃
4. 1 + 1+sec 𝜃 = sec 𝜃