Trigonometric

Function
SOH-CAH-TOA
Solving for the measure of the missing angle.
•
 Example1: Solve the measure of angle A
Step 1: Identify the Opposite Side and the Adjacent Side
hy
po
te Take note: always use the angle given as basis to identify
12 nu
se the opposite side.
Op
pos Since we already have the hypotenuse and the opposite
ite
side, then the last side is the adjacent.
A
10 Step 2: Identify which trigonometric function to use
Step 3: Since the given are opposite and adjacent, let’s
look back to the trigonometric functions. Which one uses
opposite and adjacent?
 Example1: Solve the measure of angle A

12
Op
pos Among the trig functions, only tangent uses
ite
opposite and adjacent
A
10
Adjacent
But this is not the final answer since we are
solving for the measure of angle A.
 Example1: Solve the measure of angle A

12 To get the measure of angle A, we need to use our calculators

Op In our calculators, we press the shift button, and then press tan
pos
ite

A
10
Adjacent

The answer would be 50.19442891. Let us round it off to

the nearest whole number.
 Example1: Solve the measure of angle A
50.19442891 rounded of to the nearest whole
number is 50
12
Op
pos
ite

A
10
Adjacent
Example2 Step 1: Identify the Opposite side and Adjacent Side

Step 2: Identify which trigonometric function to use

sit
e B
po
op

Step 3: In your calculator press shift then sin

9

6
Step 4: round off to the nearest whole number.
Solving for the measure of the missing side.
•
Example1: find the measure of x
Step 1: Identify the Opposite side and Adjacent Side
Step 2: Identify which trigonometric function to use

x Opp
osite
We are solving for the opposite side, and the other given
is the adjacent side, which means we need to use
tangent.
10
Example2: find the measure of y
Step 1: Identify the Opposite side and Adjacent Side
y Step 2: Identify which trigonometric function to use

op
po
sit
e
We are solving for the adjacent side, and the other given
15 is the hypotenuse, which means we need to use cosine.