Trigonometric Ratios of Special Angles

Do you remember the two special right triangles in geometry? In this lesson, you will use the
concepts you have learned in the previous lessons to evaluate the trigonometric ratios of special
angles.
The Two Special Right Triangles.

1. 45-45-90 Right Triangle REMEMBER!

In 45-45-90 Right Triangle:
 the legs are congruent;
2
 each leg is 2
times the hypotenuse; and
 the hypotenuse is 2 times each leg.

2. 30-60-90 Right Triangle In 30-60-90 Right Triangle:

 the length of the hypotenuse is twice the
length of the shorter leg; and
 the length of the longer leg is 3 times the
length of the shorter leg.

Example 1:
Find the length of the indicated side.
a.
where:
8 = leg
8 m = hypotenuse (the opposite side of the right angle)
m = leg ⋅ 2
45° m=8⋅ 2
45°
m=8 2
m

where:
b. 45° r = hypotenuse
r = leg ⋅ 2
r 3 2
r=3 2⋅ 2
r=6
45°

Note: In a 30-60-90 Right Triangle,

c.
 the side opposite of the 30° angle is always the
t 9 shorter leg while the side opposite of the 60°
angle is the longer leg.

60° 30°
s
 In here, we need to find first the length of t before solving for s since, hypotenuse = 2 shorter legs
 To find t, use the formula for the longer leg.
longer leg = 3 shorter leg
9=t 3 apply substitution
9 � 3
3
= 3
apply the division property of equality and do cancellation
9 3
t= 3
⋅ 3
since we can’t have radical as a denominator, we do rationalization by multiplying the
3
expression by 3
or 1. Applying this process doesn’t change the value of the expression.
9 3
t= 3
=3 3

 Find the length of s

s=2t
s=2⋅3 3=6 3
Activity 1: Practice Makes Perfect
Find the value of each variable used in the figures. If you answer is not an integer, express it in the
simplest radical form.

1. 2. 3.
45°
45° m

8 r y 60 45°
45°
3
45° e

30°
4. 5. 6.

c 2 3 a 10 9 3 o

60° 30° 60° 60°

r t f

7. 8.

4 3 n

7 2 s p i
45° 30° 60° 45°
e c a e
 THE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION OF SPECIAL ANGLES
In trigonometry, 30° , 45° , and 60 ° are called special angles. These angles are frequently
seen in applications and we can use Geometry to determine the values of the trigonometric
functions of these angles.
A. Finding the Trigonometric Ratios of 30° And 60°
Let ABC be an equilateral triangle where sides have length a. Draw �� perpendicular to �� , since
the triangles formed are congruent, D bisects the side ��.

A
a. Find the Length of �� which is the Longer Leg

Formula: longer leg = shorter leg times �

a a
� 3
�
�� = ⋅ 3
2 2
B C � 3
� D � �� =
a 2
� �
b. Find the trigonometric ratios of 30° c. Find the trigonometric ratios of 60°

If ∠ � is our reference angle: If ∠ � is our reference angle:

 �� is the opposite side; and  �� is the opposite side; and
 �� is the adjacent side.  �� is the adjacent side.

SOH – CAH – TOA ��

� 3
2 � 3 1 �
�� �
2 � 1 � sin 60° = = = ∙ =
sin 30° = ��
= �
= 2
∙ �
= �
�� � 2 � �

�� � � 1 �
2
� 3 cos 60° = ��
=
�
= 2
∙
�
=�
�� 2 � 3 1 �
cos 30° = ��
= �
= 2
∙ �
= �
� 3
�� 2 � 3 2
�� 2
� � 2 1 3 � tan 60° = = � = ∙� = �
tan 30° = ��
= � 3
= 2
∙ � 3
= 3
∙ 3
= �
�� 2 2
2

CHO – SHA – CAO

csc 30° = 2 2 3 � �
csc 60° = 3
∙ 3
= �
2 3 � �
sec 30° = 3
∙ 3
= � sec 60° = 2

3 3 1 3 �
cot 30° = 3
∙ 3
= � cot 60° = ∙ =
3 3 �

B. Finding the Trigonometric Ratios of 45°

A a. Find the Length of �� which is the Hypotenuse

45° Formula: hypotenuse = ��� �

a
�� = � 2

b. Find the Trigonometric Ratios of 45°

45°
C B
SOH – CAH – TOA CHO – SHA – CAO
a
� 1 2 � 2 2
Sin 45° = � 2
= 2
∙ 2
= �
csc 45° = 2
∙ 2
= �

� 1 2 � 2 2
Cos 45° = � 2
= 2
∙ 2
= �
sec 45° = 2
∙ 2
= �
�
Tan 45° = � = � cot 45° = 1
Activity 2: You Complete Me!

a. Complete the table below that summarizes the values of the trigonometric ratios of the
angles 30°, 45°, and 60°.

Trigonometric Ratios of Special Angles

� sin cos tan csc sec cot

30°

45°

60°

b. Complete the equations below. Try to do this without using calculator.

1. cos 30° + ____________ = 3

2. sin 30° - cos 60° = ____________

3. tan 60° (____________) = 1

4. (sin 30°) (tan 45°) + (tan 30°) (sin 60°) = ____________

5. sin 45° (tan 45° - cos 60°) = ____________

Great Job! In this lesson, you have learned how to evaluate the trigonometric ratios
of special angles. You are now ready to apply your understanding of the lesson to
real-life situations.

REMEMBER!

In 45-45-90 Right Triangle:

 the legs are congruent;
 each leg is √2/2 times the hypotenuse; and
 the hypotenuse is √2 times each leg.

In 30-60-90 Right Triangle:

 the length of the hypotenuse is twice the length of the shorter leg; and
 the length of the longer leg is √3 times the length of the shorter leg.