LESSON 4:

Solving Right
Triangles
hypotenuse
opposite

adjacent
 adjacent

opposite

hypotenuse
adjacent

hypotenuse
opposite
hypotenuse
adjacent

opposite
State two equations, using reciprocal functions, that could be
used to find x or

adjacent CAH
𝑎𝑑𝑗
cos 𝜃=
h𝑦𝑝

12 13
cos 𝜃= sec 𝜃=
13 12
hypotenuse
State two equations, using reciprocal functions, that could be
used to find x or

adjacent TOA
𝑜𝑝𝑝
opposite tan 𝜃=
𝑎𝑑𝑗

4 13
tan 𝜃= cot 𝜃=
13 4
State two equations, using reciprocal functions, that could be
used to find x or

CAH
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
hypotenuse cos 𝜃=
h𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
adjacent
11 𝑥
cos 37 °= sec 37 ° =
𝑥 11
State two equations, using reciprocal functions, that could be
used to find x or

TOA
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan 𝜃=
opposite 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝑥 13
tan 32 °= cot 32 °=
adjacent 13 𝑥
State two equations, using reciprocal functions, that could be
used to find x or

SOH
hypotenuse 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
sin 𝜃=
h𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒

10.8 𝑥
sin 57 ° = csc 57 °=
opposite 𝑥 10.8
adjacent

opposite

hypotenuse
A scientific calculator is an invaluable tool when you
wish to find the values of trigonometric functions of an
angle such as that is not an integral multiple of a
special angle.

A scientific calculator has at least two modes. Make sure

that it is in degree mode when you are asked to find the
values of the trigonometric functions of angles expressed
in degrees, and in radian mode when you must find the
values of the trigonometric functions of angles expressed
in radians.
EXAMPLE 1
Find the value. Round to four decimal places.
a.
SOLUTION: Place your calculator in degree
mode.
Enter (
( to four decimal places )
b.
SOLUTION: Change to decimal degrees, unless
your calculator accepts angle measure given in
degrees and minutes. Use the tan key.

(to four decimal places )

c.
SOLUTION: Place your calculator in radian mode.
use keys to get 0.3490658504
Enter (
( to four decimal places )
In example 1, is not exactly equal to . The exact values of are not
given either. Most of the values of the trigonometric functions are
irrational numbers and cannot be written exactly as decimals.
Nevertheless, it is customary to use the equal sign in example of this
type. From the values of the trigonometric functions should be
rounded to four decimal places, unless otherwise indicated.

When you use a calculator to find the values of the cosecant, secant,
and cotangent functions, remember that are the reciprocal functions of
respectively. Therefore, use the reciprocal key, which is usually
labelled .
EXAMPLE 2
Find
SOLUTION: Make sure that your calculator is in degree
mode.

Enter ,
then Enter to get
( to four decimal places )
The angles in the first two examples are all acute. You can
also use a calculator to find the values of the trigonometric
functions of angles whose measures are greater than . If you
make entries correctly, the calculator will give the correct
signs for the values of the trigonometric functions of these
angles. However, you should check the results against your
knowledge of the signs of the various functions in each
quadrant.
EXAMPLE 3
Find each value:
a.
SOLUTION: Make sure that your calculator is in degree
mode.
Enter
( to four decimal places )
 Check that the sign is correct: , so the terminal side of is in
quadrant IV where sine is negative.
b.
SOLUTION: Make sure that your calculator is in radian
mode.
Enter
( to four decimal places )
 Check that the sign is correct: is coterminal with , whose
terminal side is in quadrant III where tangent is positive.
ACTIVITY 1
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

sin 24.8 ¿° 𝟎 .𝟒𝟏𝟗𝟓

Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

cos ( − 101.7 °¿) −𝟎 . 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖

Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

tan 12 ° 18 ′ 0.2180
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

13 𝜋
sec ¿ −𝟏 . 𝟎𝟑𝟓𝟑
12

195 °
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

17 𝜋
csc ¿ −𝟏 . 𝟎𝟑𝟓𝟑
12

2 55 °
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

cot − (
2𝜋
5
¿ −0.3249 )
−72°
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

cos ( − 111.8 ° )
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

cos 311.55 °
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

tan 610.7 °¿ 𝟐 .𝟖𝟓𝟓𝟔

Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

sin 511.1 °¿ 𝟎 .𝟒𝟖𝟑𝟑

Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

tan ( − 200.8 ° ) ¿ −𝟎 . 𝟑𝟕𝟗𝟗

Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

csc 321.2°.5959
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

sec 315.6 °¿ 𝟏 .𝟑𝟗𝟗𝟔

Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

3𝜋
sin
7
¿𝟎.𝟗𝟕𝟒𝟗
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

9𝜋
tan
8
¿ 𝟎 .𝟒𝟏𝟒𝟐
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

25 𝜋
csc
8
¿ −𝟐 . 𝟔𝟏𝟑𝟏
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

cot ( −77 ° 16 ′ ) ¿ −𝟎 . 𝟐𝟐𝟔𝟎

Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

csc − (
3𝜋
7
¿ −𝟏 . )
𝟎𝟐𝟓𝟕
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

sec − (
7𝜋
4
.4142 )
Find each value. Round to four decimal places.

cot − (
6𝜋
5
¿ −𝟏 . )
𝟑𝟕𝟔𝟒
If you know the value of a trigonometric function of an
angle, a calculator will give you the measure of one angle
with that value. You must then use your knowledge of the
signs of the various trigonometric functions in each
quadrant to decide whether there is a second angle that has
the same value.
Finding the measure of an angle with a known sine and
finding the sine of an angle of known measure are inverse
operations. Therefore, you will probably have to use the
inverse key ( usually labelled ) as shown in example 4.
EXAMPLE 4
Find the measure of each angle , where , to the nearest tenth of one degree.
a.
SOLUTION: Make sure your calculator is in degree mode.

Enter ( shift , sin , 0.5358 , = ) to get this.

to the nearest tenth
 Since is positive, there is also an angle in quadrant II whose sine is and whose reference
angle is

 Check to show that

 
The solutions are
b.
SOLUTION: Make sure your calculator is in degree mode.

Enter ( to get this.

to the nearest tenth
 Since is negative, there is also an angle in quadrant III whose cosine is and whose
reference angle is the same as that of
 
Reference angle for
A angle has reference angle
 
 Check to show that ( A calculator gives as to four decimal places. The discrepancy is
due to the fact that was rounded to
 
The solutions are
c.
SOLUTION: Make sure your calculator is in degree mode.

 
Enter ( )
to the nearest tenth
 
 Since , angle cannot be negative. Find a positive angle coterminal with
 

 
 Since is negative, there is also an angle in quadrant II whose cotangent is and whose reference angle is the same as that of
 
reference angle for
A angle also has reference angle
 
 Check to show that is approximately equal to (The calculator gives . The discrepancy is due to the rounding procedures used.)
The solutions are