THE SIX

TRIGONOMETRIC
RATIOS
What is trigonometry?

Trigonometry is
thought to have had its
origin in ancient Egypt
and Mesopotamia.
 The ancient Egyptians,
Babylonians and Greeks
developed trigonometry to
find the lengths of the
sides of triangles and
measures of their angles.
 It was Hipparchus, a Greek
mathematician, who
introduced trigonometry as
gleaned from ancient tablets
and tables which reflected
work on the ratios of
trigonometry.
Trigonometry is derived
from the Greek words
trigonon means triangle
and metron means
measure.
 Trigonometry
means
measurement of
triangles
 It was used in ancient
times in surveying,
navigation, and astronomy
to find relationships
between the lengths of the
sides of a triangle and
measurement of angles.
What are trigonometric ratios?
Trigonometric ratios are
relations existing between
the sides and angles of a
right triangle that are
expressed in the form of
ratios.
 The six trigonometric ratios are
1. sine (sin)
2. cosine (cos)
3. tangent (tan)
4. secant (sec)
5. cosecant (csc)
6. cotangent (cot)
 In a right triangle, we can
define the six trigonometric
ratios. Consider the right
triangle ABC below. In this
triangle we let θ represent
∠B or will be used to
represent the reference
angle in the right triangle.
Then the leg denoted by a is
the side adjacent to θ, and
the leg denoted by b is the
side opposite to θ.
Opposite refers to
the side of the
triangle that is
opposite of the
reference angle.
Adjacent refers to the side
of the triangle that is
adjacent to the reference
angle (the adjacent side
will always form one side
of the reference angle).
 The hypotenuse is
the side of the
triangle that is
always opposite the
right angle.
Name Sine
Abbreviation Sin
Ratio
sin 𝜃 =
Name Cosine
Abbreviation cos
Ratio
Cos 𝜃 =
Name Tangent
Abbreviation tan
Ratio
tan 𝜃 =
Name Cosecant
Abbreviation csc
Ratio
csc𝜃 =
Name secant
Abbreviation sec
Ratio
sec 𝜃 =
Name cotangent
Abbreviation cot
Ratio
cot 𝜃 =
Mnemonic for
Sine
Cosine
Tangent
SOH CAH TOA
These six ratios represent all
the ways to compare two
sides of a right triangle.
Notice that cosecant is the
reciprocal of sine, secant is
the reciprocal of cosine, and
cotangent is the reciprocal of
tangent.
 The hypotenuse will
never vary on its location
however, the opposite
and adjacent side will be
determined by the
reference angle.
Find all 6 trigonometric ratios
for angle A and B.
Find the missing part
TRIGONOMETRIC
RATIOS OF
SPECIAL
ANGLES
The trigonometric ratios for some specific
angles such as 30°, 45°, and 60° are given
below, which are commonly used in
mathematical calculations.
Determine the exact value of:

1. sin 30° + cos 60°

2. csc 30° + cos 45°
2 2