Introduction to

Trigonometry

Basic Trigonometric
Functions
 What is Trigonometry?

 The study of triangles

 Relationship between sides
and angles of a right triangle
› What is a right triangle?
A triangle with a 90⁰ angle

90°
 Review Right Triangles
 In relation to angle a, the sides of
the triangle are:
a
• hypotenuse - always longest side
hy and side across from right angle
po
t en (90⁰)
us
adjacent

e • adjacent - side closest to

angle a
• opposite - side opposite to
angle a

90⁰

opposite
 Review Right Triangles

Label the sides for angle

b:
• hypotenuse se
t?en
u

opposite
p o
• adjacent hy
?
• opposite

90°
b

?
adjacent
 Trigonometric Functions
Ratios of the sides in relation
to angle a:
 sine
a  cosine
hy
po
ten  tangent
us
e
adjacent

90°

opposite
 Trigonometric Functions:
SINE
abbreviation: sin
sin(a)= opposite
a hypotenuse
hy
› 0 ≤ sin ≤ 1
po
ten
us  Example: sin(60°)=
√3 = ~.866
e 2
adjacent

 Ratio of opposite side to hypotenuse

for 60° angle is to 2 (.866 to 1)
90°

opposite
 Trigonometric Functions:
COSINE
abbreviation: cos
adjacent
cos(a)=
a hypotenuse
hy
po › 0 ≤ cos ≤ 1
ten
us  Example: cos(60°)= 1= .5
e 2
adjacent

 Ratio of adjacent side to

hypotenuse for 60° angle is 1 to 2
90° (half)

opposite
 Trigonometric Functions:
TANGENT
abbreviation: tan
tan(a)=
opposite
a adjacent
hy
po
ten
› 0 ≤ tan ≤ ∞
us  Example: tan(60°)= = ~1.732
e
adjacent

 Ratio of opposite side to adjacent

side for 60° angle is to 1 (1.732 to 1)

90°

opposite
 Trigonometric Functions:
REMEMBER:SOH – CAH – TOA
Opposite
Sine =
Hypotenuse
a
hy
po Adjacent
ten Cosine = Hypotenuse
us
e
adjacent

Opposite
Tangent =
Adjacent
90°

opposite
 Using
Trigonometric Functions:
For any right triangle:
 calculate other sides if one
side and angle known
 calculate angle if two sides
known

90°
 Calculating Sides:
One Side and Angle Known
What is known?
• angle (50°) and adjacent side (2)
Solving for hypotenuse:
50° hy
po Which function uses
ten
adjacent
us and hypotenuse?
2 e
COSIN
90°
E

opposite
 Calculating Sides:
One Side and Angle Known
What is known?
• angle (50°) and adjacent side (2)
Solving for hypotenuse:
50° hy
p3o cos(50°)= 2
.t1e1n = ~0.643
1us hypotenuse
2 e
hypotenuse = ~3.111

90°

opposite
 Calculating Sides:
One Side and Angle Known
Now we know:
• angle (50°) and hypotenuse (3.111)
Solving for opposite:
50°
3.1
Which function uses
11 and hypotenuse?
opposite
2
SINE
90°

opposite
 Calculating Sides:
One Side and Angle Known
Now we know:
• angle (50°) and hypotenuse (3.111)
Solving for opposite:
50°
opposite
3.1 sin(50°)= = ~.766
11 3.111
2 opposite = ~2.384

90°

2.384
opposite
 Calculating Angle:
Two Sides Known
What is known?
• adjacent (3) and opposite (5)
Solving for angle (a):
a
hy Which function uses adjacent
po
andtenopposite?
us
3 e
TANGEN
90°
T

5
 Calculating Angle:
Two Sides Known
What is known?
• adjacent (3) and opposite (3)
Solving for angle (a):
a
30.964° hy 3
po
ten tan(a)= = .6
us 5
5 e
* need to use inverse tan
→ tan-1(.6) = a = ~30.964°
90°