Trigonometric

Ratios and
Acute Angle
OBJECTIVES:
•This section aims to:
1.illustrate the six trigonometric functions;
2.find the trigonometric ratios of special
angles; and
3.use trigonometric ratios to solve real-life
problems involving right triangles.
Trigonometry
The word trigonometry is derived from the Greek words “trigonon” and
“metron” which means “three-angle measurement”, that is “triangle measurement”.
Like algebra and geometry, trigonometry had a small growth. The first known
approach in the study of trigonometry appeared in the Rhind Papyrus which was written
about 2000 B.C.
About 180 B.C., a Mathematician from Alexandria named Hypsicles used chord
functions of angles in doing computations. Many writers believed he learned this from
Babylonians.
The introduction of Trigonometry as a science was credited to Hipparchus (born
about 160 B.C.). At about 140 B.C., he prepared a table of chords. The first
trigonometric table was compiled by Hipparchus. Hipparchus was considered as the
“Father of Trigonometry”.
Trigonometric Ratio
A trigonometric ratio is the ratio of the lengths of two sides of right triangle.
The Six Trigonometric Ratios
1) SOH
2) CAH
3) TOA
4) CHO
5) SHA
6) CAO
 1
√3
1 1
√2 √2
Solving a Right Triangle

If we are ask to solve a triangle, it means we need to find all the missing
values of angles and sides. We can solve a right triangle when we are given any
of the following:
1) An acute angle and one leg (adjacent, opposite, or hypotenuse)
2) Two sides (two legs or one leg and the hypotenuse)

Below are the steps which are useful in solving right triangles.
3) Draw a right triangle.
4) Label the sides and the vertices of the right triangle.
5) Enter the given data in the figure.
6) Use the appropriate trigonometric function to find the unknown parts of the
triangle.
Solving for a

We are given with angle A with adjacent side b, so we can

compute for a by the Tangent Function.

(use your calculator and round off to two decimal places)

Solving for c

For the missing hypotenuse, we can use either a trigonometric function or the Pythagorean
theorem.
Since at angle A, we have a given adjacent side and opposite side, we can find the hypotenuse by
using sine or cosine. Let us use the cosine function.

(use your calculator and round off to two decimal places)

Solving for B

Since we now have the values of 2 angles, (angles C and A), we can now compute for the third
one by subtracting the two to 180.

Solving for a

The missing side a can be obtained by either a trigo function or the Pythagorean theorem. Let
us use the sine function of A to get the value of side a.
Trigonometric Identities

We can have the following trigonometric identities and use them to simplify
trigonometric functions.
Solve the triangle below and find the six trigonometric ratios of C.