Right Triangle

Trigonometry
The six trigonometric functions of a right triangle, with an
acute angle , are defined by ratios of two sides of the triangle.
The sides of the right triangle are:
hyp
the side opposite the acute angle , opp
the side adjacent to the acute angle , θ
and the hypotenuse of the right triangle. adj

The trigonometric functions are

sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant.
opp
sin = cos = adj tan = opp
hyp hyp adj
hyp hyp
csc = sec = cot = adj
opp adj opp
Calculate the trigonometric functions for ∠θ .

5
4
θ
3
The six trig ratios are
4 3
sin = cos =
5 5
4 3
tan = cot =
3 4
5 5
sec = csc =
3 4
Geometry of the 45-45-90 triangle

Consider an isosceles right triangle with two sides of

length 1.

2 45
1 12 + 12 = 2
45
1

The Pythagorean Theorem implies that the hypotenuse

is of length 2 .
Calculate the trigonometric functions for a 45 angle.

2
1
45
1
opp 1 2 adj 1 2
sin 45 = = = cos 45 = = =
hyp 2 2 hyp 2 2

opp 1 adj 1
tan 45 = = = 1 cot 45 = = = 1
adj 1 opp 1
hyp 2 hyp 2
sec 45 = = = 2 csc 45 = = = 2
adj 1 opp 1
Geometry of the 30-60-90 triangle
Consider an equilateral triangle with
each side of length 2. 30○ 30○

The three sides are equal, so the

2 2
angles are equal; each is 60 . 3

The perpendicular bisector

of the base bisects the 60○ 60○

opposite angle. 1 1
2
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to
find the length of the altitude, 3 .
Calculate the trigonometric functions for a 30 angle.

2 1

30
3
opp 1 adj 3
sin 30 = = cos 30 = =
hyp 2 hyp 2

opp 1 3 adj 3
tan 30 = = = cot 30 = = = 3
adj 3 3 opp 1

hyp 2 2 3 hyp 2
sec 30 = = = csc 30 = = = 2
adj 3 3 opp 1
Calculate the trigonometric functions for a 60 angle.

2
3

60○
1
opp 3 adj 1
sin 60 = = cos 60 = =
hyp 2 hyp 2

opp 3 1 3
tan 60 = = = 3 cot 60 = adj = =
adj 1 opp 3 3
hyp 2 hyp 2 2 3
sec 60 = = = 2 csc 60 = = =
adj 1 opp 3 3
Trigonometric Identities are trigonometric
equations that hold for all values of the variables.

Example: sin θ = cos(90 − θ ), for 0 < θ < 90

Note that θ and 90 − θ are complementary
angles.
hyp
Side a is opposite θ and also 90○– θ a
adjacent to 90○– θ . θ
b
a a
sin θ = and cos (90 − θ ) = .
b b
So, sin θ = cos (90 − θ ).
Fundamental Trigonometric Identities for 0 < θ < 90 .
Cofunction Identities
sin θ = cos(90 − θ ) cos θ = sin(90 − θ )
tan θ = cot(90 − θ ) cot θ = tan(90 − θ )
sec θ = csc(90 − θ ) csc θ = sec(90 − θ )
Reciprocal Identities
sin θ = 1/csc θ cos θ = 1/sec θ tan θ = 1/cot θ
cot θ = 1/tan θ sec θ = 1/cos θ csc θ = 1/sin θ
Quotient Identities
tan θ = sin θ /cos θ cot θ = cos θ /sin θ
Pythagorean Identities
sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1 tan2 θ + 1 = sec2 θ cot2 θ + 1 = csc2 θ
Example:
Given sin θ = 0.25, find cos θ, tan θ, and sec θ.
Draw a right triangle with acute angle θ, hypotenuse of length
one, and opposite side of length 0.25.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for

the third side. 1
0.25
0.25 θ
cos θ = = 0.9682
0.9682 0.9682
0.9682
tan θ = = 0.258
1
1
sec θ = = 1.033
0.9682
Example: Given sec θ = 4, find the values of the
other five trigonometric functions of θ .
Draw a right triangle with an angle θ such
hyp 4 4 15
that 4 = sec θ = = .
adj 1
θ
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve
1
for the third side of the triangle.
15 1 4
sin θ = csc θ = =
4 sin θ 15
1 1
cos θ = sec θ = =4
4 cosθ
15 1
tan θ = = 15 cot θ =
1 15
Example:
Given sin θ = 0.25, find cos θ, tan θ, and sec θ.
Draw a right triangle with acute angle θ, hypotenuse of length
one, and opposite side of length 0.25.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for

the third side. 1
0.25
0.25 θ
cos θ = = 0.9682
0.9682 0.9682
0.9682
tan θ = = 0.258
1
1
sec θ = = 1.033
0.9682