The Trigonometric Ratios of Special Triangles

45° - 45° - 90° Right Triangle Theorem

Example 1:

In a 45° - 45° - 90° triangle, Determine the exact value of the expression sec 30° + cot
60°.
 the legs are congruent
 the length of the hypotenuse is √2 times the length of a leg Solution:

hypotenuse = √2 leg 2√3 √3 3√3

sec 30° + cot 60° = + = = √3
3 3 3

Example 2:

Find the exact value of sin2 30° + cos2 45°

Solution: sin2 30° + cos2 45° = (sin 30°)2 + (cos 45°)2

1 √2
= (2)2 + ( 2 )2
Example 1: Find the length of the indicated side.
1 2
=4+4
3
=4

Example 3:

Determine the value of angle x when sec x = 2

Solution: Referring to the table, sec ° = 2. Therefore, x = 60°.

Example 4: If x = 45°, show that sec2 x + tan x = 3

Solution: Substituting x with 45°, we have

30° - 60° - 90° Right Triangle Theorem
sec2 45° + tan 45°

In a 30° - 60° - 90° triangle, = (sec 45°)2 + tan 45°

 the length of the hypotenuse is twice the length of the shorter = (√2)2 + 1
leg
 the length of the shorter leg is √3 times the length of the = 2+1
shorter leg
=3
hypotenuse = 2 shorter leg
longer leg = √3 shorter leg

TRY THIS

 Find the exact value of (sec 30°) (cos 30°) – (tan 60°) (cot
60°).

5𝑠𝑖𝑛2 30° + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 45° +4𝑡𝑎𝑛 60°

 Evaluate
2 sin 30° cos 45 ° + tan 45 °
9 = t √3 (the longer leg = √3 shorter leg)
9 √3 9√3
t =  = = 3√3 (solve for t)
√3 √3 3
s = 2t (hypotenuse = 2 shorter leg)
s = 2  3√3 = 6√3 (substitute 3√3 to t)