Right Triangle Trigonometry

Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, I can:

• evaluate trigonometric functions of
acute angles;
• find unknown side lengths and angle
measures of right triangles; and
• use trigonometric functions to solve
real-life problems.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

Topics:

• The Six Trigonometric Functions

• Finding Side Lengths and Angle
Measures
• Solving Real-Life Problems

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 The Six Trigonometric
Functions

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED)

 The Six Trigonometric Functions

Consider a right triangle

that has an acute angle 𝜃
(the Greek letter Theta).
The three sides of the
triangle are the
hypotenuse, the side
opposite 𝜃, and the side
adjacent to 𝜃.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 The Six Trigonometric Functions
Ratios of a right triangle’s side
lengths are used to define the six
trigonometric functions:
v sine (sin)
v cosine (cos)
v tangent (tan)
v cosecant (csc)
v secant (sec)
v cotangent (cot)

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Right Triangle Definitions of
Trigonometric Functions
Let 𝜃 be an acute angle of a right triangle. The six
trigonometric functions of 𝜃 are defined as shown.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Trigonometric Ratios
The trig functions can be summarized using the
following mnemonic device:

SOHCAHTOA

opposite opposite
Sin = Tan =
hypotenuse adjacent

adjacent
Cos =
hypotenuse
 Trigonometric Ratios
By the AA Similarity Postulate, a right triangle with
a given acute angle is similar to every other right triangle
with that same acute angle measure. So ∆ABC ~ ∆DEF ~
∆XYZ, and . These are trigonometric ratios. A
trigonometric ratio is a ratio of two sides of a right triangle.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Trigonometric Ratios

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Trigonometric Ratios

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

Calculator Tip
On a calculator, the trig functions are abbreviated as follows:
sine à sin, cosine à cos, tangent à tan

Writing Math
In trigonometry, the letter of the vertex of the angle is often
used to represent the measure of that angle. For example, the
sine of ÐA is written as sin A.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Example 1A:
Finding Trigonometric Ratios
Write the trigonometric ratio
as a fraction and as a
decimal rounded to the
nearest hundredth.

sin J
 Example 1B:
Finding Trigonometric Ratios

Write the trigonometric

ratio as a fraction and as a
decimal rounded to the
nearest hundredth.

cos J
 Example 1C:
Finding Trigonometric Ratios

Write the trigonometric

ratio as a fraction and as a
decimal rounded to the
nearest hundredth.

tan K
 Evaluating Trigonometric Functions

Example 2: Evaluate the six trigonometric functions of

the angle θ
SOLUTION = 13
From the Pythagorean Theorem, the
length of the hypotenuse is
ℎ𝑦𝑝. = 5( + 12(
= 169
= 𝟏𝟑

= 0.92 = 0.38 = 2.4

= 1.08 = 2.6 = 0.42

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Evaluating Trigonometric Functions

Example 3: In a right triangle, 𝜃 is an acute angle

0
and sin 𝜃 = . Evaluate the other five
1
Trigonometric functions of 𝜃.

csc 𝜃 = 1.75
tan 𝜃 = 0.70

cos 𝜃 = 0.82
cot 𝜃 = 1.44

sec 𝜃 = 1.22
Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY
 Let’s Try
Evaluate the six trigonometric functions of
the angle 𝜃

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Trigonometric Values
for Special Angles

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED)

 Trigonometric Values for
Special Angles

The table gives the values of the six trigonometric functions

for the angles 30°, 45°, and 60°. You can obtain these values
from the triangles shown.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Finding Side Lengths
and Angle Measures

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED)

 Finding an Unknown Side Length

Example 3: Find the value of x for the right triangle.

SOLUTION
Write an equation using a trigonometric
function that involves the ratio of x and 8.
Solve the equation for x.
𝑎𝑑𝑗.
cos 307 = Write trigonometric equation.
ℎ𝑦𝑝.

3 𝑥
= Substitute.
2 8

4 3=𝑥 Multiply each side by 8.

Ø The length of the side is 𝒙 = 𝟒 𝟑 ≈ 𝟔. 𝟗𝟑.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Using a Calculator to Solve a Right
Triangle
Finding all unknown side lengths and angle
measures of a triangle is called solving the
triangle. Solving right triangles that have acute
angles other than 30°, 45°, and 60°may require
the use of a calculator. Be sure the calculator is
set in degree mode.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Using a Calculator to Solve a Right
Triangle
Use your calculator to find the trigonometric
ratio. Round to the nearest hundredth.
sin 52°
Caution!
Be sure your
calculator is in
degree mode, not
radian mode.

sin 52° » 0.79

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Using a Calculator to Solve a Right
Triangle
Use your calculator to find the trigonometric
ratio. Round to the nearest hundredth.
cos 19°

cos 19° » 0.95

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Using a Calculator to Solve a Right
Triangle
Use your calculator to find the trigonometric
ratio. Round to the nearest hundredth.
tan 65°

tan 65° » 2.14

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY
 Using a Calculator to
Solve a Right Triangle
Example 4A: Solve △ABC.
SOLUTION
Because the triangle is a right triangle, A and B are
complementary angles.
So, B = 90° − 28° = 62°.

𝑜𝑝𝑝. ℎ𝑦𝑝
tan 287 = Write trigonometric equation. sec 287 =
𝑎𝑑𝑗. 𝑎𝑑𝑗
𝑎 7
𝑐
𝑡𝑎𝑛 287 = Substitute. sec 28 =
15 15
1
15(𝑡𝑎𝑛 287 ) = 𝑎 Solve for the variable. 15 =𝑐
cos 287
𝟕. 𝟗𝟖 ≈ 𝒂 Use a calculator. 𝟏𝟔. 𝟗𝟗 ≈ 𝒄

Ø So, B = 62º, a ≈ 7.98, and c ≈ 16.99.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Using a Calculator to
Solve a Right Triangle
Example 4B: Using Trigonometric Ratios to Find
SOLUTION
Lengths
BC O and A à tangent

Write a trigonometric ratio.

Substitute the given values.

Multiply both sides by BC

and divide by tan 15°.
BC » 38.07 ft Simplify the expression.
Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY
Example 4C: Calculating Angle Measures from
Trigonometric Ratios

Use your calculator to find each angle

measure to the nearest degree.

A. cos-1(0.87) B. sin-1(0.85) C. tan-1(0.71)

cos-1(0.87) » 30° sin-1(0.85) » 58° tan-1(0.71) » 35°

Using given measures to find the unknown angle
measures or side lengths of a triangle is known as
solving a triangle. To solve a right triangle, you
need to know two side lengths or one side length
and an acute angle measure.

Caution!
Do not round until the final step of your answer.
Use the values of the trigonometric ratios
provided by your calculator.
 Example 4D: Solving Right Triangles

Find the unknown measures. Round

lengths to the nearest hundredth and
angle measures to the nearest degree.

Method: By the Pythagorean Theorem,

RT2 = RS2 + ST2
(5.7)2 = 52 + ST2

Since the acute angles of a right triangle are

complementary, mÐT » 90° – 29° » 61°.
 Check It Out! Example 4E

Find the unknown measures. Round

lengths to the nearest hundredth and angle
measures to the nearest degree.

Since the acute angles of a right triangle are

complementary, mÐD = 90° – 58° = 32°.

, so EF = 14 tan 32°. EF » 8.75

DF2 = ED2 + EF2
DF2 = 142 + 8.752
DF » 16.51
 Let’s Try
5. Find the value of x for the right triangle shown.

Solve △ABC using the diagram below and the given measurements.

6. B = 45°, c = 5
7. A = 32°, b = 10
8. A = 71°, c = 20
9. B = 60°, a = 7

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Let’s Try
Find the value of x for the right triangle.
1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY

 Let’s Try
Evaluate the trigonometric function using a calculator.
Round your answer to four decimal places.

1.cos 14°
2.csc 59°
3.cot 6°
4.tan 31°
5.sin 23°
6.sec 11°
Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY
 Solving Real-Life
Problems

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED)

 Using Indirect Measurement

Example 5: You are hiking near a canyon. While standing at A, you

measure an angle of 90° between B and C, as shown. You
then walk to B and measure an angle of 76° between A
and C. The distance between A and B is about 2 miles.
How wide is the canyon between A and C?
SOLUTION
𝑥
tan 767 = Write trigonometric equation.
2

2(𝑡𝑎𝑛 287 ) = 𝑥 Multiply each by 2.

𝟖≈𝒂 Use a calculator.

Ø The width is about 8.0 miles.

Joey C. Arizaleta (NDMU-IBED) TRIGONOMETRY