Lecture 5

Labeling Right Triangles,

Six Trigonometric Functions

PowerPoint Presentation created by

Engr. Paulo E. Tindogan
Trinity University of Asia
Labeling Right Triangles
 The most important skill you need right
now is the ability to correctly label the
sides of a right triangle.
 The names of the sides are:
 the hypotenuse
 the opposite side
 the adjacent side
Labeling Right Triangles
 The hypotenuse is easy to locate because
it is always found across from the right
angle.
Since this side is
across from the right
angle, this must be
the hypotenuse.

Here is the
right angle...
Labeling Right Triangles
 Before you label the other two sides you
must have a reference angle selected.
 It can be either of the two acute angles.
 In the triangle below, let’s pick angle B as
the reference angle. B This will be our
reference angle...

A C
Labeling Right Triangles
 Remember, angle B is our reference
angle.
 The hypotenuse is side BC because it is
across from the right angle.
B (ref. angle)

hypotenuse

A C
Labeling Right Triangles
 Side AC is across from our reference
angle B. So it is labeled: opposite.

B (ref. angle)

hypotenuse

A C
opposite
Labeling Right Triangles
Adjacent means beside or next to
 The only side unnamed is side AB. This
must be the adjacent side.

B (ref. angle)
adjacent
hypotenuse

A C
opposite
Labeling Right Triangles
 Let’s put it all together.
 Given that angle B is the reference angle,
here is how you must label the triangle:
B (ref. angle)

hypotenuse
adjacent

A C
opposite
Labeling Right Triangles
 Given the same triangle, how would the
sides be labeled if angle C were the
reference angle?
 Will there be any difference?
Labeling Right Triangles
 Angle C is now the reference angle.
 Side BC is still the hypotenuse since it is
across from the right angle.
B

hypotenuse

A C (ref. angle)
Labeling Right Triangles
 However, side AB is now the side
opposite since it is across from angle C.

B
opposite
hypotenuse

A C (ref. angle)
Labeling Right Triangles
 That leaves side AC to be labeled as
the adjacent side.

hypotenuse
opposite

A C (ref. angle)
adjacent
Labeling Right Triangles
 Let’s put it all together.
 Given that angle C is the reference
angle, here is how you must label the
triangle:
B

hypotenuse
opposite

A C (ref. angle)
adjacent
Labeling Practice
 Given that angle X is the reference angle,
label all three sides of triangle WXY.
 Do this on your own. Click to see the
answers when you are ready.
W X

Y
Labeling Practice
 How did you do?
 Click to try another one...

W adjacent
X

opposite
hypotenuse

Y
Labeling Practice
 Given that angle R is the reference angle,
label the triangle’s sides.
 Click to see the correct answers.
R

T S
Labeling Practice
 The answers are shown below:

hypotenuse
adjacent

T S
opposite
Which side will never be the reference angle?

The right angle

What are the labels?

Hypotenuse, opposite, and adjacent

The Trigonometric Functions

SINE
COSINE
TANGENT
 Greek Letter q

Prounounced
“theta”

Represents an unknown angle

 Opp Leg
Sin 
Hyp
hypotenus
e opposite
Adj Leg
Cos 
Hyp
q
Opp Leg
Tan 
adjacent
adjacent
Adj Leg
 We need a way
to remember
all of these
ratios…
SOHCAHTOA Sin
Opp
Hyp
Cos
Adj
Hyp
Tan
Opp
Old Hippie Adj
Other three trigonometric ratios

1
cosecq 
sin q
1
sec q 
cos q
1
cot q 
tan q
Note:
 The value of a trigonometric ratio depends
only on the measure of the acute angle,
not on the particular right triangle that is
used to compute the value.
 Find the sine, the cosine, and the tangent of angle A.
Give a fraction and decimal answer (round to 4 places).

opp 9
sin A  
hyp 10.8  .8333
10.8
9
adj 6
cos A  
A hyp 10.8  .5556
6
Shrink yourself down and
opp 9
stand where the angle is.
tan A    1.5
adj 6
Now, figure out your ratios.
Find the sine, the cosine, and the tangent of angle A

24.5 Give a fraction and

8.2 decimal answer (round
to 4 decimal places).
A

23.1 opp 8 .2
sin A    .3347
hyp 24.5
adj 23.1
cos A  
Shrink yourself down and hyp 24.5  .9429
stand where the angle is.

opp 8 .2
tan A  
Now, figure out your ratios.
adj 23.1  .3550
Example
Find the six trigonometric values for the given angle
Cofunctions

 The six trigonometric functions can be separated

into three groups of two based on the prefix co:
 sineand cosine
 secant and cosecant
 tangent and cotangent

 Each of the groups are known as cofunctions

 The prefix co means complement or opposite
Cofunctions
Example
Write each function value in terms of its cofunction
a. sin 30o
b. tan x
c. csc 40o