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Trigonometry
Right-angled triangles
Key points
In a right-angled triangle:
o the side opposite the right angle is called the hypotenuse
o the side opposite the angle θ is called the opposite
o the side next to the angle θ is called the adjacent.
In a right-angled triangle:
opp
o the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse is the sine of angle θ, sin
hyp
adj
o the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse is the cosine of angle θ, cos
hyp
opp
o the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side is the tangent of angle θ, tan
adj
If the lengths of two sides of a right-angled triangle are given, you can find a missing angle
using the inverse trigonometric functions: sin−1, cos−1, tan−1.
The sine, cosine and tangent of some angles may be written exactly.
0 30° 45° 60° 90°
1 2 3
sin 0 2 2 2
1
3 2 1
cos 1 2 2 2 0
3
tan 0 3
1 3
1
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Example 1 Calculate the length of side x.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
1 Always start by labelling the sides.
adj
cos 2 You are given the adjacent and the
hyp hypotenuse so use the cosine ratio.
6 3 Substitute the sides and angle into
cos 25
x the cosine ratio.
6
x 4 Rearrange to make x the subject.
cos 25
x = 6.620 267 5... 5 Use your calculator to work out
6 ÷ cos 25°.
x = 6.62 cm 6 Round your answer to 3 significant
figures and write the units in your
answer.
Example 2 Calculate the size of angle x.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
1 Always start by labelling the sides.
opp 2 You are given the opposite and the
tan
adj adjacent so use the tangent ratio.
3 3 Substitute the sides and angle into
tan x
4.5 the tangent ratio.
x = tan–1
3
4 Use tan−1 to find the angle.
4.5
x = 33.690 067 5... 5 Use your calculator to work out
tan–1(3 ÷ 4.5).
x = 33.7° 6 Round your answer to 3 significant
figures and write the units in your
answer.
2
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Example 3 Calculate the exact size of angle x.
1 Always start by labelling the sides.
opp 2 You are given the opposite and the
tan
adj adjacent so use the tangent ratio.
3
tan x 3 Substitute the sides and angle into
3 the tangent ratio.
4 Use the table from the key points to
x = 30° find the angle.
Exercise
1 Calculate the length of the unknown side in each triangle.
Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.
a b
c d
e f
3
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2 Calculate the size of angle x in each triangle.
Give your answers correct to 1 decimal place.
a b
c d
3 Work out the height of the isosceles triangle.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
4 Calculate the size of angle θ.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
5 Find the exact value of x in each triangle.
a b
c d
4
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The cosine rule
Key points
a is the side opposite angle A.
b is the side opposite angle B.
c is the side opposite angle C.
You can use the cosine rule to find the length of a side when two sides and the included
angle are given.
To calculate an unknown side use the formula a2 b2 c2 2bc cos A .
Alternatively, you can use the cosine rule to find an unknown angle if the lengths of all three
sides are given.
b2 c2 a 2
To calculate an unknown angle use the formula cos A .
2bc
Example 4 Work out the length of side w.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
1 Always start by labelling the angles
and sides.
a2 b2 c2 2bc cos A 2 Write the cosine rule to find the
side.
w2 82 72 2 8 7 cos 45 3 Substitute the values a, b and A into
the formula.
w2 = 33.804 040 51... 4 Use a calculator to find w2 and
w = 33.80404051 then w.
5 Round your final answer to 3
w = 5.81 cm significant figures and write the
units in your answer.
5
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Example 5 Work out the size of angle θ.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
1 Always start by labelling the angles
and sides.
b2 c2 a 2
cos A 2 Write the cosine rule to find the
2bc angle.
102 7 2 152
cos 3 Substitute the values a, b and c into
2 10 7 the formula.
76
cos 4 Use cos−1 to find the angle.
140
θ = 122.878 349... 5 Use your calculator to work out
cos–1(–76 ÷ 140).
θ = 122.9° 6 Round your answer to 1 decimal
place and write the units in your
answer.
Exercise
6 Work out the length of the unknown side in each triangle.
Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.
a b
c d
6
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7 Calculate the angles labelled θ in each triangle.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
a b
c d
8 a Work out the length of WY.
Give your answer correct to
3 significant figures.
b Work out the size of angle WXY.
Give your answer correct to
1 decimal place.
7
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The sine rule
Key points
a is the side opposite angle A.
b is the side opposite angle B.
c is the side opposite angle C.
You can use the sine rule to find the length of a side when its opposite angle and another
opposite side and angle are given.
a b c
To calculate an unknown side use the formula .
sin A sin B sin C
Alternatively, you can use the sine rule to find an unknown angle if the opposite side and
another opposite side and angle are given.
sin A sin B sin C
To calculate an unknown angle use the formula .
a b c
Example 6 Work out the length of side x.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
1 Always start by labelling the angles
and sides.
a b
2 Write the sine rule to find the side.
sin A sin B
x 10
3 Substitute the values a, b, A and B
sin 36 sin 75 into the formula.
10 sin 36
x 4 Rearrange to make x the subject.
sin 75
x = 6.09 cm 5 Round your answer to 3 significant
figures and write the units in your
answer.
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Example 7 Work out the size of angle θ.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
1 Always start by labelling the angles
and sides.
sin A sin B 2 Write the sine rule to find the angle.
a b
sin sin127 3 Substitute the values a, b, A and B
into the formula.
8 14
8 sin127 4 Rearrange to make sin θ the subject.
sin
14
θ = 27.2° 5 Use sin−1 to find the angle. Round
your answer to 1 decimal place and
write the units in your answer.
Exercise
9 Find the length of the unknown side in each triangle.
Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.
a b
c d
9
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10 Calculate the angles labelled θ in each triangle.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
a b
c d
11 a Work out the length of QS.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
b Work out the size of angle RQS.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
10
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Areas of triangles
Key points
a is the side opposite angle A.
b is the side opposite angle B.
c is the side opposite angle C.
1
The area of the triangle is ab sin C .
2
Example 8 Find the area of the triangle.
1 Always start by labelling the sides
and angles of the triangle.
Area = 1 ab sin C 2 State the formula for the area of a
2 triangle.
1 3 Substitute the values of a, b and C
Area = 8 5 sin 82
2 into the formula for the area of a
triangle.
Area = 19.805 361... 4 Use a calculator to find the area.
Area = 19.8 cm2 5 Round your answer to 3 significant
figures and write the units in your
answer.
11
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Exercise
12 Work out the area of each triangle.
Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.
a b
13 The area of triangle XYZ is 13.3 cm2.
Work out the length of XZ.
14 Find the size of each lettered angle or side.
Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.
a b
c d
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15 The area of triangle ABC is 86.7 cm2.
Work out the length of BC.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
13
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Answers
1 a 6.49 cm b 6.93 cm c 2.80 cm
d 74.3 mm e 7.39 cm f 6.07 cm
2 a 36.9° b 57.1° c 47.0° d 38.7°
3 5.71 cm
4 20.4°
5 a 45° b 1 cm c 30° d 3 cm
6 a 6.46 cm b 9.26 cm c 70.8 mm d 9.70 cm
7 a 22.2° b 52.9° c 122.9° d 93.6°
8 a 13.7 cm b 76.0°
9 a 4.33 cm b 15.0 cm c 45.2 mm d 6.39 cm
10 a 42.8° b 52.8° c 53.6° d 28.2°
11 a 8.13 cm b 32.3°
12 a 18.1 cm2 b 18.7 cm2 c 693 mm2
13 5.10 cm
14 a 6.29 cm b 84.3° c 5.73 cm d 58.8°
15 15.3 cm
14
