6.

1 BASIC TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS
SINE, COSINE, AND TANGENT
WHAT IS TRIGONOMETRY?
 The study of how the angles and sides of a triangle are related

 Basic Trigonometry deals mainly with Right Triangles

 There are three basic trigonometry functions

Sine, Cosine, and Tangent

 These trig. Functions uses the ratios of each side to find the
angles in a right triangle
II) NAMING SIDES OF A RIGHT
TRIANGLE
 When naming the sides of a R.T., they are relative to the angle
that you are using

Hypotenuse Opposite Hypotenuse Adjacent

Side Side

Adjacent Opposite
Side Side

Note: The Adjacent and Opposite side can be switched around

depending on which angle you use.
Note: The Hypotenuse must be the longest side and opposite from
the “box”
 III) TANGENT RATIO
 The tangent ratio is used when you are given the “Opposite”
and “Adjacent” sides of a R.T.
 Your calculator must be in “Deg” mode (Degree)

Measure the angle:

 36.87
tan 36.87  0.750
The angle doesn’t change when
12 you have a larger similar triangle
9 because the RATIO stays the same
6 When you “Tan” the angle, it will
3 be equal to the RATIO of the
opposite side divided by the
4 8 12 16 adjacent side
 WHAT IS SINE AND COSINE?
 Sine & Cosine are Trigonometric Functions
 Right Triangles

 When you Sine an angle, it will give you the RATIO of the
Opposite side over the Hypotenuse
 When you Cosine an angle, it will give you the RATIO of the
Adjacent side over the Hypotenuse

Hypotenuse Hypotenuse
Opposite
Side

Adjacent Side
Sine Function Cosine Function
 II) SINE RATIO
 The Sine ratio is used when you are given the “Opposite” side
and “Hypotenuse” of a R.T.
 “Deg” mode (Degree)

Measure the angle:

 36.87
20
15 sin 36.87  0.600


12
10 9 When you “Sin” the angle, it will
6 be equal to the RATIO of the
5 Opposite side divided by the
3 Hypotenuse
 III) COSINE RATIO
 The Cosine ratio is used when you are given the “Adjacent”
side and “Hypotenuse” of a R.T.

Measure the angle:

 36.87
20
15 cos 36.87  0.800
10 When you “Cos” the angle, it will
be equal to the RATIO of the
5 Adjacent side divided by the
Hypotenuse

4 8 12 16
HOW TO USE THE TANGENT FUNCTIONtan  x 
 The tangent function is equal to the Opposite side divided by
the adjacent side
opposite
tan  
adjacent
17.32
tan  60  


17.32 10
Angle
Ratio

60
10 1.732  1.732
 The tangent function can be used to find missing sides
when an angle is given
 SOH-CAH-TOA
 The Trig. Function used should depend on which sides of a
R.T. you are given

 SOH-CAH-TOA

Opposite Adjacent Opposite

Sin   Cos  Tan 
Hypotenuse Hypotenuse Adjacent
 EX: FIND THE MISSING SIDES TO 2 DECIMAL PLACES
USING TANGENT

x x

33
7 55
You have adjacent(A) and TOA 4
You have adjacent(A) and CAH
want to find opp(O) O want to find Hyp(H)
T 4 C A
x
tan 33  7
A c os 55   x
H

x 4 4
0.6494  Cross Multiply! x
0.57357 
7 x
0.57357
4.54  x x  6.9738
 EX: FIND THE MISSING SIDES TO 2 DECIMAL
PLACES

58
8.34 x
x 4
33

You have Hyp(H) and SOH You have Adj(A) and CAH
want to find opp(O) O want to find Hyp(H) A
S C
sin 33  
 x H H
8.34
cos 58  
4
x

x 4
0.5299
0.545  Cross Multiply! x
8.34 4
4.54  x 0.5299  x  7.55
x
EX: FIND THE MISSING SIDES TO 2 DECIMAL
PLACES

SOH CAH
x x
5.3

40 55
4
sin  40  
5.3

cos 55  
4
x 
x
x 4
0.574
5.3
0.642  Cross Multiply!
4
x x  6.97
0.574 
x 5.3
0.642
x

x  8.26
 Q: Given each of the following values below, which of the
following can sinθ not be equal to?

i ) sin   0.55

ii ) sin   3
4

iii ) sin   3
2
iv) sin   0.75

v) sin   1.05
IV) FINDING ANGLES USING TAN. FUNCTION tan 1  x 
 When finding angles, use the tan-1(x)
 The tan-1(x) of a ratio will give you the angle

5
tan  
5
5 5
tan tan 
1
 tan 1

5
   tan 11
5
  45
IV) FINDING ANGLES WITH INVERSE SINE & INVERSE COSINE

 When finding angles, use the sin-1(x) or cos-1(x)

 The inverse function of a ratio will give you the angle

5.2
cos  
6

6 5.2
5.2 cos cos 
1
 cos 1

6
  cos 1  0.866 
  30
PRACTICE: FIND THE MISSING ANGLE TO THE NEAREST
DEGREE

7.8
7
5


5 4
sin   
cos  
 4
7.8
7
1  5 
  sin   4
 7.8    cos   1

7
  40
  55 
PRACTICE: FIND THE MISSING ANGLE TO THE NEAREST
DEGREE

5.7
5

6 
5 4
tan   
tan  
 5.7
6
4
1  5 
  tan   1  5.7 
6   tan  
 4 
  89
  55 
CHALLENGE: TWO BUILDING ARE 70METERS APART. THE SHORTER BUILDING IS 50M HIGH. A
CABLE IS ATTACHED TO BOTH BUILDING. THE ANGLE OF INCLINATION IS 15°. HOW TALL IS THE
TALLER BUILDING?

15