4.6.2

Trigonometry

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Trigonometry

Sin, cos and tan relate an angle and two sides in a right-angled triangle.

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Formula triangles

  • Formula triangles can be used to remember the ratios (SOHCAHTOA) and to rearrange the ratios so they can be used.
  • The side opposite the angle being used is referred to as the ‘opposite’ and the side next to the angle being used is called the ‘adjacent’.
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Angle of elevation

  • The angle of elevation of an object above an observer relative to the observer is the angle between the horizontal and the line from the object to the observer's eye.
  • The angle of depression of an object below an observer relative to the observer is the angle between the horizontal and the line from the object to the observer's eye.

Trigonometry in 3D

Trigonometry can be used to solve problems in three dimensions.

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Example

  • What is the size of the angle between the line AH and the plane ABCD?
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Identify the right-angled triangle

  • We must find the lower angle of the triangle AHC to answer the question.
  • We can use the equation:
  • tanθ=HCAC=2.5ACtan\theta = \frac{HC}{AC} = \frac{2.5}{AC}
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Work out the length of AC

  • We can use pythagoras' theorem to work out the length of AC.
    • 32+42=5\sqrt{3^2 + 4^2} = 5
  • AC = 5 cm.
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Work out the angle

  • Substituting the side lengths into our previous equation we have:
  • θ=tan1(2.55)=26.57\theta = tan^{-1}(\frac{2.5}{5}) = 26.57°

Jump to other topics

1Numbers

2Equations, Formulae & Identities

3Sequences, Functions & Graphs

4Geometry

5Vectors & Transformation Geometry

6Statistics & Probability

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