U4L1 Notes U4L2 Notes
Key Takeaways: Key Takeaways:
● Because of the Pythagorean ● All right isosceles triangles
Theorem, if we know any 2 are similar by AA~. We will
sides of a right triangle, we often refer to these as
can calculate the length of the 45-45-90 triangles because
third side. of their angle measures. Their
● All right triangles with one pair side lengths follow the
of congruent acute angles are proportions below:
similar by AA~. Knowing just
one side length in addition to
those angle measures is
enough to uniquely define the
triangle.
U4L2 Notes (continued) U4L3 Notes
Key Takeaways: Key Takeaways:
● To find missing sides, ● All triangles with angles 30, 60,
○ Label the appropriate and 90 degrees are similar by
AA~. We will often refer to these
sides x, x, and x√2.
as 30-60-90 triangles because of
○ Solve for x, as needed.
their angle measures. Their side
○ Use x to find the missing lengths follow the proportions
sides. below:
U4L3 Notes (Continued) U4L4 Notes
Key Takeaways: Vocabulary:
● To find missing sides, ● Complementary - two angles
○ Label the appropriate whose measures add up to 90°
sides y, y√3, and 2y. ● Adjacent - in a right triangle,
○ Solve for y, as needed. the side next to (touching) the
○ Use y to find the missing angle in question that is NOT
sides. the hypotenuse
● Opposite - in a right triangle,
the side across from (not
touching) the angle in question
● Hypotenuse - in a right
triangle, the side across from
the 90° angle
U4L4 Notes (continued) U4L6 Notes
Key Takeaways: Vocabulary:
● All right triangles that contain the
● Trigonometric ratio - in a
same acute angles are similar to each
other. This means that the ratios of right triangle, a ratio of sides;
corresponding side lengths are sine, cosine, and tangent are
equal for all right triangles with the called trigonometric ratios
same acute angles.
● Theta (𝜃) - a Greek letter
● The two acute angles in a right
triangle are complementary to each often used to denote an angle
other.
● When comparing ratios of side
lengths for complementary angles,
some ratios will repeat. (We’ll
discuss this more later, but the big
idea is that “opposite” and “adjacent”
sides switch places for
complementary angles.)
U4L6 Notes (continued) U4L6 Notes (continued)
Vocabulary: Key Takeaways:
● Cosine - in a right triangle, ● We use the acronym
the ratio (quotient) of the SOH-CAH-TOA to remember the
trigonometric ratios.
length of the adjacent leg to
the length of the hypotenuse
● Sine - in a right triangle, the
ratio (quotient) of the length of
the opposite leg to the length
of the hypotenuse
● Tangent - in a right triangle,
the ratio (quotient) of the
length of the opposite leg to
the length of the adjacent leg
U4L6 Notes (continued) U4L7 Notes
Key Takeaways: Key Takeaways:
● In the diagram below, cos(x)=b/c, ● Using trigonometry and properties
sin(x)=a/c, and tan(x)=a/b. of right triangles, we can calculate
and estimate measures in different
right triangles.
● We can use trigonometry to
estimate unknown lengths of
objects that are challenging or
impossible to measure directly
● We can follow these four steps to
● In a right triangle, if we know one solve all trigonometric equations:
of the acute angles and one side, 1.Label sides O, A, and H.
we can use trigonometric ratios to 2.Identify the trigonometric ratio.
find the other sides. 3.Write an equation.
4.Solve!
U4L8 Notes U4L9 Notes
Key Takeaways: Vocabulary:
● sin(𝜃) = cos(90 - 𝜃) ● Arccosine (or inverse cosine,
○ This is true because of or cos-1 on the calculator) - the
two things: arccosine of a number between 0
and 1 equals the acute angle
■ 𝜃 and 90 - 𝜃 represent
whose cosine is that number
the two acute angles
● Arcsine (or inverse sine, or
in a right triangle. sin-1 on the calculator) - the
■ The sine ratio for one arcsine of a number between 0
acute angle matches and 1 equals the acute angle
the cosine for the whose sine is that number
other acute angle ● Arctangent (or inverse tangent,
(because the opposite or tan-1 on the calculator) - the
and adjacent sides arctangent of a positive number
equals the acute angle whose
switch).
tangent is that number
U4L9 Notes (continued) Regular Polygon Notes
Key Takeaways: Vocabulary:
● If we have a right triangle and we ● The center of a regular polygon is the
know any two sides, we can use center of the smallest circle that
inverse trigonometry (arccosine, completely encloses the polygon.
● A line segment that connects the
arcsine, or arctangent) to solve
center of a regular polygon with a
for the acute angles. vertex is called a radius.
● Using trigonometric ratios and a ● An apothem is the perpendicular line
calculator, the missing sides and segment from the center of a regular
angles of right triangles can be polygon to a side.
found.
● Our steps are the same as before
(although it will look a little
different): 1) label the sides
O/A/H, 2) identify the trig ratio,
3) write an equation, 4) solve.