EnggMath1 (Pre-Calculus)
Module 2 – Trigonometry
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, the student should
be able to:
• (TLO5) Analyze and solve problems
involving right triangles.
• (TLO6) Analyze and solve problems
involving trigonometric Identities.
• (TLO7) Analyze and solve problems on
the applications of Trigonometry.
What is Trigonometry?
• Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics
that studies relationships involving sides
and angles of triangles.
• Derived from the Greek words “trigonon”
(triangle) and “metrein”(to measure).
Why study Trigonometry?
• Real-world problems involving
trigonometry are common in engineering,
physics, construction and design.
• A wide range of nonmathematical fields
rely on trigonometric functions, even if
members of those fields are not aware that
trigonometry is involved.
Why study Trigonometry?
• Trigonometry has contributed to advances
in the fields of acoustics, architecture,
cartography, civil engineering, geophysics,
crystallography, electronics, medical
imaging and pharmacology. Modern
applications of Trigonometry include its
use in satellite navigation, naval and
aviation industries, the composition of
music, and all types of digital imaging.
Review of Basic Terminologies
in Trigonometry
• An angle is the union of two rays (sides) that share a
common endpoint (vertex).
• The measure of an angle is the measure of the space
between the rays and often defined in terms of rotation.
• Positive angles are generated by counterclockwise
rotation, and negative angles by clockwise rotation.
• Angles with the same initial and terminal sides are called
coterminal angles.
Review of Basic Terminologies
in Trigonometry
• An angle which measures 90° is called right angle.
• An angle which measures more than 0° but less than
90°is called acute angle.
• An angle which measures more than 90° but less
than the straight angle is called obtuse angle.
• A triangle is a closed-plane figure that consists of three
sides, three vertices, and three angles.
Review of Basic Terminologies
in Trigonometry
Triangles can be classified by their angles:
• A triangle with one angle measuring 90° is called right
triangle.
• Excluding the degenerate triangle, a triangle with no right
angle is called oblique triangle, which can either be acute
triangle or obtuse triangle.
• A triangle with an interior angle of 180°,collinear vertices,
and zero area is called degenerate triangle.
Triangles can also be classified by their sides:
• A triangle that has three equal sides is called equilateral (or
equiangular) triangle.
• A triangle with two equal sides is called isosceles triangle.
• A triangle that has no equal sides is called scalene triangle.
Review of Basic Terminologies
in Trigonometry
Review of Basic Terminologies
in Trigonometry
Review of Basic Terminologies
in Trigonometry
• The Pythagorean Theorem states that for any right
triangle, the square of the longest side equals the sum of
the squares of the remaining sides.
Important Properties of
Triangles
1. For any triangle, the sum of the lengths of any two sides
must be greater than or equal to the length of the
remaining side. If these inequalities are not true then we
do not have a triangle. (Triangle Inequality)
Important Properties of
Triangles
2. The perpendicular bisectors of the sides and the
bisectors of the angles of a triangle, meet in points which
are the center of the circumscribed circle and the inscribed
circle, respectively.
Important Properties of
Triangles
3. The altitudes of a triangle meet in a point.
Important Properties of
Triangles
4. The medians of a triangle are concurrent at a point which
is 2/3 of the distance from any vertex to the midpoint of the
opposite sides.
Important Properties of
Triangles
5. The sum of the 3 angles of any given triangle is 180°.
Units of Angle Measure
Angles are commonly measured in two
methods:
• sexagecimal system (in degrees, or
degrees, minutes and seconds), and
• circular system (in radians).
Degree Measure
• A degree, usually denoted by °,is a
measurement of an angle so that a
complete rotation, counterclockwise, about
the vertex is 360°.
1 rotation = 360°1° =
60′(minutes) 1′ = 60"
(seconds)
Radian Measure
• One radian is the measure of a central angle that
intercepts an arc equal in length to the radius of the
circle.
• Algebraically, this means that
=
where is measured in radians.
• The circumference of a circle is 2 ,
so the radian measure of a positive angle formed by one
complete rotation is:
= 2 = 2 rad
• This type of measure of an angle is especially useful in
Calculus.
Conversion Between
Degrees and Radians
• One complete rotation about a vertex of
angle corresponds to 360° (in degrees) or
2 (in radians). Hence,
2 rad= 360°
rad= 180°
• Use this relationship when converting
degrees to radians or vice versa.
• When no units of angle measure are
specified, radian measure is implied.
Trigonometric Functions of
Acute Angles
Trigonometric Functions of
Acute Angles
Let be an acute angle of a right triangle.
Trigonometric Functions of
Acute Angles
Example 1
Find the values of the six trigonometric
functions of for the triangle given in the
figure below.
Trigonometric Functions of
Acute Angles
Example 1
First, solve for the length of the hypotenuse,
,using the Pythagorean Theorem:
= 2+ 2
= 42+ 32 = 25= 5
Trigonometric Functions of
Acute Angles
Example 1
Trigonometric Functions of
Acute Angles
Example 2
8
opp
5
5
Given that is an acute angle and cos = ,
8
find tan .
Trigonometric Functions of
Acute Angles
Example 2
8
opp
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for
the length of the opposite side, .
52+ 2 = 82
= 82− 52 = 39
Trigonometric Functions of
Acute Angles
Example 2
8
opp
Therefore,
tan = opp= = 39
adj 5
Applications Involving
Right Triangles
The angle formed by the line of sight and the
horizontal plane for an object
• above the horizontal is called angle of
elevation.
• below the horizontal is called angle of
depression.
Applications Involving
Right Triangles
Angle of Elevation Problem 1
From a point of 115 feet from the base of a
redwood tree, the angle of elevation to the
top of the tree is 64.3°. Find the height of
the tree to the nearest foot.
643°
115 ft
Applications Involving
Right Triangles
Angle of Elevation Problem 1
Let ℎ be the height of the tree, or the length
of the opposite side of the given angle in the
right triangle.
tan643°= ℎ
115
ℎ = 115tan643°ℎ = 238
952 ft
Hence, the tree is about 239 feet tall.
Applications Involving
Right Triangles
Angle of Elevation Problem 2
Find the shadow cast by a 10-foot lamp post
when the angle of elevation of the sun is
58º. Find the length of the shadow to the
nearest tenth of a foot.
Applications Involving
Right Triangles
Angle of Elevation Problem 2
Let be the length of the shadow.
tan58°= 10
10
=
tan58°
= 62 ft
Applications Involving
Right Triangles
Angle of Depression Problem 1
DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) is standard avionic
equipment on a commercial airplane. This equipment
measures the distance from a plane to a radar station. If
the distance from a plane to a radar station is 160 miles
and the angle of depression is 33°, find the number of
ground miles from a point directly below the plane to the
radar station.
Applications Involving
Right Triangles
Angle of Depression Problem 1
Let be the distance from a point directly
below the plane to the radar station.
sin57°=
160
= 160sin57°
= 1341873 miles