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Beginner's Trigonometry Guide

This document serves as a beginner's guide to trigonometry, focusing on the relationships between the sides and angles of right triangles. It covers basic trigonometric ratios, provides examples for solving right triangles, and discusses various scenarios such as the Pythagorean theorem and the law of sines and cosines. Additionally, it includes shortcuts, tricks, and practice questions to reinforce learning.

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raymundtorino3
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15 views4 pages

Beginner's Trigonometry Guide

This document serves as a beginner's guide to trigonometry, focusing on the relationships between the sides and angles of right triangles. It covers basic trigonometric ratios, provides examples for solving right triangles, and discusses various scenarios such as the Pythagorean theorem and the law of sines and cosines. Additionally, it includes shortcuts, tricks, and practice questions to reinforce learning.

Uploaded by

raymundtorino3
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

**TRIGONOMETRY GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS**

---

What Is Trigonometry?

Trigonometry is the study of the relationships between the sides and angles of triangles, especially

right-angled triangles.

---

Basic Trigonometric Ratios

In a **right triangle**, we define the following:

- **Opposite side**: the side opposite the angle

- **Adjacent side**: the side next to the angle (not the hypotenuse)

- **Hypotenuse**: the longest side, opposite the right angle

| Function | Formula |

|----------|-----------------------------------|

| Sine | sin() = Opposite / Hypotenuse |

| Cosine | cos() = Adjacent / Hypotenuse |

| Tangent | tan() = Opposite / Adjacent |

**Drawing Explanation:**
|\

|\

O | \ Hypotenuse

| \

| \

| \

|______\

Adjacent

- is the angle

- O = Opposite

---

Example 1: Solving a Right Triangle

**Problem**: Angle A = 30 and hypotenuse = 10. Find opposite and adjacent sides.

**Solution**:

- sin(30) = Opposite / 10 0.5 = Opposite / 10 Opposite = 5

- cos(30) = Adjacent / 10 0.866 = Adjacent / 10 Adjacent 8.66

**Answer**: Opposite = 5, Adjacent = 8.66

---

Example 2: Find the Angle

**Problem**: Opposite = 6, Adjacent = 8. Find the angle .


**Solution**:

- tan() = 6 / 8 = 0.75

- = tan(0.75) 36.87

---

Example 3: Word Problem

**Problem**: A tree casts a 15 m shadow. The angle of elevation is 40. Find the height of the tree.

**Solution**:

- tan(40) = height / 15

- height = 15 tan(40) 15 0.8391 = **12.59 meters**

---

Other Trigonometry Scenarios

**Scenario 1**: Use Pythagorean Theorem

- If two sides are known: a + b = c

**Scenario 2**: Angles of Elevation/Depression

- Use trig ratios to find heights or distances in real-world problems.

**Scenario 3**: Law of Sines and Cosines (non-right triangles)

- Law of Sines: a / sin(A) = b / sin(B) = c / sin(C)

- Law of Cosines: c = a + b - 2abcos(C)


---

Shortcuts & Tricks

- **SOHCAHTOA**: Easy mnemonic to remember trig ratios

- **30-60-90 Triangle**: Sides follow 1 : 3 : 2 ratio

- **45-45-90 Triangle**: Sides follow 1 : 1 : 2 ratio

- Use calculator **DEGREE mode** (not RADIANS) for basic problems

- **Inverse Functions**: Use sin, cos, tan to find angles

---

Practice Questions

1. A ladder leans at 60 with the ground. Its base is 4 m from the wall. How tall is the ladder?

2. Angle = 45, adjacent side = 7 cm. Find hypotenuse.

3. Tree height = 20 m, shadow = 12 m. Find angle of elevation.

4. Kite string = 50 m, angle = 30. Find height of kite.

5. sin() = 0.6, hypotenuse = 10. Find opposite.

6. Ramp = 6 m long, angle = 25. Find height it lifts.

7. Adjacent = 10 m, angle = 60. Find opposite.

8. Surveyor measures hill at 35, distance = 100 m. Find height.

9. tan() = 1.2. Find .

10. A light pole is 8 m tall. Shadow = 5 m. Find angle of elevation.

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