CHAPTER II: PLANE AND SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY B. SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY.

Concerns with triangles

extracted from the surface of a sphere.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
1. Provides the basic topics in plane trigonometry GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF PLANE TRIANGLES
including angles, trigonometric functions and their
graphs, trigonometric equation and identities, as A. RIGHT TRIANGLE. A triangle that has a right angle.
well as related topics including oblique triangles B. OBLIQUE TRIANGLE. A triangle that does not have a
right angle. Acute triangle and obtuse triangle are
and complex numbers
oblique triangles.
2. Defined the different terminologies used in
trigonometry Isosceles Triangle (triangle with two sides equal
3. Use different formulas in solving problems and two angles equal) could be a right triangle or
an oblique triangle.
Topic Outline:

 Plane Trigonometry ANGLES AND ITS MEASUREMENTS

 The Pythagorean Theorem
 Oblique Triangles Angle is the space between intersecting rays or lines.
 Law of Sines and Cosines The point of intersection is called vertex. Angles are
 Law of Tangents positive when measured counterclockwise (ccw) and
 Trigonometric Identities negative in clockwise (cw) direction.

TRIGONOMETRY
Trigonometry is the study of triangles by applying the
relations between the sides and the angles. The term
“trigonometry” comes from the Greek word “trigonon” which ∅
means triangle and “metria” meaning measurements.

BRANCHES OF TRIGONOMETRY An acute angle is an angle <90°

A right angle is an angle =90°
A. PLANE TRIGONOMETRY. Deals with triangles in the two An obtuse angle is an angle >90°
dimensions of the plane. A straight angle is an angle =180°

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 1

A reflex angle is an angle >180° 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
cos𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
Complementary angles are angles whose sum is 90°
Supplementary angles are angles whose sum is 180° 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan𝜃 =
Explementary angles are angles whose sum is 360° 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

Units used in Measuring Angles 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

cot𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒

360 degrees ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒

2𝜋 radians sec𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
1 revolution 400 grads
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
400 gons csc𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
6400 mils

2. PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
PLANE RIGHT TRIANGLE
Pythagorean theorem is the most renowned of all
1. FUNDAMENTAL TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS mathematical theorems. It is considered as the most
proved theorem in mathematics. This was formulated by
Pythagoras (c.580-c 500 B.C.) about 500 B.C.

Pythagorean theorem states the “In a right triangle, the

sum of the squares of the sides is equal to the square of
the hypotenuse”.

𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
sin𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒

a2 + b2 = c2

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 2

 3. SPECIAL TRIANGLES
ANGLES OF DEPRESSION
A. EGYPTIAN TRIANGLE An angle formed between the horizontal line and the line
of sight when an observer looks downwards at an object.

B. 45° - 45° RIGHT TRIANGLE

ANGLE OF ELEVATION
An angle between the horizontal plane and oblique line
from the observer’s eye to some object above his eye.

C. 30° - 60° RIGHT TRIANGLE

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 3

OTHER ELEMENTS AND PROPERTIES OF A TRIANGLE Using Herons Formula: Named after Heron of
1. Given base and altitude Alexandria (1st century AD)

A = √𝒔(𝒔 − 𝒂)(𝒔 − 𝒃)(𝒔 − 𝒄)

𝑎+𝑏+𝑐
s = 2

The area under this condition can also be solved by

finding one angle using cosine law and apply the
formula for two sides and included angle.
Given three angles A, B, and C and one side a:

𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶
Area =
2. Given 2 sides and included angle 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐴

The area under this condition can also be solved by

finding one side using sine law and apply the
formula for two sides and included angle.

4. Triangle inscribed in a circle

3. Given 3 sides

5. Triangle circumscribing a circle

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 4

 4ma2=2b2+2c2-a2
4mb2=2a2+2c2-b2
4mc2=2a2+2b2-c2

ALTITUDES OF A TRIANGLE
The altitude of a triangle is the line drawn from
one vertex perpendicular to its opposite side. The
altitudes of a triangle intersect at a point called the
orthocenter of the triangle.

6. Triangle with escribed circle

𝟐𝑨𝑻
𝒉𝒂 =
𝒂
𝟐𝑨𝑻
𝒉𝒃 =
𝒃
MEDIAN OF A TRIANGLE 𝟐𝑨𝑻
The median of a triangle is the line drawn from one 𝒉𝒄 =
𝒄
vertex to the midpoint of its opposite side. The medians
of a triangle intersect at a common point called the ANGLE BISECTORS OF A TRIANGLE
centroid of the triangle The angle bisector of a triangle is the line drawn
from one vertex to the opposite side bisecting the angle
included between the other two sides. The angle bisectors
of a triangle intersect at a point called the incenter of
the triangle.

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 5

 1. LAWS OF SINES
This solution to an oblique triangle is used when
the given are:
A. Two angles and one opposite side or
B. Two sides and opposite angle
This was demonstrated by Ptolemy of Alexandria in
150 A.D.

𝒂 𝒃 𝒄
= =
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝑨 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝑩 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝑪
OBLIQUE TRIANGLE
The four Cases
We shall now take up the solution of oblique 2. LAWS OF COSINES
triangles by methods that do not require breaking them up This solution to an oblique triangle is used when
into right triangles. Problems in the solution of oblique the given are:
triangles may be classified into the following four
cases: A. Two sides and the included angle or
CASE I: Two angles and a side given B. Three sides
CASE II: Two sides and the angle opposite one of them
give. a2 = b2 + c2 – 2abcosA
CASE III: Two sides and the included angle given b2 = a2 + c2 – 2accosB
CASE IV: Three sides given c2 = a2 + b2 – 2abcosC
Certain formulas are necessary for handling the
various cases.

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 6

 The following are the trigonometric identities:
3. LAWS OF TANGENTS
This solution to an oblique triangle is used when 1. RECIPROCAL RELATIONS
the given are two sides and the included angle. sinA =
𝟏
𝒄𝒔𝒄 𝑨
𝟏 𝟏
𝒂−𝒃 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟐 (𝑨 − 𝑩) cosA = 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝑨
= 𝟏 𝟏
𝒂+𝒃 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟐 (𝑨 + 𝑩) tanA = 𝒄𝒐𝒕 𝑨
𝟏
cotA =
QUADRANTAL TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝑨
𝟏
secA = 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑨
𝟏
cscA = 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑨

2. EVEN-ODD IDENTITIES
sin(-𝜽) = -sin𝜽
cos(-𝜽) = cos𝜽
tan(-𝜽) = -tan𝜽
cot(-𝜽) = -cot𝜽
sec(-𝜽) = -sec𝜽
csc(-𝜽) = -csc𝜽

3. COFUNCTION IDENTITIES
sin𝜽 = cos (90-𝜽)
cos𝜽 = sin (90-𝜽)
TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES tan𝜽 = cot (90-𝜽)
cot𝜽 = tan (90-𝜽)
Trigonometric Identities are equations that express
relations among trigonometric functions which are true sec𝜽 = csc (90-𝜽)
for all values of the variables involved. csc𝜽 = sec (𝟗𝟎 − 𝜽)

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 7

 4. PYTHAGOREAN RELATIONS 9. FUNCTIONS OF HALF ANGLES
sin2A + cos2A = 1 𝑨 𝟏−𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑨
1 + cot2A = csc2A sin𝟐 = ±√ 𝟐
1 + tan2A = sec2A 𝑨 𝟏+𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑨
cos𝟐 = ±√ 𝟐
5. SUM OF ANGLES FORMULAS 𝑨
tan𝟐 =
𝟏−𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑨
=
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝑨
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝑨 𝟏+𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑨
sin(A+B) = sinAcosB + cosAsinB
cos(A+B) = cosAcosB - sinAsinB
𝒕𝒂𝒏𝑨+𝒕𝒂𝒏𝑩
10. SUM OF TWO ANGLES
tan(A+B) = 𝟏 𝟏
𝟏−𝒕𝒂𝒏𝑨𝒕𝒂𝒏𝑩 sinA + sinB = 2sin𝟐 (𝑨 + 𝑩)𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐 (𝑨 − 𝑩)
𝟏 𝟏
6. DIFFERENCE OF ANGLES cosA + cosB = 2cos𝟐 (𝑨 + 𝑩)𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐 (𝑨 − 𝑩)
sin(A-B) = sinAcosB - cosAsinB 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝑨+𝑩)
tanA + tanB = 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑨𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑩
cos(A-B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinB
𝒕𝒂𝒏𝑨−𝒕𝒂𝒏𝑩
tan(A-B) = 11. DIFFERENCE OF TWO FUNCTIONS
𝟏+𝒕𝒂𝒏𝑨𝒕𝒂𝒏𝑩
𝟏 𝟏
sinA - sinB = 2cos𝟐 (𝑨 + 𝑩)𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐 (𝑨 − 𝑩)
7. DOUBLE ANGLE FORMULAS 𝟏 𝟏
sin2A = 2sinAcosA cosA - cosB = 2sin𝟐 (𝑨 + 𝑩)𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐 (𝑨 − 𝑩)
𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝑨−𝑩)
cos2A = cos2A-sin2A tanA - tanB = 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑨𝒄𝒐𝒔𝑩
𝟐 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝑨
tan2A = 𝟏−𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝑨
12. PRODUCT OF TWO FUNCTIONS
2sinAsinB = cos(A-B) - cos(A+B)
8. POWER OF FUNCTIONS 2sinAcosB = sin(A+B) + sin(A-B)
𝟏 2cosAcosB = cos(A+B) + cos(A-B)
sin2A = (𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐𝑨)
𝟐
𝟏
cos2A = (𝟏 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐𝑨)
𝟐
𝟏−𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐𝑨
tan2A = 𝟏+𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐𝑨

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 8

PROBLEM EXERCISES: Find C, a, and b.
10. One diagonal of parallelogram is 16.5. It makes angle
1. Solve for x: x=1-(sin𝜃-cos𝜃)2.
of 36° and 14° respectively with the sides. Find the sides.
2. The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 34cm. Find the
11. Solve the triangle. Given that a=20, b=10, A=75°.
length of the shortest leg if it is 14 cm shorter than
12. Solve the triangle. Given that a=25, b=30, C=50°.
the other leg.
Find A, B and c.
3. Two sides of a triangle measures 6cm, and 8cm, and
13. Solve the triangle. Given that a=5, b=6, c=9. Find A,
their included angle is 40°. Find the third side.
B and C.
4. In triangle ABC, angle C=70 degrees; angle A=45
degrees; AB=40m. What is the length of the median drawn
from vertex A to side BC? References:
5. Given a triangle ABC whose angles are A=40°, Rider, Paul R., Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. The
B=95° and side b=30cm. Find the length of the bisector of McMillan Co., New York
angle C.
6. An observer wishes to determine the height of a tower.
He takes sights at the top of Engineering Mathematics Third Edition, Excel Academic
the tower from A and B, which are 50 feet apart, at the Council
same elevation on a direct line with the tower. The angle
of elevation at point A is 30° and at point B is 40°. What
is the height of the tower?
7. A ladder 36 ft long rest against a wall, its foot
being at a horizontal distance of 25 feet from the base
of the wall. What angle does the ladder make with the
ground?
8. From the top of a cliff 250 feet high the angle of
depression of a boat is 10°. How far out is the boat from
the foot of the cliff?
9. Solve the triangle. Given A=40°, B=60°, c=50.

MATH 111-MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERS PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN 9