Trigonometric Ratios

Opposite & Adjacent Sides in a Right-Angled Triangle

In the ΔABC right-angled at B, BC is the side opposite to ∠A, AC is the hypotenuse, and AB is the side
adjacent to ∠A.

Trigonometric Ratios
For the right ΔABC, right-angled at ∠B, the trigonometric ratios of the ∠A are as follows:

 sin A=opposite side/hypotenuse=BC/AC

 cos A=adjacent side/hypotenuse=AB/AC

 tan A=opposite side/adjacent side=BC/AB

 cosec A=hypotenuse/opposite side=AC/BC

 sec A=hypotenuse/adjacent side=AC/AB

 cot A=adjacent side/opposite side=AB/BC

Relation between Trigonometric Ratios

 cosec θ =1/sin θ

 sec θ = 1/cos θ

 tan θ = sin θ/cos θ

 cot θ = cos θ/sin θ=1/tan θ

base BC = 3cm and perpendicular AB = 4cm. Also, ∠ACB = θ. Find the trigonometric ratios tan θ, sin
Example: Suppose a right-angled triangle ABC, right-angled at B such that hypotenuse AC = 5cm,

θ and cos θ.

Solution: Given, in ∆ABC,

Hypotenuse, AC = 5cm

Base, BC = 3cm

Perpendicular, AB = 4cm

Then, by the trigonometric ratios, we have;

tan θ = Perpendicular/Base = 4/3

Sin θ = Perpendicular/Hypotenuse = AB/AC = ⅘

Cos θ = Base/Hypotenuse = BC/AC = ⅗

Visualization of Trigonometric Ratios Using a Unit Circle

Draw a circle of the unit radius with the origin as the centre. Consider a line segment OP joining a
point P on the circle to the centre, which makes an angle θ with the x-axis. Draw a perpendicular
from P to the x-axis to cut it at Q.

 sin θ=PQ/OP=PQ/1=PQ

 cos θ=OQ/OP=OQ/1=OQ

 tan θ=PQ/OQ=sin θ/cos θ

 cosec θ=OP/PQ=1/PQ

 sec θ=OP/OQ=1/OQ

 cot θ=OQ/PQ=cos θ/sin θ

Visualisation of Trigonometric Ratios Using a Unit Circle

Trigonometric Ratios of Specific Angles

The specific angles that are defined for trigonometric ratios are 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°.

Trigonometric Ratios of 45°

If one of the angles of a right-angled triangle is 45°, then another angle will also be equal to 45°.

Let us say ABC is a right-angled triangle at B, such that;

∠ A = ∠ C = 45°

Thus, BC = AB = a (say)

Using Pythagoras theorem, we have;

AC2 = AB2 + BC2

= a2 + a2

= 2a2

AC = a√2

Now, from the trigonometric ratios, we have;

 sin 45° = (Opp. side to angle 45°)/Hypotenuse = BC/AC = a/a√2 = 1/√2

 cos 45° = (Adj. side to angle 45°)/Hypotenuse = AB/AC = a/a√2 = 1/√2

 tan 45° = BC/AB = a/a = 1

Similarly,

 cosec 45° = 1/sin 45° = √2

 sec 45° = 1/cos 45° = √2

 cot 45° = 1/tan 45° = 1

Trigonometric Ratios of 30° and 60°

Here, we will consider an equilateral triangle ABC, such that;

AB = BC = AC = 2a

∠A = ∠B = ∠C = 60°

Now, draw a perpendicular AD from vertex A that meets BC at D

According to the congruency of the triangle, we can say;

Δ ABD ≅ Δ ACD

Hence,

BD = DC

∠ BAD = ∠ CAD (By CPCT)

Now, in triangle ABD, ∠ BAD = 30° and ∠ ABD = 60°

Using Pythagoras theorem,

AD2 = AB2 – BD2

= (2a)2 – (a)2

= 3a2

AD = a√3

So, the trigonometric ratios for a 30-degree angle will be;

sin 30° = BD/AB = a/2a = 1/2

cos 30° = AD/AB = a√3/2a = √3/2

tan 30° = BD/AD = a/a√3 = 1/√3

Also,

cosec 30° = 1/sin 30 = 2

sec 30° = 1/cos 30 = 2/√3

cot 30° = 1/tan 30 = √3

Similarly, we can derive the values of trigonometric ratios for 60°.

 sin 60° = √3/2

  cos 60° = 1/2

 tan 60° = √3

 cosec 60° = 2/√3

 sec 60° = 2

 cot 60° = 1/√3

Trigonometric Ratios of 0° and 90°

If ABC is a right-angled triangle at B, if ∠A is reduced, then side AC will come near to side AB. So, if ∠
A is nearing 0 degree, then AC becomes almost equal to AB, and BC get almost equal to 0.

Hence, Sin A = BC /AC = 0

and cos A = AB/AC = 1

tan A = sin A/cos A = 0/1 = 0

Also,

cosec A = 1/sin A = 1/0 = not defined

sec A = 1/cos A = 1/1 = 1

cot A = 1/tan A = 1/0 = not defined

In the same way, we can find the values of trigonometric ratios for a 90-degree angle. Here, angle C is
reduced to 0, and the side AB will be nearing side BC such that angle A is almost 90 degrees and AB is
almost 0.

Range of Trigonometric Ratios from 0 to 90 Degrees

For 0∘≤θ≤90∘,

 0 ≤ sin θ ≤ 1

 0 ≤ cos θ ≤ 1

 0 ≤ tan θ < ∞
1 ≤ sec θ < ∞

 0 ≤ cot θ < ∞

 1 ≤ cosec θ < ∞

tan θ and sec θ are not defined at 90∘.

cot θ and cosec θ are not defined at 0∘.

Variation of Trigonometric Ratios from 0 to 90 Degrees

As θ increases from 0∘ to 90∘

 sin θ increases from 0 to 1

 cos θ decreases from 1 to 0

 tan θ increases from 0 to ∞

 cosec θ decreases from ∞ to 1

 sec θ increases from 1 to ∞

 cot θ decreases from ∞ to 0

Standard Values of Trigonometric Ratios

∠A 0o 30o 45o 60o 90o

sin A 0 1/2 1/√2 √3/2 1

cos A 1 √3/2 1/√2 1/2 0

tan A 0 1/√3 1 √3 not defined

cosec A not defined 2 √2 2/√3 1

 sec A 1 2/√3 √2 2 not defined

cot A not defined √3 1 1/√3 0

Trigonometric Ratios of Complementary Angles

Complementary Trigonometric Ratios

If θ is an acute angle, its complementary angle is 90∘−θ. The following relations hold true for
trigonometric ratios of complementary angles.

 sin (90°− θ) = cos θ

 cos (90°− θ) = sin θ

 tan (90°− θ) = cot θ

 cot (90°− θ) = tan θ

 cosec (90°− θ) = sec θ

 sec (90°− θ) = cosec θ

Example: Find the value of sin65°/cos25°.

Solution: Since,

cos A = sin (90° – A)

cos 25° = sin (90° – 25°)

= sin 65°

Hence, sin65°/sin65° = 1

Trigonometric Identities
The three most important trigonometric identities are:

 sin2θ+cos2θ=1

 1+cot2θ=coesc2θ

 1+tan2θ=sec2θ

Example: Prove that sec A (1 – sin A)(sec A + tan A) = 1.

Solution: We will start solving for LHS, to get RHS.

sec A (1 – sin A)(sec A + tan A) = (1/cos A)(1 – sin A)(1/cos A + sin A/cos A)

= [(1 – sin A)(1 + sin A)]/cos2 A

= [1 – sin2A]/cos2A

= (cos2A)/(cos2A)
=1

Hence proved.

Trigonometry for Class 10 Solved Problems

Example 1:

Find Sin A and Sec A, if 15 cot A = 8.

Solution:

Given that 15 cot A = 8

Therefore, cot A = 8/15.

We know that tan A = 1/ cot A

Hence, tan A = 1/(8/15) = 15/8.

Thus, Side opposite to ∠A/Side Adjacent to ∠A = 15/8

Let BC be the side opposite to ∠A and AB be the side adjacent to ∠A and AC be the hypotenuse of
the right triangle ABC, respectively.

Hence, BC = 15x and AB = 8x.

Hence, to find the hypotenuse side, we have to use the Pythagoras theorem.

(i.e) AC2 = AB2 + BC2

AC2 = (8x)2+(15x)2

AC2 = 64x2+225x2

AC2 = 289x2

AC = 17x.

Therefore, the hypotenuse AC = 17x.

Finding Sin A:
We know Sin A = Side Opposite to ∠A / Hypotenuse

Sin A = 15x/17x

Sin A = 15/17.

Finding Sec A:

To find Sec A, find cos A first.

Thus, cos A = Side adjacent to ∠A / Hypotenuse

Cos A = 8x/17x

We know that sec A = 1/cos A.

So, Sec A = 1/(8x/17x)

Sec A = 17x/8x

Sec A = 17/8.

Therefore, Sin A = 15/17 and sec A = 17/8.

Example 2:

If tan (A+ B) =√3, tan (A-B) = 1/√3, then find A and B. [Given that 0° <A+B ≤ 90°; A>B ]

Solution:

Given that

Tan (A+B) = √3.

We know that tan 60 = √3.

Thus, tan (A+B) = tan 60° = √3.

Hence A+B= 60° …(1)

Similarly, given that,

Tan (A-B) = 1/√3.

We know that tan 30° = 1/√3.

Thus, tan (A-B) = tan 30° = 1/√3.

Hence, A-B = 30° …(2)

Now, adding the equations (1) and (2), we get

A+B+A-B = 60° + 30°

2A = 90°

A = 45°.

Now, substitute A = 45° in equation (1), we get

45° +B = 60°
B = 60°- 45°

B = 15°

Hence, A = 45 and B = 15°.