Introducing Trigonometry

Amanda Austin
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Teacher Notes
Prerequisite
Knowledge Future Links
• Know the names and properties of • Finding missing lengths in right-
different types of triangles angled triangles using trigonometry
• Know and use angle rules involving • Finding missing angles in right-
triangles angled triangles using trigonometry
• Know the properties of similar • Solve geometric problems involving
triangles right-angled trigonometry
• Find missing lengths and angles in • Find missing angles and lengths in
similar triangles non right-angled triangles
• Understand links between ratio and
fractions
• Simplify ratios and fractions
• Know and apply Pythagoras’ theorem
to right-angled triangles

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Skills in this Lesson
321 Trigonometry to determine side lengths in a right-angled triangle
321a Label sides relative to a given angle in a right-angled triangle
321b Select a trigonometric ratio

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Contents
For lessons covering many concepts, please click the below to navigate
quickly to the relevant part of the lesson.

Prerequisite Knowledge Check

Recap: Similar Triangles

Investigating Similar Triangles

The Big Idea: Labelling Right-Angled Triangles

The Big Idea: The Sine Ratio

The Big Idea: The Cosine Ratio

The Big Idea: The Tangent Ratio

Exercise: Introducing Trigonometry

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 Show

Prerequisite Knowledge Check all

solutio
ns

1 Decide which of these 2 Label the hypotenuse for each

triangles are right-angled. of these right-angled
triangles.
a b a b H
𝟔𝟓
𝟕𝟏 H
𝟐𝟗

Ye?
𝟐𝟓 ?
No
s H
𝟒𝟓
c c

?
Ye Reveal
s
3 Write these ratios in their 4 Write these fractions in their
simplest form. simplest form.
a 10 : 2 b 21 : 35 a 6 𝟏 b 40 𝟒
?
18 𝟑 70 ?
𝟕
𝟓 :?𝟏 𝟑 ?: 𝟓
c 45 :25 :20 d 6 : 18 : 12 c 32 𝟐 d 15 𝟑
?
80 𝟓
?
50 𝟏𝟎
𝟗 :?𝟓 : 𝟒 𝟏 :?𝟑 : 𝟐
Recap: Similar Triangles
When two (or more) triangles are similar:
The ratio of
All three angles are
corresponding side
equal in size
lengths is equal
mm
mm
𝟑𝟎 𝟔𝟓 𝟒𝟎 : 𝟔𝟎 : 𝟖𝟎
𝟖𝟓
mm
÷ 20
𝟔𝟓
𝟖𝟓 cm

𝟑𝟎 cm 𝟐:𝟑:𝟒
cm
𝟔𝟓
×10
m
m
𝟖𝟓 𝟎 . 𝟐: 𝟎 .𝟑 :𝟎 . 𝟒
𝟑𝟎
m
Test Your Understanding

Match up pairs of similar triangles given the information

shown.
cm cm
𝟑𝟎 cm
A B C cm
𝟕𝟎 cm cm

𝟖𝟎
cm cm E G
D 𝟖𝟎
mm mm
cm 𝟔𝟎
F
𝟑𝟎
Reveal mm
Recap: Similar Triangles
When we know triangles are similar, we can find missing
We can comparelengths. We can compare
cm between the two cm within a triangle
triangles to find a scale to find a
factor. multiplier

cm cm cm cm
×1.5

×4 cm
cm

→ × 1.5

cm cm cm cm
×4↓ ↓×4
cm cm cm cm
→ × 1.5
𝑥=6 × 4 Which do 𝑥 ×1.5=36
you
cm cm
prefer?
Recap: Similar Triangles
When we know triangles are similar, we can find missing
mm
×2.5 lengths.
mm
WITHIN
BETWEEN
the
the triangles
triangles

mm mm mm mm

×2
mm mm
→ ×2

mm mm mm mm
×2.5 ↓ ↓ ×2.5 mm mm
mm mm
→ ×2
𝑦 × 2.5=90 Which do 𝑦 =18 × 2
you
mm mm
prefer?
Test Your Understanding
The two triangles are The two triangles are
similar. Find the missing similar. Find the missing
length length
cm
m m

cm cm

cm m

4
→× → × 0.8
3
cm cm 8 m m 8
×3 ↓ ? ↓ ×3 × ↓ ? ↓×
cm cm 3 m m 3
4
→× → × 0.8
3

cm
? ?m
Investigating Similar Triangles

Look at these right-angled triangles.

What is the same and what is
×2
different?
×2
×2
cm
cm cm
cm
cm cm
𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝟎

Similarities Differences
The triangles all have a The triangles have
right-angle and a angle different side lengths
The length of the
hypotenuse is always
twice as long as the
other given side
Investigating Similar Triangles

cm
cm cm
cm
cm cm
𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝟎

Can you use the triangles given to find the

missing lengths in the triangles below?

a b

?
cm cm
cm ?
cm
𝟑𝟎 𝟑𝟎
Investigating Similar Triangles
Compare these two sets of right-angled
triangles.
What is the same and what is different?
cm
cm cm
cm
cm cm
𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝟎
The length of the hypotenuse stays the
same.

cm cm
cm
cm cm
𝟒𝟎
cm
𝟒𝟎
𝟒𝟎
As the angle changes to , the length of
the other given side changes too.
Test Your Understanding
Using the reference triangles, can you find the
missing lengths in these similar triangles?

cm cm
cm cm

𝟑𝟎 𝟒𝟎
a b a

?
cm cm
𝟑𝟎 ?
cm
cm
𝟑𝟎 cm
𝟒𝟎

c b
mm
?
mm
𝟑𝟎
?
cm 𝟒𝟎
mm ?
mm
Investigating Similar Triangles
Compare these two right-angled
triangles.
What is the same and what is
different?
cm cm
cm

𝟑𝟎 𝟑𝟎
cm

Similarities Differences
The triangles both have The first triangle gives
a right-angle and a the length of the ‘right’
angle side, whereas the
Both triangles have a
second triangle gives
hypotenuse of length
the length of the
cm
‘bottom’ side
Investigating Similar Triangles
Use this reference triangle to find the
missing lengths in these triangles.

a
cm
?
cm

𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝟎
cm
cm

b c

𝟑𝟎
cm 𝟑𝟎 ?
mm

?
cm
mm
Investigating Similar Triangles
Which of these reference triangles would you
choose to find the missing lengths in each of these
triangles? Why?
cm cm
cm
𝟑𝟎
1 𝟑𝟎
2
cm

a b c
m
mm

1? 2
?
𝟑𝟎 m 𝟑𝟎
mm
cm
cm
2
? 𝟑𝟎 As we introduce different pairs of
sides and triangles with different
orientations, we need a consistent
language when naming sides.
The Big Idea: Labelling Right-Angled
Triangles
The hypotenuse of a
right-angled triangle
is the longest side and is H The opposite side of
opposite the right-angle. a right-angled triangle
O is across from the
marked angle.
𝟑𝟔

A
The adjacent side of a
right-angled triangle is
next to the marked angle.
Label the sides of
these right-angled
triangles:
A
O H O
𝟕𝟑

𝟓𝟒
H
A
Quickfire Questions [Link]/ 321a
s/

Is this right-angled Is this right-angled

triangle correctly triangle correctly
labelled? labelled?
A
H
O O
𝟑𝟏
𝟑𝟖
A ?
Yes H ?
No

Complete the Complete the

table: table:
𝐂 𝐀
AB ?
O AB ?
O
BC ?A 𝟒𝟖 𝐁 BC ?H
AC H 𝟔𝟓 AC ?A
𝐂
𝐀 𝐁
The Big Idea: Introducing Trigonometry
We have seen that for all right-angled triangles
with the same given angle:

H H
cm cm
cm
O
𝟑𝟎 𝟑𝟎
cm
A

The ratio of the length The ratio of the length

of the opposite side of the adjacent side
to the length of the to the length of the
hypotenuse is always hypotenuse is always
the same. the same.
This is called the This is called the
sine ratio. cosine ratio.
Test Your Understanding

Using the given sides on the right-angled

triangles,
which ratio should you apply?
H
H 58
12
7 O 𝒙
𝒙
45 A

Sine Cosine Sine Cosine

𝒙 H O
1.5 5
A 2.6
𝒙
8 H

Sine Cosine Sine Cosine

The Big Idea: The Sine Ratio
When we simplify, the
cm ratio O:H is always
cm O H
We can also write this in
𝟑𝟎 the form

O H
mm
mm O H
÷2↓ ↓÷2
𝟑𝟎 ↓ ÷13
÷ 13 ↓

𝟏
𝟎.𝟓
m O H
m 𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝟎 ÷9↓ ↓÷9 This is gives us our
reference triangle for the
sine ratio when the
given angle is
The Big Idea: The Sine Ratio

Using each of these reference triangles, complete the ratio

tables.
𝟏
𝟎 . 𝟔𝟒𝟑 𝟏 𝟏
𝟎 . 𝟕𝟖𝟖 𝟎 . 𝟗𝟐𝟏
𝟒𝟎
𝟓𝟐
𝟔𝟕

O H O H O H

? ? ?
? ? ?
? ? ?
The Big Idea: The Sine Ratio
We can see how the reference triangles change for each
angle: In each of the
reference
triangles, the
hypotenuse is
As the angle
increases, the
length of the
opposite side also
increases.

𝟏
𝟏𝟏 𝟎 . 𝟗𝟖𝟓 𝟎 . 𝟗𝟒𝟎
𝟏 𝟎 . 𝟗𝟐𝟏
𝟏 𝟎 . 𝟕𝟖𝟖
𝟏 𝟎 . 𝟔𝟒𝟑
𝟏 𝟎.𝟓
𝟎 . 𝟑𝟒𝟐
𝟏
𝟕𝟎
𝟖𝟎
𝟔𝟕
𝟓𝟐 𝟎 . 𝟏𝟕𝟒
𝟒𝟎𝟑𝟎
𝟐𝟎 𝟏𝟎
The Big Idea: The Cosine Ratio
Similarly, we can have reference triangles for the cosine
ratio, which link the adjacent side and hypotenuse.
Can you complete the ratio tables for A:H?

𝟏
𝟏 𝟏
𝟒𝟎
𝟓𝟐
𝟎 . 𝟕𝟔𝟔 𝟔𝟕
𝟎 . 𝟔𝟏𝟔
𝟎 . 𝟑𝟗𝟏
A H A H A H

? ? ?
? ? ?
? ? ?
The Big Idea: The Cosine Ratio
We can see how the adjacent length changes in each of
the reference triangles:
As the angle
increases, the
length of the
adjacent side
decreases.

𝟏
𝟏𝟏
𝟏 𝟏
𝟏
𝟏
𝟏
𝟕𝟎
𝟖𝟎
𝟔𝟕𝟓𝟐
𝟒𝟎𝟑𝟎𝟐𝟎 𝟏𝟎
𝟎 . 𝟏𝟕𝟒
𝟎𝟎. 𝟑𝟒𝟐
. 𝟑𝟗𝟏𝟎 . 𝟔𝟏𝟔
𝟎𝟎..𝟎
𝟕𝟔𝟔
𝟖𝟔𝟔
𝟎. 𝟗𝟒𝟎
. 𝟗𝟖𝟓
From Ratios to Formulae
For a triangle: For a general triangle:

𝟐 𝐇
𝟏 𝐎
𝟑𝟎 We are 𝒙
dividing by We are
to get a dividing by
unit to get a unit
O H O H hypotenuse
hypotenus
e
÷2↓ ↓÷2 ÷H↓ ↓÷ H
𝟎.𝟓 𝟏 𝐎 𝟏
𝐇
The value of sine The value of sine
for a angle is for an angle is
We write this
O
as:
sin ( 30 )=0.5 sin ( 𝑥 )=
H
The Big Idea: Trigonometric Formulae

For any right- H

angled triangle O
with given angle :
𝒙
A

The sine of The cosine of

angle is given by: angle is given
by:
opposite adjacent
sin ( 𝑥 )= cos ( 𝑥 )=
hypotenuse hypotenuse

Note: When we write sine and cosine

in their trigonometric formulae, we
abbreviate them to and .
Example Test Your
Understanding
Write down the Write down the
value of value of

O H
A mm cm
mm 𝒚
cm
𝒙
mm cm A
H O
Label the
sides:
Complete the Label sides?
ratio:
opposite opposite
sin ( 𝑥 )=¿ ¿ sin ( 𝑦 )=¿ ¿
hypotenuse hypotenuse
𝟒
Sine ratio?
𝟏𝟓
𝐬𝐢𝐧 ( 𝒙 )=¿ ¿ ( )
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒚 =¿ ¿
𝟓 𝟏𝟕
Example Test Your
Understanding
Write down the Write down the
value of value of
A H
m cm
O 𝒚
m 𝒙
cm
m
A cm
H
Label the O
sides:
Complete the Label sides?
ratio:
adjacent adjacent
cos ( 𝑥 )=¿ ¿ cos ( 𝑦 ) =¿ ¿
hypotenuse hypotenuse
𝟐𝟒 𝟏𝟐
Cosine ratio?
𝟏𝟐 𝟒
𝐜𝐨𝐬 ( 𝒙 ) =¿ = ¿ ( )
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒚 =¿ = ¿
𝟐𝟔 𝟏𝟑 𝟏𝟓 𝟓
Spot the Mistakes
Viktor and Hannah are finding the value of in each of these
right-angled triangles. Can you spot any mistakes they
have made and correct their working?

H A
𝒙 O
cm mm mm
cm
𝒙 O
cm mm
A
H
adjacent opposite
cos ( 𝑥 )=¿ ¿ cos ( 𝑥 )=¿ ¿
hypotenuse hypotenuse
𝟏𝟐 𝟒𝟖
𝐜𝐨𝐬 ( 𝒙 ) =¿ ¿ 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ( 𝒙 ) =¿ ¿
𝟏𝟑 𝟕𝟑
Viktor has labelled his Hannah has used the
triangle incorrectly. His opposite instead of the
answer should? be ?
adjacent. Their answer
should be
Vikto Hannah
Quickfire Questions
Write down the value of Write down the value of
O H
A m 𝒕 A
cm
m cm
𝒙
m
𝟑 cm 𝟐𝟏
H ?
𝟓 ?
𝟐𝟗
O

Write down the value of Write down the value of

A H
mm cm
O
𝒃 mm 𝒚
cm
mm cm
𝟑𝟑 O 𝟒𝟓
H ?
𝟔𝟓 A ?
𝟓𝟑
Deeper Thinking
Here is the reference Here is the reference
triangle for triangle for
H H
O A
𝟏 ? 𝟏 𝟔𝟎
𝟎.𝟓 𝟎.𝟓
𝟑𝟎
What
What
Whataredo
is
𝟎 . 𝟖𝟔𝟔 the you
values
size of 𝟎 . 𝟖𝟔𝟔
A ofnotice?
the
and ? O
Why does
unmarked
this
sin ( 30 ) = 0.5 angle? sin ( 60 )= 0.866
happen?
cos ( 30 )=0.866 cos ( 60 )= 0.5
The two triangles are the same, but when the
marked angle becomes rather than , the opposite
and adjacent side switch. This means in the 1st
triangle is equal to in the 2nd triangle, and vice
versa.
Investigating Similar Triangles
Let’s introduce a third right-angled triangle.
How is this different to the sine and cosine reference
triangles?
cm cm
cm cm
sine cosine ?
𝟑𝟎 𝟑𝟎 𝟑𝟎
cm cm

Similarities Differences
All triangles both have a The third triangle does
right-angle and a angle not have a hypotenuse
of cm
The third triangle has
lengths of both the
opposite and adjacent
sides
Investigating Similar Triangles

Use this reference triangle

to find the missing lengths cm
in these triangles. 𝟑𝟎
cm

a b
?
cm
𝟑𝟎 cm
𝟑𝟎
cm
?
cm

O A O A

? ?
Test Your Understanding

Using each of these reference triangles, complete the ratio

tables.

𝟎 . 𝟖𝟑𝟗
𝟏 . 𝟐𝟖𝟎 𝟐 . 𝟑𝟓𝟔
𝟒𝟎
𝟓𝟐
𝟏 𝟔𝟕
𝟏
𝟏

O A O A O A

? ? ?
? ? ?
? ? ?
The Big Idea: The Tangent Ratio
For a general triangle: Our third trigonometric
formula links the lengths
of the opposite and
𝐎 adjacent sides:
𝒙 We are
dividing by
𝐀 to get a unit
adjacent O
side
O A 𝒙
A
÷ A↓ ↓÷ A
𝐎 𝟏
𝐀 opposite
tan ( 𝑥 )=
This ratio is called the
adjacent
tangent ratio and we
Note that tangent
can see that it is equal is abbreviated to
to tan
The Big Idea: The Tangent Ratio

opposite
tan ( 𝑥 )= O
adjacent 𝒙
In this orientation, the A
adjacent length is the
change in , and the
opposite length is the
change in .
We can look at
how the tangent 𝟐 . 𝟕𝟒𝟕
∆𝑦 ratio changes as
tan ( 𝑥 )= the angle 𝟐 . 𝟑𝟓𝟔
∆𝑥 changes:
𝟏 . 𝟐𝟖𝟎
The tangent ratio is equal
to the gradient of the 𝟎 . 𝟖𝟑𝟗
hypotenuse 𝟎𝟎..𝟑𝟔𝟒
𝟓𝟕𝟕
𝟔𝟕
𝟕𝟎𝟓𝟐
𝟑𝟎
𝟒𝟎𝟐𝟎
Example Test Your
Understanding
Write down the Write down the
value of value of
A H
𝒙 H
mm m
mm

𝒚
m
mm
m O
O
A
Label the
sides:
Complete the Label sides?
ratio:
opposite opposite
tan ( 𝑥 )=¿ ¿ tan ( 𝑦 ) =¿ ¿
adjacent adjacent
Tangent ratio?
𝟐𝟒 𝟒
𝐭𝐚𝐧 ( 𝒙 )=¿ ¿ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 ( 𝒚 ) =¿ ¿
𝟕 𝟑
The Big Idea: Trigonometric Formulae

For any right-angled triangle with a given angle :

The word
H trigonometry
comes from the
O Greek ‘trigonon’
meaning
𝒙 triangle and
‘metron’
A meaning to
measure.

opposite adjacent opposite

sin ( 𝑥 )= cos ( 𝑥 )= tan ( 𝑥 )=
hypotenuse hypotenuse adjacent

To help us remember these

three ratios, we can use the
mnemonic
SOHCAHTOA
 Show

Test Your Understanding all

solutio
ns

Complete the table with the sine, cosine and tangent

ratios for each right-angled triangle.

Triangle

cm
𝒙
cm ? ?
cm
m
𝒙
m ? ? ?
m

mm

mm 𝒙 ? ? ?
mm
Test Your Understanding [Link]/ 321b
s/

Using the given sides on the right-angled

triangles,
which ratio should you apply?
𝒙 H
A 5 7 11 O
𝒙
14 A
Tangen Tangen
Sine Cosine Sine Cosine
t t

O 44 H
A 4.1 3.8
𝒙 O 23 𝒙

Tangen Tangen
Sine Cosine Sine Cosine
t t
Example Test Your
Understanding
Draw a possible right- Draw a possible right-
angled triangle where and angled triangle where and

opposite 21 adjacent 99
sin ( 𝑥)= = cos ( 𝑥)= =
hypotenuse 29 hypotenuse 101
opposite 21
?
opposite 2 0
tan( 𝑥)= = tan( 𝑥)= =
adjacent 20 adjacent 99

opposite =21 We could have opposite =20

any similar
hypotenuse=29 hypotenuse=101
?
triangle, i.e.
adjacent =20 any multiple of adjacent =99
these lengths

Or any
𝟐𝟗 similar 𝟏𝟎𝟏
𝟐𝟏 triangle ? 𝟐𝟎
𝒙 𝒙
𝟐𝟎 𝟗𝟗
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ns

1 Label the opposite, adjacent 2 Write down the value of

and hypotenuse for each of and for each of these triangles,
?
these right-angled triangles. simplifying where possible.
A
a b 65 a
? cm
H ?
O ? cm
? H ?
28 O 𝑥
?
A cm
c d
? b 𝑥 cm
H ?
O ?
? H cm ?
44 O
? 23 cm
A ?
e f
A
? ?
A 71 A? c mm
O ?H ?
50 𝑥 mm
? ?
H O
mm
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3 Complete the table.

Triangle Triangle
?
cm 𝟏𝟑 ?
𝟓
𝑥 cm ? ? ? 𝑥 ?
?
𝟏𝟐
cm
?
mm 𝟐𝟖
mm
?
? ? ? 𝟒𝟓
?
?
𝑥 𝑥 𝟓𝟑
mm

m
?
√𝟐 𝑥
m𝑥 ? ? ? ? ? ?
𝟏
m ?
𝟏

cm 37
𝑥
? ? ? ?
𝟑𝟓
𝑥 ? ? ?
cm
12
cm
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ns

N Let and
For each of the right-angled triangles shown, find the value of
What do you notice?

a b m c
𝑥 mm
cm
cm
𝑥 m mm
𝑥
m mm
cm

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
𝟏 . 𝟒 𝟐 𝟒 .𝟖 𝟐
( ) ( )
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟔 𝟖 𝟏𝟔𝟓 𝟓𝟐
+? =𝟏 +? =𝟏 +? =𝟏
𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟓 𝟓 𝟏𝟕𝟑 𝟏𝟕𝟑

?
The value is always equal to