Introduction to Trig

Durham Performance Learning Center

Opposite
Adjacent
Hypotenuse
Before you learn about trigonometry, we need a common language to talk
about it.

Basic trigonometry involves right triangles. Our angle measured
degrees, called theta, determines the names of the sides. For example, side
is directly opposite to angle .

is adjacent to side , meaning its directly beside

The hypotenuse is directly across from the right angle

A
B
C
AB
ACB
ACB
ACB

AC ACB
BAC

Opposite
Adjacent
Hypotenuse
A
B
C
To the left, you see the image
from the last slide. What would
happen if we changed our
viewpoint from
to ?


Clearly, the hypotenuse would
still be across from the right
angle. But, what would happen
to the opposite and adjacent
sides?


ACB ABC
A
B
C
Adjacent
Opposite
Hypotenuse
In the new image to the right,
we switch the location of theta.
What happens?

As expected, the hypotenuse
remains the same.

But, now side is opposite of
theta and side is adjacent
to theta.



AC
AB


A ratio expresses relationships between values.

Suppose there are 50 parking spaces in a
parking lot, but 20 are occupied. The ratio of
occupied parking spaces to free parking spaces
could be written as 20/50, or , which can be
reduced to .


Similarly, we can express ratios between side
lengths of triangles.



20
50
2
5
Suppose the angle measuring 60 degrees is our concern.
Opposite
Hypotenuse
=
7 3
14
Adjacent
Hypotenuse
=
7
14
In the last slide, we took 60 degrees as our
perspective.
What if 30 degrees was our perspective? In that
case, opposite and adjacent would switch,
thereby changing the ratios. See the table below
for a summary.


60 Degree Perspective 30 Degree
Perspective











In the coming slides, we will learn about notation
that makes these ratios simpler.




Opposite
Hypotenuse
=
7
14
Adjacent
Hypotenuse
=
7 3
14
Opposite
Hypotenuse
=
7 3
14
Adjacent
Hypotenuse
=
7
14
We have names for these ratios called sine, cosine,
and tangent. Below, you will find a list of
abbreviations











Therefore, for the triangle to the right, we have:




sin(angle measure) =
opposite
hypotenuse
cos(angle measure) =
adjacent
hypotenuse
tan(angle measure) =
opposite
adjacent
sin(60) =
7 3
14
, sin(30) =
7
14
cos(60) =
7
14
, cos(30) =
7 3
14
tan(60) =
7 3
7
, tan(30) =
7
7 3
In the last problem, we knew the triangles side lengths and its angle measures.
However, we will often not have all this information.


Youve probably found measurements on triangles given a limited amount of
information. Consider the Pythagorean theorem:

Given: 2 side lengths of a triangle
Find: The length of the third side
Example:







By the Pythagorean Theorem, the third side the hypotenuse has length 13
units.

With trigonometry, you will have questions that give you 1 side length and 1
angle, whereas this example gives you 2 side lengths. Lets see a trig example in
the next slide
5
12
a
2
+b
2
= c
2
5
2
+12
2
= c
2
25+144 = c
2
169 = c
2
169 = c
2
13 = c
Suppose you must direct your vision
l35 degrees above the horizontal to
see the top of a tree. How far are
you from the tree?

First, take into account what you
know: 1) An angle of 35 degrees
and

2) the side length opposite to that
35 degree angle is 30 ft.

Second, consider what you want to
know: the length you are from the
tree in other words, the length of
line CB. Note that line CB is
adjacent to angle C.

Now, what trigonometric function
relates opposite side to adjacent
side? If you review sine, cosine and
tangent, youll find that tangent
works.
(A) tan(35) =
30
x
(B)
x
1
*tan(35) =
30
x
*
x
1
(C) x tan(35) = 30
(D)
x tan(35)
tan(35)
=
30
tan(35)
(E) x =
30
tan(35)
But
now
what
?
See
next
slide.
.
In the last slide, we found that the distance to the tree
was , but what does this mean?

We can calculate this value in our calculator, but we
must be very careful.

Most likely, you have only learned about angles in
terms of degrees. We talk about a triangles angles
adding to 180 degrees, or a circle being 360 degrees.

Just like temperature can be measured in Fahrenheit or
Celsius, angles can be measured in degrees and
radians. You will learn about radians later, but not in
this class. Make sure your calculator is in degree
mode and not in radian mode.

Hit the MODE button and then drag your curser over the
word degree, then click Enter youll find. You may find
that the calculator is already in degree mode.

At that point, you can type 30/tan(35) and obtain 42.84.


x =
30
tan(35)
Note that there are multiple ways to find the
same missing side length. For example,
consider the two methods of finding the length
y in this right triangle. I can use the 30 degree
angle measure, or the measure of angle B,
which must be 60 degrees.


(A) tan(30) =
5
y
(B)
y
1
*tan(30) =
5
y
*
y
1
(C) ytan(30) = 5
(D)
ytan(30)
tan(30)
=
5
tan(30)
(E) y =
5
tan(30)
= 8.66
(A) tan(60) =
y
5
(B)
5
1
*tan(30) =
y
5
*
5
1
(C) 5tan(30) = y
(D) 2.89 = y
5
2.89
30

60
x
In the last slide, you saw how tangent could be
used to find that side length y is 2.89 units.
Now, you could find x by the Pythagorean
theorem, or with a trigonometric equation. Here
are several possible trigonometric equations
you could use:
(A) sin(30) =
5
x
(B)
x
1
*sin(30) =
5
x
*
x
1
(C) xsin(30) = 5
(D)
xsin(30)
sin(30)
=
5
sin(30)
(E) x =
5
sin(30)
=10
(A) cos(30) =
2.89
x
(B)
x
1
*cos(30) =
2.89
x
*
x
1
(C) xcos(30) = 2.89
(D)
xcos(30)
cos(30)
=
2.89
cos(30)
(E) x =
2.89
cos(30)
= 3.34