sl Trigonometric Ratios

Learning Outcomes:
• Define trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine and tangent) of acute angles
• Find the unknown sides and angles in right-angled triangles
• Apply trigonometric ratios to solve problems in real-world contexts

.,,
••
8.1 Pythagoras' Theorem
In a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the
sum of the squares of the other two sides.

8.2 Some Terms Involving the Right-angled Triangle

opposite

adjacent

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 (a) The side opposite the right angle is the hypotenuse.

(b) The side opposite 0 is the opposite side.

(c) The side next to 0 (but not the hypotenuse) is the adjacent side.

8.3 Trigonometric Ratios

C

A ~
B

(a) Sine of LCAB or sin LCAB

_ opposite
hypotenuse
BC
AC

(b) Cosine of LCAB or cos LCAB

= adjacent
hypotenuse
AB
=
AC

(c) Tangent of LCAB or tan LCAB

= opposite
adjacent
BC
AB

Since LABC = 900, LCAB is acute . H .. . .

ratios only apply to acute . . ence the defiruaons of the tngonometnc
ang1es m nght-angled triangles.

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j
 Using a Calculator to Find Trigonometric Raf d
s.4 ios an Angles
(a) To find the trigonometric ratio of a given angle
Step 1: Make sure that the calculator is in 'degr , d
ee mo e.
Step 2: Press sin .~ '.S[) or E .
Step 3: Key in the angle and press m.
(b) To find the angle given a trigonometric ratio
Step 1: Make sure that the calculator is in 'degree' mode.
Step 2: Press SHIFf followed by liil,- or [iiu.

Step 3: Key in the value of the ratio and press ~ -

8.5 Solving a Triangle

To solve a triangle is to find the unknown angles and sides of the
triangle.

8.6 Angle of Elevation

A

angle of ,
elevation lJ _____ _
B -- ------ horizontal

When A is observed from B, the angle between the horizontal line and
the line AB is called the angle of elevation.

8.7 Applications of Trigonometry

(a) Problems involving one or more ng. ht-ang led triangles
. may be
.
, Th and/or tngonometnc
solved by applying Pythagoras eorem
ratios.
. full . either two sides or one
(b) Study each right-angled tnangle care Y· b "' und) so that the
• and one angle are kn own (g1·ven or can e 10
side
remaining sides or angles can be calculated.

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 bi&J(;iil/ * Level 1

worked
Ex_a~-~~
A

5cm
3cm

B ..&:..-----4-c_m_ ___.__, C

The diagram shows triangle ABC. AB = 5 cm, BC= 4 cm, AC= 3 cm and
LBCA = 90°. Find
(a) sin L.ABC,
(b) cos L.ABC,
(c) tan L.ABC.

Solution
(a) sin L.ABC = AC
AB
3
=
5

(b) cos LABC = BC

AB
4
=-
5

(c) tan LABC= AC

BC
3
=
4

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~,, orked
"'Example ~
~2 , - - - - - - - - - - - -
Evaluate the following.
(a) sin 30°
(b) cos 46.7°
(c) tan 76.3°

s_aJution
(a) t'.siitJ ffi ~ litd
sin 30° = 0.5

(b) Cfo~J
cos 46.7° = 0.686 (to 3 sig. fig.)

(c) ITJCJBIGJ
tan 76.3° = 4.10 (to 3 sig. fig .)

JCaution
Make sure that the calculator is in ' degree' mode.

Given that x < 90, find the value of x for each of the following.
(a) sin x 0 = 0 .2351
(b) cos X 0 = 0.6216
(c) tan x 0 = 0.4283

Solution

~---IT)-----~
(a) sin x 0 = 0.2351
x = sin- 1 0.2351
0

= 13.6° (to 1 d.p.)

X = 13.6
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 (b) cosx0 = 0.6216
x 0 = cos-1 0.6216

(sHIF rj cos GJGJOJ GJ

= 51.6° (to I d.p.)
X = 51.6

(c) tan x 0 = 0.4283

x 0 = tan- 1 0.4283
SHJFI tan [TI C] §:i:3(lw~~~
= 23.2° (to 1 d.p.)
x= 23.2

Caution
Make sure that the calculator is in 'degree' mode.

Unless stated otherwise, give answers in degrees to I decimal place.

~=
s~-----~c
The diagram shows triangle ABC. AB = I 7 c AC_ l 2
L.BAC = 900. Find L.ABC. . m, - . cm and

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 1.2
tani.ABC= 1.7

i.ABC = tan- I (1.2)

1.7
= 35.2° (to 1 d.p.)

worked
Ex_a____

The diagram shows triangle ABC. AC= 2.6 cm, BC= 3.6 cm and
LBAC = 90°. Find LABC.

Solution
sin LABC = 2·6
3.6
26
LABC = sin- 1 ( · )
3.6
= 46.2° (to 1 d.p.)

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arshall Cavendish Education Pte Ltd
 A

29= 1'123,m
BZJC
The diagram shows triangle ABC. AB= 29 cm, AC= 23 cm and
LBCA = 90°. Find LBAC.

Solution
23
cos LBAC=
29

LBAC = cos- 1 G!)

= 37 .5° (to 1 d.p.)

The diagram shows triangle ABC. AC= 24 cm, LBAC = 57° and
LABC = 90°. Find
(a) AB,
(b) BC.

Solution
(a) cos 57° = AB
24
AB = 24 cos 57°
= 13.071...
= 13.1 cm (to 3 sig. fig.)

122 © 2016 Marshall Cavendish Education Pte Ltd

(b) Method 1
BC
sin 57° = 24
BC = 24 sin 57°
= 20.1 cm (to 3 sig. fig.)

Method 2
BC2 = 242 - 13.072
= 405.1751

= 20.1 cm (to 3 sig. fig.)

** Level2
worked
Ex_a_______
A

5.1cm

In the diagram, ABD is a straight line, AC= 5.1 cm, BC= 3.3 cm,
LBCD = 20° and LABC = 90°. Find
(a) LACB,
(b) LCAB,
(c) AB
(d) BD'.

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 Solution
(a) In triangle ABC,
cos LACB= 22
5.1

LACB = cos- 1 (22)

5.1
= 49.679 ... 0
= 49.7° (to I d .p.)

(b) LCAB = 180° - 90° - 49 .68° (L sum of L':.)

= 40.3° (to I d.p .)

(c) AB2 = 5.F - 3.32

= 15.IZ

= 3.89 cm (to 3 sig. fig.)

(d) tan Z0° = BD

3.3
BD = 3.3 tan Z0°
= 1.20 cm (to 3 sig. fig.)

The diagram shows triangle ABC. AB= 3 m and LABC = 90°. Given that
tan LACE= 0.6, find
(a) BC,
(b) AC,
(c) LCAB.

© 2016 Marshall Cavendish Education Pte Ltd

124
 S!!]uili!l1
3
(a) tan LACE = BC
3
BC= 0.6

BC=_l_
0.6
= Sm

(b) AC2 = 52 + 32
=34

= 5.83 m (to 3 sig. fig.)

(c) tan LCAB = 2.

3

LCAB = tan- 1 (¾)

= 59.0° (to 1 d.p.)

W,orked
Ex_a_--.;:i
K

s p

!wo points P and S lie on horizontal ground. Samad is standing at S and

is fly~ng a kite. The kite K is vertically above P. The string SK attached to
th e kite is 42° to the horizontal. Given that SK= 72 m, find KP.

6.o.Lutmn
sin 420 == KP
72
KP== 72 sin 42°
== 48.2 m (to 3 sig. fig.)

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 orked
W,Example
T

F 3.3 m A

The top T of a vertical pole FT is attached to a taut wire whose other end
is attached to a point A on horizontal ground 3 .3 m from the foot of the
pole. Given that LFAT = 66° , find the height of the pole.

Solution
FT
tan 66° = -
3.3
FT= 3.3 tan 66°
= 7.41 m (to 3 sig. fig .)
Height of pole= 7.41 m

~12m
A B

A and B are two points on horizontal ground. A vertical tree TB of height 12 m

stands at B. The angle of elevation of T from A is 8°. Find AB.

Solution
tan 8° = E.
AB
AB =__E_
tan 8°
= 85 .4 m (to 3 sig. fig.)

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 *** Level3
orked
W,Ex;;;..a_ _

-~ A360mQ

A p and Q are three points on horizontal ground. A hot-air balloon Bis

v;rtically above A. The angles of elevation of B from P and Qare 26° and
69° respectively. Given that AQ = 360 m, find
(a) AB,
(b) PQ.

Solution
(a) In triangle BAQ,
AB
tan69° = -
360
AB = 360 tan 69°
= 937.83 ...
= 938 m (to 3 sig. fig .)

(b) In triangle BAP,

tan 260 = 937 .8
AP .
AP= 937.8
tan 26°
= 1922.7 ... m
PQ = 1923 + 360
= 2280 m (to 3 sig . fig.)

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 worked
Ex_a--:-~d.
A

86m

B ,___ _ _ _ __.__,. C

In the diagram, ABC represents a horizontal triangular field. AB = 86 m,

AC= 98 m and LACB = 32°. Find
(a) BC,
(b) the area of the field.

Solution
(a) In triangle APC, A

sin 32° = AP
98 98m
86m
AP= 98 sin 32°
= 51.932 .. . m
cos 32°= PC
98
PC= 98 cos 32°
= 83.108 . .. m
In triangle APB,
BP2 = 862 - 51.93 2
= 4699 .2751
BP=
= 68.551... m
BC= 68.55 + 83.11
= 151.66
= 152 m (to 3 sig. fig.)
I
(b) Area of field =
2 x 151.66 x 51.93
= 3940 m 2 (to 3 sig. fig.)

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