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TRIGONOMETRY

Finals

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Trigonometry is the branch of mathematics which deals with the measurement
of sides and angles of triangles, and their relationship with each other. There
are many applications in engineering where a knowledge of trigonometry is
needed.

1.2 THE THEOREM OF PYTHAGORAS

With reference to Fig. 19.1, the side opposite the right angle (i.e. side b) is
called the hypotenuse. The theorem of Pythagoras states:
‘In any right-angled triangle, the square on the hypotenuse is equal to the
sum of the squares on the other two sides.’
Hence b2 = a2 + c2’

Problem 1. In Fig. 19.2, find the length of BC

 Problem 3.
Two aircraft leave an airfield at the same time. One travels due north at an average speed of
300 km/h and the other due west at an average speed of 220 km/h. Calculate their distance
apart after 4 hours.

Solution.
After 4 hours, the first aircraft has travelled 4 × 300 = 1200 km, due north, and the
second aircraft has travelled 4 × 220 = 880 km due west, as shown in Figure. Distance apart
after 4 hours = BC

Hence distance apart after 4 hours = 1488 km.

1.3 TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS OF ACUTE ANGLES

Problem 4. From Figure, find sin D, cos D and tan F

Problem 5. Determine the values of sin θ, cos θ and tan θ for the right-angled triangle ABC
shown in Figure.

Problem 7.
Point A lies at co-ordinate (2,3) and point B at (8,7). Determine (a) the distance AB, (b) the
gradient of the straight line AB, and (c) the angle AB makes with the horizontal.
1.4 SOLUTION OF RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLES

To ‘solve a right-angled triangle’ means ‘to find the unknown sides and
angles’. This is achieved by using (i) the theorem of Pythagoras, and/or (ii)
trigonometric ratios. This is demonstrated in the following problems.

Problem 8.
Sketch a right-angled triangle ABC such that B = 90◦, AB = 5 cm and BC = 12 cm. Determine the
length of AC and hence evaluate sin A, cos C and tan A.

Problem 9.
In triangle PQR shown in Figure, find the lengths of PQ and PR.

Problem 11.
Solve triangle XYZ given ∠X = 90◦, ∠Y = 23◦17 and YZ = 20.0 mm. Determine also its area.
1.5 ANGLES OF ELEVATION AND DEPRESSION

(a) If, in Figure, BC represents horizontal ground and AB a vertical flagpole, then the angle of
elevation of the top of the flagpole, A, from the point C is the angle that the imaginary straight
line AC must be raised (or elevated) from the horizontal CB, i.e. angle θ.

(b) If, in Fig. 19.22, PQ represents a vertical cliff and R a ship at sea, then the angle of
depression of the ship from point P is the angle through which the imaginary straight line PR
must be lowered (or depressed) from the horizontal to the ship, i.e. angle φ.

(Note, ∠PRQ is also φ – alternate angles between parallel lines.)

Problem 12.

An electricity pylon stands on horizontal ground. At a point 80 m from the base of the pylon,
the angle of elevation of the top of the pylon is 23◦. Calculate the height of the pylon to the
nearest metre.

Figure shows the pylon AB and the angle of elevation of A from point C is 23◦

Problem 13.

A surveyor measures the angle of elevation of the top of a perpendicular building as 19◦. He
moves 120 m nearer the building and finds the angle of elevation is now 47◦. Determine the
height of the building.

The building PQ and the angles of elevation are shown in the figure
 From equation (2), height of building, h = 1.0724 x = 1.0724(56.74) = 60.85 m

Problem 14.

The angle of depression of a ship viewed at a particular instant from the top of a 75 m vertical
cliff is 30◦. Find the distance of the ship from the base of the cliff at this instant. The ship is
sailing away from the cliff at constant speed and 1 minute later its angle of depression from
the top of the cliff is 20◦. Determine the speed of the ship in km/h.

Figure shows the cliff AB, the initial position of the ship at C and the final position at D. Since
the angle of depression is initially 30◦ then ∠ACB = 30◦ (alternate angles between parallel
lines).

129.9 m = initial position of ship from base of cliff.

Further problems on angles of elevation and depression

1. A vertical tower stands on level ground. At a point 105 m from the foot of the tower the angle
of elevation of the top is 19◦. Find the height of the tower.
2. If the angle of elevation of the top of a vertical 30 m high aerial is 32◦, how far is it to the aerial?
3. From the top of a vertical cliff 90.0 m high the angle of depression of a boat is 19◦50 .
Determine the distance of the boat from the cliff.
4. From the top of a vertical cliff 80.0 m high the angles of depression of two buoys lying due
west of the cliff are 23◦ and 15◦, respectively. How far are the buoys apart?
5. From a point on horizontal ground a surveyor measures the angle of elevation of the top of a
flagpole as 18◦40 . He moves 50 m nearer to the flagpole and measures the angle of elevation
as 26◦22 . Determine the height of the flagpole.
6. A flagpole stands on the edge of the top of a building. At a point 200 m from the building the
angles of elevation of the top and bottom of the pole are 32◦ and 30◦ respectively. Calculate
the height of the flagpole.
1.6 GRAPHS OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

From Figure it is seen that:

(i) Sine and cosine graphs oscillate between peak values of ± 1

(ii) (ii) The cosine curve is the same shape as the sine curve but displaced by 90◦.
(iii) (iii) The sine and cosine curves are continuous and they repeat at intervals of 360◦;
the tangent curve appears to be discontinuous and repeats at intervals of 180◦.

Angles of any magnitude

Figure shows rectangular axes XX and YY intersecting at origin 0. As with graphical work, measurements
made to the right and above 0 are positive, while those to the left and downwards are negative. Let 0A
be free to rotate about 0. By convention, when 0A moves anticlockwise angular measurement is
considered positive, and vice versa.
1.7 ANGLE M EASUREMENTS

Angles are formed by an initial side and a terminal side. An initial side is
said to be in standard position when its vertex is located at the origin and
the ray goes along the positive x axis.
An angle is measured by the amount of rotation from the initial side to the
terminal side. A positive angle is made by a rotation in the counter
clockwise direction and a negative angle is made by a rotation in the
clockwise direction.
Angles can be measured two ways:
1. Degrees
2. Radians

Degrees
A circle is comprised of 360°, which is called one revolution
Degrees are used primarily to describe the size of an angle. The real mathematician is the
radian, since most computations are done in radians.

Radians
1 revolution measured in radians is 2π, where π is the
Constant approximately 3.14.

How can we convert between the two you ask?

Easy, since 360° = 2π radians (1 revolution)
Then, 180° = π radians So that means that
1° = 𝜋 /180 radians
And 180/ 𝜋 degrees = 1 radian

Example 1
Convert 60° into radians
60 ⋅ (1 degree)( 𝜋 /180) = 60 ⋅( 𝜋/ 180) = 60𝜋/ 180 = 𝜋/ 3 radian
Sample Problem
cot 𝜃 = − 2 3 , find csc 𝜃, where 𝜃 is in quadrant II
Solution: Pick an identity that relates cotangent to cosecant, like the Pythagorean identity 1 + cot² 𝜃 =
csc² 𝜃.
Sample Problems
1. Find the exact value of cos 105°

2. Find the exact value of tan 75°

3. Find cos 30°

4. Double Angle
5. Half angle

6. Product-to-sum formula

7. Sum-to-product formula

8. Law of Sine
9. Law of Cosine