Definition of Trigonometric Functions using Right Triangle:

hyp
opp

θ
A adj B

Given any right triangle ABC, suppose angle θ is an angle inside ABC, label
the leg opposite θ the opposite side, label the leg adjacent to θ the adjacent
side, and the side opposite the right angle is the hopotenuse. We define the six
trigonometric functions of θ as the ratio of the lengths of two of the sides of the
triangle:
opp
(the sine function) sin θ =
hyp
adj
(the cosine function) cos θ =
hyp
opp
(the tangent function) tan θ =
adj
hyp
(the secant function) sec θ =
adj
hyp
(the cosecant function) csc θ =
opp
adj
(the cotangent function) cot θ =
opp
Using this definition, the six trigonometric functions are well-defined for all angles
θ where 0◦ < θ < 90◦
In defining the six trigonometric functions using a right triangle, we wanted to
have consistency. That is, if we used a different right triangle with the same angle
θ, we wanted to know that we will get the same value for each of the functions.
This will be the case as illustrated by the following:
 C0

C
opp

hyp
opp

θ
A adj B B0

Notice in the picture above that triangle ABC is similar to triangle AB 0 C 0 (why?),
therefore, their corresponding sides are in proportion, in particular, using the
definition of the trig functions,
opp CB C 0B 0
sin θ = = =
hyp AC AC 0
adj AB AB 0
cos θ = = =
hyp AC AC 0
This fact tells us that, in determining the value of a trig function on any angle θ,
we may use any right triangle. The value of the six trig functions is determined
by the angle θ, not by the triangle we use.
Special Triangles:

45◦

√
a 2a

45◦
a

In√a 45◦ −45◦ −90◦ triangle, the two sides have the same length and the hypotenuse
is 2 times the length of the side. In other words, if any one of the side has
√ length
a, then the other side also has length a and the hypotenuse has length 2a

60◦

2a
a

30◦
√
3a

In a 30◦ − 60◦ − 90◦ triangle, if the side opposite

√ the 30◦ angle has length a, then
the side opposite the 60◦ angle has length 3a, and the hypotenuse has length
2a. In other words, the hypotenuse is twice the length of the shorter side.
Also remember from geometry that in any triangle, the longest side is the side
opposite the largest angle, and the shortest side is the side opposite the smallest
angle. Using this fact and the above special triangle, we can find the exact
value of the lengths of some triangles:
Example:
Find the value of the variables:

60◦

y
3

30◦
x

Ans: The shortest side in this triangle is the one opposite the 30◦ angle, its length
is 3. This is a 30◦ − 60◦ − 90◦ triangle, the hypotenuse
√is twice the shortest side,
◦
√ the 60 angle is 3 times the length of the
so y = 2(3) = 6. The√side opposite
shortest side, so x = 3 · 3 = 3 3.

Example:
Find the value of the variables:

60◦

y x

30◦
7

Ans: In this triangle, y is the shortest

√ side (it is opposite the smallest angle), the
◦
side opposite the 60 angle is 3y, so we can set up the equation:
√ 7
3y = 7, solving for y gives: y = √
3
7 14
The hypotenuse, x, is twice y, so x = 2 · √ = √
3 3
Example:
Find the value of the variables:

30◦

11 y

60◦
x
11
Ans: The length of the hypotenuse is twice of the shortest side, x, so x = , y
√ 2
√ √ 11 11 3
is 3 times the shorter side, so y = 3 · =
2 2

Example: Find the value of the variables:

45◦

21 y

45◦
x

Ans: This is a 45◦ −45◦ ◦

√ −90 triangle, the two sides are equal√in length, so√x = 21.
The hypotenuse is 2 times the length of the side, so y = 2 · 21 = 21 2
Example: Find the value of the variables:

45◦

26 y

45◦
x

Ans:
√ In this 45◦ − 45◦ − 90◦ triangle, the hypotenuse is 26. The hypotenuse is
2 times the length of the side, so we can set up the equation:
√ 26
x 2 = 26, solving for x gives: x = √
2
26
The two sides have the same length, so y = x = √
2
Using the special triangles, we can find the value of the trig functions on some
special angles.
Example: Find sin(30◦ ), cos(30◦ ), tan(30◦ ), cot(30◦ ), sec(30◦ ), and csc(30◦ )
Ans:

60◦

2
1

30◦
√
3

For convenience, we can assign the side opposite the 30◦ angle with√ a length
◦
of 1, then the adjacent side to the 30 angle will have a length of 3, and the
hypotenuse will have a length of 2, and we have:
√
opp 1 adj 3 opp 1
sin(30◦ ) = = cos(30◦ ) = = tan(30◦ ) = = √
hyp √2 hyp 2 adj 3
adj 3 √ hyp 2
cot(30◦ ) = = = 3 sec(30◦ ) = =√
opp 1 adj 3
hyp 2
csc(30◦ ) = = =2
opp 1
Example: Find sin(45◦ ), cos(45◦ ), tan(45◦ ), cot(45◦ ), sec(45◦ ), and csc(45◦ )
Ans:

45◦
√
2
1

45◦
1

For convenience, we can assign the side opposite the 45◦ angle with a length of
45◦ angle will also have a length of 1, and the
1, then the adjacent side to this √
hypotenuse will have a length of 2, and we have:
opp 1 adj 1 opp 1
sin(45◦ ) = = √ cos(45◦ ) = = √ tan(45◦ ) = = =1
hyp 2 hyp √2 adj 1
adj 1 hyp 2 √
cot(45◦ ) = = =1 sec(45◦ ) = = = 2
opp 1 adj 1
√
◦ hyp 2 √
csc(45 ) = = = 2
opp 1
Example: Find sin(60◦ ), cos(60◦ ), tan(60◦ ), cot(60◦ ), sec(60◦ ), and csc(60◦ )
Ans:

30◦

2 √
3

60◦
1

For convenience, we still assign the side opposite the 30◦ angle (the side adjacent
to the 60◦ angle)√with a length of 1, then the opposite side to the 60◦ angle will
have a length of 3, and the hypotenuse will have a length of 2, and we have:
√ √
opp 3 adj 1 opp 3 √
sin(60◦ ) = = cos(60◦ ) = = tan(60◦ ) = = = 3
hyp 2 hyp 2 adj 1
adj 1 hyp 2
cot(60◦ ) = =√ sec(60◦ ) = = =2
opp 3 adj 1
hyp 2
csc(60◦ ) = =√
opp 3

The right triangle approach to defining trigonometric functions is easy to un-

derstand, and can be used conveniently to solve goemetric problems involving
triangles. The drawback with this definition is the fact that the trig functions
are defined only for angle θ between 0◦ < θ < 90◦ . We wanted the trig functions
to be defined for all (or most) of the real numbers. In order to do that, we need
a different approach to defining the trig functions.