University of Southern Mindanao

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Freshmen Bridging Class
PLANE AND SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY

Time Frame Learning Activities &

No. Topic
(Hour) Assessments
I Pythagorean Theorem 4
Trigonometric Functions
 Pythagorean Identities
II  Even-odd Identities 8
 Sum and Difference of Angles  Lecture and Presentations
 Double Angle and Half Angle  Exercises/Seat works
Oblique Triangles  Assignments
III  Law of Sine 4  Summative Exam
 Law of Cosine
Spherical Trigonometry
IV  Napier’s Rule 2
 Area of Spherical Triangle

I. Pythagorean Theorem

 The square of the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle equals the sum of the squares of
the lengths of the other two sides.

 Formula: 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2

 Derivation of Pythagorean Formula

Area of Trapezoid = A1 + A2 + A3
𝑎+𝑏 1 1 1
(𝑎 + 𝑏) = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑐 2
2 2 2 2
Simplifying; 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2

Example 1:

1. Two hikers leave a cabin at the same time, one heading due south and the other headed due
west. After one hour, the hiker walking south has covered 2.8 miles and the hiker walking
west has covered 3.1 miles. At that moment, what is the shortest distance between the two
hikers?
 2. A right triangle has a hypotenuse of length 2x, a leg of length x, and a leg of length y. Write
an expression that shows the value of y in terms of x.

3. A ladder 13 m long is placed on the ground in such a way that it touches the top of a vertical
wall 12 m high. Find the distance of the foot of the ladder from the bottom of the wall.

Exercises 1:

1. Find the perimeter of a rectangle whose length is 150 m and the diagonal is 170 m. Ans:
80x150m

2. If the square of the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle is 128 cm2, find the length of
each side. Ans: 8cm

3. The height of two building is 34 m and 29 m respectively. If the distance between the two
building is 12 m, find the distance between their tops. Ans: 13m

II. Trigonometric Functions

 In mathematics, the trigonometric functions are real functions which relate an angle of a right-
angled triangle to ratios of two side lengths.

𝑎
sin 𝜃 =
𝑐
𝑏
cos 𝜃 =
𝑐
𝑎 sin 𝜃
tan 𝜃 = =
𝑏 cos 𝜃
𝑏 cos 𝜃
cot 𝜃 = =
𝑎 sin 𝜃
𝑐 1
sec 𝜃 = =
𝑏 cos 𝜃
𝑐 1
csc 𝜃 = =
𝑎 sin 𝜃

Applying Trigonometric Functions: Word Problems

The ability to solve right triangles by using the trigonometric ratios is fundamental to many problems in
navigation, surveying, astronomy, and the measurement of distances. The applications we consider in
this section always involve right triangles.

To discuss the next examples, we need some terminology. If an observer is looking at an object, then the
line from the eye of the observer to the object is called the line of sight (see figure below).

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If the object being observed is above the horizontal, then the angle between the line of sight and the
horizontal is called the angle of elevation. If the object is below the horizontal, then the angle between
the line of sight and the horizontal is called the angle of depression. If the line of sight follows a physical
object, such as an inclined plane or a hillside, we use the term angle of inclination.

1. A giant redwood tree casts a shadow 532 ft long. Find the height of the tree if the angle of elevation of
the sun is 25.7.

Solution: To illustrate the problem, we have the figure below. Let the height of the tree be h.

Using the definition of tangent:

tan  =

tan 25.7 =
h = 532 tan 25.7
h = 256.0343 ft

Answer: The height of the tree is 256.0343 ft

2. From a point on the ground 500 ft from the base of a building, an observer finds that the angle of
elevation to the top of the building is 24 and that the angle of elevation to the top of a flagpole atop
the building is 27. Find the height of the building and the length of the flagpole.

Solution: To illustrate the situation, we have the figure below. The height of the building is found in the
same way that we found the height of the tree in Example 1.

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To solve for the height, h of the building:

tan  =

tan 24 =
h = 500 tan 24
h = 222.6143 ft

Answer: The height of the building is 222.6143 ft

To solve for the length of the flagpole:

tan  =

tan 27 =
k = 500 tan 27
k = 254.7627 ft

To find the length of the flagpole, subtract h from k.

length of the flagpole = k - h
= 254.7627 ft – 222.6143 ft
= 32.1484 ft

Answer: The length of the flagpole is 32.1484 ft

3. From the top of a light house 60 meters high with its base at the sea level, the angle of depression of
a boat is 15. What is the distance of the boat from the foot of the light house?

Solution: To illustrate the problem, we have the figure below.

OA is the height of the lighthouse
B is the position of the boat
OB is the distance of the boat from the foot of the light house

Take note that the angle of elevation and the angle of depression are equal angles since the two angles
are alternate interior angles.

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By definition of tangent:

tan  =

tan 15 =

tan 15 =

OB =

OB = 223.9230 m

Answer: The distance of the boat from the foot of the light house 223.9230 m

4. A man is lying on the beach, flying a kite. He holds the end of the kite string at ground level, and
estimates the angle of elevation of the kite to be 50. If the string is 450 ft long, how high is the kite
above the ground?

Solution: To illustrate the problem, we have the figure below. Let the height of the kite above the ground
be h.

Using the definition of sine:

sin  =

sin 50 =
h = 450 sin 50
h = 344.7200 ft

Answer: The height of the kite is 344.7200 ft

Solve the following problems. Show your complete solutions.

1. If your distance from the foot of the tower is 200m and the angle of elevation is 40°, find the height of
the tower.

2. A ship is 130m away from the center of a barrier that measures 180m from end to end. What is the
minimum angle that the boat must be turned to avoid hitting the barrier?

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3. A water tower is located 325 ft from a building (see figure below). From a window in the building, an
observer notes that the angle of elevation to the top of the tower is 39 and that the angle of depression
to the bottom of the tower is 25. How tall is the tower? How high is the window?

 Pythagorean Identities
𝑎 2 𝑏 2
When the Pythagorean formula divided by c2, become ( ) + ( ) = 1, then sin2 𝜃 +
𝑐 𝑐
2
cos 𝜃 = 1
Formulas:

1. sin2 𝜃 + cos 2 𝜃 = 1
2. tan2 𝜃 + 1 = sec2 𝜃
3. 1 + cot 2 𝜃 = csc2 𝜃

 Even-odd Identities
1. sin(−𝜃 ) = − sin 𝜃
2. cos(−𝜃 ) = cos 𝜃
3. tan(−𝜃 ) = − tan 𝜃
4. cot(−𝜃 ) = − cot 𝜃
5. sec(−𝜃 ) = sec 𝜃
6. csc(−𝜃 ) = − csc 𝜃

 Sum and Difference of Angles

Formulas:
1. sin(𝐴 ± 𝐵) = sin 𝐴 cos 𝐵 ± cos 𝐴 sin 𝐵
2. cos(𝐴 ± 𝐵) = cos 𝐴 cos 𝐵 ∓ sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵
tan 𝐴±tan 𝐵
3. tan(𝐴 ± 𝐵) =
1∓tan 𝐴 tan 𝐵

 Double Angle and Half Angle

 Double Angle Identities:
From sum of angles, sin 2𝜃 = sin(𝜃 + 𝜃 ) = sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + cos 𝜃 sin 𝜃 = 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃
1. sin 2𝜃 = 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃
2. cos 2𝜃 = cos 2 𝜃 − sin2 𝜃 = cos 2𝜃 = 1 − 2 sin2 𝜃 = cos 2𝜃 = 2 cos 2 𝜃 − 1
2 tan 𝜃
3. tan 2𝜃 =
1−tan2 𝜃

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  Half Angle Identities:
𝛼 1−cos 𝛼
1. sin (2 ) = ±√ 2

𝛼 1+cos 𝛼
2. cos (2 ) = ±√ 2

𝛼 1−cos 𝛼 sin 𝛼 1−cos 𝛼

3. tan ( ) = ±√ = =
2 1+cos 𝛼 1+cos 𝛼 sin 𝛼

Example 2:

1. Simplify (sec 𝑥 − tan 𝑥 )2.

2. Prove that (1 − cos 2 𝜃 ) csc2 𝜃 = 1.

3. Verify the function using even-odd identities (1 + sin 𝑥 )[1 + sin(−𝑥 )] = cos 2 𝑥.
1 1
4. If sin 𝑥 + = √2, then sin2 𝑥 + sin2 𝑥 is ______.
sin 𝑥
𝜋
5. Solve for X; arctan 2𝑥 + arctan 𝑥 = .
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1
6. If sin 𝑥 = and x is in quadrant I, find the exact values of:
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a. sin 2𝑥
b.cos 2𝑥
c. tan 2𝑥
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7. Given tan α = tan 𝛼 = and α lies in quadrant III, find the exact value of the following:
15
𝛼
a. sin ( )
2
𝛼
b. cos ( )
2
𝛼
c. tan ( )
2

Exercises 2:

1. A boy sees a bird sitting on a tree at an angle of elevation of 20°. If a boy is standing 10 miles
away from the tree, at what height bird is sitting? Ans: 3.6 miles

2. Simplify (tan 𝜃 + cot 𝜃 )2 sin2 𝜃 − tan2 𝜃. Ans: 1

sin 𝐵+cos 𝐵 tan 𝐵

3. Simplify the expression . Ans: 2 Tan B
cos 𝐵

sin2(−𝜃)−cos2(−𝜃)
4. Verify the identity using even/odd identities = cos 𝜃 − sin 𝜃 .
sin(−𝜃)−cos(−𝜃)

5. If sin A = 2.571X and cos A = 3.06X, find X. Ans: X = 0.25

6. From a point O in the ground at a distance d from the foot of the vertical tower, the angle of
elevation of the top of the tower is A. A flagpole of height H is placed on top of the tower.
The angle of elevation of the top of the flagpole from O is the complement of the angle of
elevation of the top of the tower. If d=25m and A=30o, find the height of the flagpole. Ans:
28.87 m.

sec2 𝛼
7. Prove that sec 2𝛼 = .
2−sec2 𝛼

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III. Oblique Triangles

 Any triangle that is not a right triangle.

 2-types:
1. Acute triangle – all three angles of the triangle are less than right angles
2. Obtuse triangle – one of the three angles is greater than a right angle

 The Law of Sine

If A, B and C are the angles of any oblique triangle, and a, b and c are respectively the
measures of the sides opposite to these three angles, then
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
= =
sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵 sin 𝐶

Proving the Sine Law:

@ Triangle ABHA: @ Triangle AHCA:

ℎ ℎ
sin 𝐵 = sin 𝐶 = 𝑏
𝑐
ℎ = 𝑐 sin 𝐵 ℎ = 𝑏 sin 𝐶
Therefore:
sin 𝐵 sin 𝐶
𝑐 sin 𝐵 = 𝑏 sin 𝐶 or =
𝑏 𝑐

 The Law of Cosine

Derivation of Cosine formula:

At right triangle AHCA, using Pythagorean Theorem:

𝑏2 = ℎ2 + (𝑎 − 𝑥 )2 ; 𝑏2 = ℎ2 + 𝑎2 − 2𝑎𝑥 + 𝑥 2 = (ℎ2 + 𝑥 2 ) + 𝑎2 − 2𝑎𝑥 → (1)
Where: Cos B = x/c ; x = c Cos B → (2)
At right triangle ABHA: 𝑐 2 = ℎ2 + 𝑥 2 → (3)
Substitute (2) and (3) in (1)
𝑏2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑎𝑐 cos 𝐵

For any triangle with angles A, B and C, and sides a, b and c:

1. 𝒂𝟐 = 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝟐𝒃𝒄 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑨
2. 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒄 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑩
3. 𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑪

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 Example 3:

1. A pole cast a shadow of 15 m long when the angle of elevation of the sun is 61 o. If the pole
has leaned 15o with the vertical directly toward the sun, what is the length of the pole?

2. A triangle PQR in which p = 6.5 cm, q = 7.4 cm, and angle R = 58 o, solve the length r and the
angles P and Q.

3. A pilot flies in a straight path for 1 h 30 min. She then makes a course correction, heading 8
degrees to the left and flies 2 h in the new direction. If she maintains a constant speed of 450
mi/h, how far is she from her starting position?

4. A 50m vertical tower cast a 62.3m shadow when the angle of elevation of the sun is 41.6o, the
inclination of the ground is _____.

5. AB is a line 652 feet long on one bank of a stream, and C is a point on the opposite
bank. A = 53° 18', and B = 48° 36'. Find the width of the stream from C to AB.

6. Three circles of radii 3, 4, and 5 touch each other externally. Find the angles of the triangle
formed by joining their centers.

Exercises 3:

1. The sides of a triangular lot are 130m, 180m and 190m. This lot is to be divided by a line
bisecting the longest side and drawn from the opposite vertex. Find the length of the line.
Ans: 125m

2. A PLDT tower and a monument stand on a level plane. The angles of depressions of the top
and bottom of monument measured from the top of the tower are 13 o and 35o, respectively.
If the height of the tower is 50 m, find the height of the monument. Ans: 33.5m

3. If the heading of an airplane is 130o and its airspeed is 200mph, while a wind of 40mph is
blowing from 330o, find the (a) ground speed, (b) drift angle and (c) course of the plane. Ans:
(a) 238 mph, (b) 3.29o, (c) 133.9o.

4. P and Q are two inaccessible points. To find the distance between them, a point A is taken
in QP produced, and a line AB 1200 feet long is measured making the angle PAB = 26° 35'.
The angle ABP = 48° 12' and ABQ = 106° 42'. How long is PQ? Ans: 651.9 feet

IV. Spherical Trigonometry

 A branch of spherical geometry that deals with the relationships between trigonometric
functions of the sides and angles of the spherical polygons
 A spherical triangle is a figure formed on the surface of a sphere by three great circular arcs
intersecting pairwise in three vertices.

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  Napier’s Rule

Where the angle co-A is the complimentary angle of A, when the sum of two angles is 90o
(i.e. A + co-A = 90o). Thus, Sin (co-A) = Cos A.

From Sin (co-A) = Sin (90-A) = Sin 90 Cos B – Cos 90 Sin A = Cos A
Also Cos (co-A) = Sin A, Tan (co-A) = Cot A, Cot (co-A) = Tan A.

1. The sine of a part is equal to the product of the tangents of the two adjacent parts.
sin 𝑎 = tan(𝑐𝑜. 𝐵) tan 𝑏 = cot 𝐵 tan 𝑏
2. The sine of a part is equal to the product of the cosines of the opposite parts.
sin 𝑎 = cos(𝑐𝑜. 𝐶 ) cos(𝑐𝑜. 𝐴) = sin 𝑐 sin 𝐴

 Area of Spherical Triangle

𝜋𝑅2 𝐸
𝐴=
180𝑜
Where: R = radius of sphere
E = spherical of excess = A + B + C – 180o

Example 4:

1. Find the area of a spherical triangle ABC whose given parts are A = 63o18’, B = 71o14’, C =
85o16’ and the radius of sphere R = 10 m.

2. In spherical triangle ABC, A = 90o, b = 13o, a = 39o. Calculate the value of all other parts.
Exercises 4:

1. Given the following parts of a right spherical triangle; a = 30o, b = 72o, c = 90o. Ans: co-C =
74.48o, co-B = _____ , co-A = _____, A = 31.26o, B = 80.77o, Area = 3,845cm2.

2. Calculate the area of a spherical triangle whose radius is 5m and whose angles are 40 o, 65o,
and 110o. Ans: A = 15.27 sq. m

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