Trigonometric

Ratios
A RATIO is a comparison of
two numbers. For example;
boys to girls
cats : dogs
right : wrong.

In Trigonometry, the
comparison is between sides
of a triangle ( right triangle).
 CCSS: G.SRT.7

EXPLAIN and USE the relationship

between the sine and cosine of
complementary angles.
 Standards for Mathematical
Practice
• 1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving
them.
• 2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
• 3. Construct viable arguments and critique the
reasoning of others.  
• 4. Model with mathematics.
• 5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
• 6. Attend to precision.
• 7. Look for and make use of structure.
• 8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
 Warm up
• Solve the equations:

• A) 0.875 = x/18

• B) 24/y = .5

• C) y/25 = .96
 E.Q:

How can we find the sin, cosine, and the

tangent of an acute angle?
How do we use trigonometric ratios to
solve real-life problems?
 Trig. Ratios
Name
Sine Cosine tangent
“say”

Abbreviation
Sin Cos Tan
Abbrev.

Ratio of an Sinθ = opposite side cosθ = adjacent side tanθ =opposite side
angle
hypotenuse hypotenuse adjacent side
measure
 Three Trigonometric Ratios
• Sine – abbreviated ‘sin’.
Θ this is the symbol for
– Ratio: sin θ = opposite side an unknown angle
hypotenuse measure. It’s name is
‘Theta’.

• Cosine - abbreviated ‘cos’.

– Ratio: cos θ = adjacent side Easy way to remember trig
hypotenuse ratios:

SOH CAH TOA

• Tangent - abbreviated ‘tan’.
– Ratio: tan θ = opposite side
adjacent side
 Let’s practice…
Write the ratio for sin A
B Sin A = o = a
h c
c
Write the ratio for cos A
a
Cos A = a = b
h c
C b A
Write the ratio for tan A
Let’s switch angles:
Tan A = o = a
Find the sin, cos and
a b
tan for Angle B:

Sin B = b Tan B = b
Cos B = a
c a
c
Make sure you have a calculator…
I want to find Use these calculator keys
SIN
sin, cos or tan
COS
ratio
TAN
SIN-1
Angle measure COS-1
TAN-1

Set your calculator to ‘Degree’…..

MODE (next to 2nd button)
Degree (third line down… highlight it)
2nd
Quit
 Let’s practice…
Find an angle that has a
tangent (ratio) of 2
C
3
2cm Round your answer to the
nearest degree.

Process:
B 3cm A I want to find an ANGLE
I was given the sides (ratio)
Tangent is opp
adj
TAN-1(2/3) = 34°
 Practice some more…
Find tan A: Tan A = opp/adj = 12/21
24.19 12 Tan A = .5714

A 21

Find tan A:
Tan A = 8/4 = 2 8

A
4
 Trigonometric Ratios
• When do we use them?
– On right triangles that are NOT 45-45-90 or
30-60-90

Find: tan 45

Why?

tan = opp
hyp
 Using trig ratios in equations
Remember back in 1st grade when you had
to solve:
(6)12 = x (6) What did you do?
6
72 = x
Remember back in 3rd grade when x was in
the denominator?
(x)12 = 6 (x) What did you do?
x
12x = 6
__ __
x = 1/2
 Ask yourself:
In relation to the angle,
34° what pieces do I have?
15 cm Opposite and hypotenuse

Ask yourself:
What trig ratio uses
x cm Opposite and Hypotenuse?
SINE

Set up the equation and solve:

(15) Sin 34 = x (15)
15
(15)Sin 34 = x
8.39 cm = x
 Ask yourself:
In relation to the angle,
53° what pieces do I have?
12 cm
Opposite and adjacent

x cm
Ask yourself:
What trig ratio uses
Opposite and adjacent?
tangent

Set up the equation and solve:

(12)Tan 53 = x (12)
12
(12)tan 53 = x
15.92 cm = x
 Ask yourself:
x cm
In relation to the angle,
what pieces do I have?
Adjacent and hypotenuse
68°
Ask yourself:
18 cm

What trig ratio uses

adjacent and hypotnuse?
cosine
Set up the equation and solve:
(x) Cos 68 = 18 (x)
x
(x)Cos
_____68 =_____
18
cos 68 cos 68
X = 18 X = 48.05 cm
cos 68
 This time, you’re looking for theta. T
HI
Ask yourself: S
IS
42 cm In relation to the angle, what pieces IM
PO
22 cm do I have? Opposite and hypotenuse RT
A
NT
θ Ask yourself: !!

What trig ratio uses opposite

and hypotenuse? sine

Set up the equation (remember you’re looking for theta):

Sin θ = 22
42
Remember to use the inverse function
when you find theta
Sin -1 22 = θ
42
31.59°= θ
 You’re still looking for theta.
TH
IS
IS
θ IMP
OR
TA
22 cm Ask yourself: NT
!!
What trig ratio uses the parts I
17 cm was given? tangent

Set it up, solve it, tell me what you get.

tan θ = 17
22

tan -1 17 = θ
22
37.69°= θ
 Using trig ratios in equations
Remember back in 1st grade when you had
to solve:
(6)12 = x (6) What did you do?
6
72 = x
Remember back in 3rd grade when x was in
the denominator?
(x)12 = 6 (x) What did you do?
x
12x = 6
__ __
x = 1/2
 Types of Angles
• The angle that your line of sight makes
with a line drawn horizontally.
• Angle of Elevation Line of Sight
Angle of Elevation

Horizontal Line

• Angle of Depression Horizontal Line

Angle of Depression

Line of Sight
 Indirect Measurement
opposite
tan 59 =
adjacent

h
tan 59  =
45

h
45 tan 59  = h

74.9  h

59 45 ft
SOA CAH TOA

SOA CAH TOA

Solving a right triangle
• Every right triangle has one right angle,
two acute angles, one hypotenuse and two
legs. To solve a right triangle, means to
determine the measures of all six (6) parts.
You can solve a right triangle if the
following one of the two situations exist:
– Two side lengths
– One side length and one acute angle
measure
 E.Q
• How do we use right triangles to solve
real life problems?
Note:
• As you learned in Lesson 9.5, you can use
the side lengths of a right triangle to find
trigonometric ratios for the acute angles of
the triangle. As you will see in this lesson,
once you know the sine, cosine, or tangent
of an acute angle, you can use a
calculator to find the measure of the angle.
WRITE THIS DOWN!!!
• In general, for an acute angle A:
– If sin A = x, then sin-1 x = mA
– If cos A = y, then cos-1 y = mA
– If tan A = z, then tan-1 z = mA

The expression sin-1 x is read as “the inverse sine

of x.”

• On your calculator, this means you will be

punching the 2nd function button usually in yellow
prior to doing the calculation. This is to find the
degree of the angle.
 C
Example 1:
3 2
• Solve the right
triangle. Round the
decimals to the B c
A
nearest tenth.
HINT: Start by using the Pythagorean Theorem.
You have side a and side b. You don’t have the
hypotenuse which is side c—directly across from
the right angle.
 C

Example 1: 3 2

B A
c
(hypotenuse)2 = (leg)2 + (leg)2 Pythagorean Theorem
c2 = 32 + 22 Substitute values
c2 = 9 + 4 Simplify
c2 = 13 Simplify
c = √13 Find the positive square root
c ≈ 3.6 Use a calculator to approximate
Example 1 continued
• Then use a calculator to find the measure
of B:
2nd function
Tangent button
2
Divided by symbol
3 ≈ 33.7°
Finally
• Because A and B are complements,
you can write
mA = 90° - mB ≈ 90° - 33.7° = 56.3°

The side lengths of the triangle are 2, 3

and √13, or about 3.6. The triangle has
one right angle and two acute angles
whose measure are about 33.7° and
56.3°.
 Ex. 2: Solving a Right Triangle (h)
g J
• Solve the right H
25°
triangle. Round You are looking for
opposite and h
decimals to the hypotenuse which is
13
nearest tenth. the sin ratio.
G
opp. Set up the correct ratio
sin H =
hyp.
h 13 Substitute values/multiply by reciprocal
13 sin 25° =
13
Substitute value from table or calculator
13(0.4226) ≈ h
Use your calculator to approximate.
5.5 ≈ h
 Ex. 2: Solving a Right Triangle (g)
g J
• Solve the right H
25°
triangle. Round You are looking for h
decimals to the adjacent and 13
nearest tenth. hypotenuse which is
the cosine ratio. G
adj.
cos G = Set up the correct ratio
hyp.
g 13
13 cos 25° = Substitute values/multiply by reciprocal
13

13(0.9063) ≈ g Substitute value from table or calculator

11.8 ≈ h Use your calculator to approximate.

Using Right Triangles in Real Life
• Space Shuttle: During its
approach to Earth, the
space shuttle’s glide
angle changes.
• A. When the shuttle’s
altitude is about 15.7
miles, its horizontal
distance to the runway is
about 59 miles. What is
its glide angle? Round
your answer to the
nearest tenth.
 Solution: Glide  = x° altitude
15.7
miles
• You know opposite
and adjacent sides. If distance to runway
you take the opposite 59 miles
and divide it by the opp.
tan x° = Use correct ratio
adjacent sides, then adj.
take the inverse 15.7
tan x° = Substitute values
tangent of the ratio, 59
this will yield you the Key in calculator 2nd function,
slide angle. tan 15.7/59 ≈ 14.9

 When the space shuttle’s altitude is about 15.7 miles, the glide
angle is about 14.9°.
 B. Solution Glide  = 19° altitude
h
• When the space
shuttle is 5 miles from
distance to runway
the runway, its glide
5 miles
angle is about 19°.
Find the shuttle’s tan 19° =
opp.
Use correct ratio
altitude at this point in adj.

its descent. Round tan 19° =

h Substitute values
your answer to the 5
nearest tenth. h 5 Isolate h by
5 tan 19° =
5 multiplying by 5.
 The shuttle’s altitude is
1.7 ≈ h Approximate using calculator
about 1.7 miles.