Chapter 15 Gen.

Maths Page 660 Wednesday, December 15, 1999 10:29 PM

summary

B
Opposite
(O)

Trigonometry of right-angled triangles

Hypotenuse
(H )

For any right-angled triangle:

A
C
O
A
O
(A)
sin = ---- cos = ---- tan = ---Adjacent
H
H
A
Pythagoras theorem, c2 = a2 + b2 may also be used to solve right-angled triangles.

c
a
b

Angles of 30, 45 and 60 have exact values of sine, cosine and tangent.

30

45

60

sin

1
--2

1
2
------- = ------2
2

3
------2

cos

3
------2

1
2
------- = ------2
2

1
--2

tan

1
3
------- = ------3
3

Applications of right-angled triangles

Angles of elevation and depression are each measured from the horizontal.
The angle of elevation is equal to the angle of depression since they are alternate
Z angles.
True bearings are measured in a clockwise direction, starting from north (0 T).

Nonright-angled triangles the sine rule

The sine rule states that for any triangle ABC:
a
b
c
------------ = ------------ = ------------sin B
sin C
sin A
When using this rule, it is important to note that, depending on the values given,
any combination of the two equalities may be used to solve a particular triangle.
The sine rule may be used to solve nonright-angled triangles if we are given:
(a) two angles and one side length
(b) two side lengths and an angle opposite one of these side lengths.
The ambiguous case exists if C is an acute angle and a > c > a sin C.

Nonright-angled triangles the cosine rule

In any triangle ABC:
a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cos A
b2 = a2 + c2 2ac cos B
c2 = a2 + b2 2ab cos C

Chapter 15 Gen. Maths Page 661 Wednesday, December 15, 1999 10:29 PM

Chapter 15

Tr i g o n o m e t r i c r a t i o s a n d t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n s

661

The cosine rule can be used to solve nonright-angled triangles if we are given:
(a) three sides of the triangle
(b) two sides of the triangle and the included angle (that is, the angle between the
two given sides).
If three sides of a triangle are known, an angle could be found by transposing the
cosine rule to make cos A, cos B or cos C the subject.
b2 + c2 a2
cos A = ---------------------------a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cos A
2bc
b2 = a2 + c2 2ac cos B

a2 + c2 b2
cos B = ---------------------------2ac

c2 = a2 + b2 2ab cos C

a2 + b2 c2
cos C = ---------------------------2ab

Area of triangles
If two sides of any triangle and the included angle (that is, the angle between the
two given sides) are known, the following rules may be used to determine the area
of that triangle.
Area = 1--2- ab sin C
Area = 1--2- ac sin B
Area = 1--2- bc sin A
Alternatively, if three side lengths of a triangle are known, Herons formula may be
used to find the area of a triangle:
Area = s ( s a ) ( s b ) ( s c )
where s is the semi-perimeter of the triangle; that is,
s = 1--2- (a + b + c)

Radian measurement
180 = c

To convert an angle in degrees to radian measure, multiply by --------- .

180
180
To convert an angle in radian measure to degrees, multiply by --------- .

Arcs, sectors and segments

Arc length:

l = r

Area of a sector:

A = 1--2- r 2

Area of a segment:

A = 1--2- r 2 ( sin )

Where r = radius, = angle (measured in radians) and = angle (measured in

degrees).