 Quick Trigonometry Facts :
06-30-2007
Some helpful definitions and concepts of Trigonometry:
Trigonometry: Comes from 2 Greek terms- trigon (meaning triangle) and metron (meaning measure.) The study of Trigonometry involves triangle measurements.
Trigonometric Ratio: A ratio of the lengths of sides of a right triangle. The three most common trigonometric ratios are sine, cosine, and tangent. (Others include cotangent, secant and cosecant.)
Sine (Sin) = Leg Opposite of angle
.................Hypotenuse of triangle
Cosine (Cos) = Leg Adjacent of angle
....................Hypotenuse of triangle
Tangent (Tan) = Leg Opposite of angle
.......................Leg Adjacent of angle
A way to remember these ratios is the saying: SOH - CAH - TOA
For those triangles that are not triangles, two following equations can be used to solve missing measures in any triangle.
First, The Law of Sines.
The equation is as:
Sin A = Sin B = Sin C
a.......... b......... c
Where in triangle ABC, A, B, and C represent the angles of the triangle, and a, b, and c are the measures of the sides OPPOSITE the angles, respectively.
Which brings us to the Law of Cosines, as follows:
a^2 = b^2 + c^2 -2bc Cos A
b^2 = a^2 + c^2 -2ac Cos B
c^2 = a^2 + b^2 -2ab Cos C
(example: a^2 is read "A Squared.")
In any triangle ABC, a,b, and c represents the measures of sides opposite angles A, B, and C, respectfully. The Law of Cosines can be used to find missing measures in a triangle if you know the measures of 2 sides and the included angle.
Good luck and I hope this helps!
__________________  Just ask if you need any help!
Last edited by kiddietyte; 06-30-2007 at 10:11 PM..
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