Trigonometry Review

Consider a right angle triangle

A
c

Let ACB = q,
Side AB = c , Side BC = a
We can calculate Side AC = b, by Pythagorean Theorem

b = c2 + a2

We can define 6 trigonometric ratios :

Sinq = Opposite Side = c
Hypotenuse
b

Cscq = Hypotenuse = b
Opposite Side
c

Cosq = Adjacent Side = a

Hypotenuse
b

Secq =

Hypotenuse = b
Adjacent Side a

Tanq = Opposite Side = c

Adjacent Side
a

Cotq =

Adjacent Side
Opposite Side

= a
c

From these definitions we can derive:

1
1
Sinq =
Cscq =
Cscq
Sinq
Cosq =

Tanq =

1
Secq

Secq =

1
Cosq

1
Cotq

Cotq =

1
Tanq

Sinq
Cosq

Cotq =

Cosq
Sinq

Also,
Tanq =

For Example
We have previously defined
c
1
b
Sinq =
,
=
= Cscq
b
Sinq
c
This can be done for the other trigonometric functions as well.

Copyright 2001. Steve Saffell . Center For Academic Support . 271-4524

Signs of function values

1st Quadrant

2nd Quadrant

Sin and Csc

are positive
3rd Quadrant

All functions are

positive
4th Quadrant

Tan and Cot

are positive

Cos and Sec

are positive

A trick to remember this would be to remember the phrase All Silver Tea Cups or
A Smart Trig Class, starting in the first quadrant.
To find function values of special angles
Consider an equilateral triangle, length of each side being 2 units (see figure).
Let us bisect this triangle as shown. We will end up with two 30-60 triangles.
A
A
60
30
2
2
30
2
2
60
D

60
C

60
D

60
C

Now let us consider one of the bisected triangles

A 30
By Pythagorean theorem,
2
1 +( AB) 2 = 2 2 , (AB) 2 = 4 1 = 3
3
B

Therefore,

60
C

1
OppositeSide 1
=
Sin 30 =
Hypotenuse
2

Tan 30 =

AB =

Cos 30 =

AdjacentSide
3
=
Hypotenuse
2

OppositeSide
1
3
=
=
AdjacentSide
3
3

Similarly we can find values for 60

Sin 60 =

OppositeSide
3
=
Hypotenuse
2

Cos 60 =

AdjacentSide 1
=
Hypotenuse
2

Copyright 2001. Steve Saffell . Center For Academic Support . 271-4524

OppositeSide
= 3
AdjacentSide

Tan 60 =

To find values for 45, we consider a 45- 45 triangle

A
45
By Pythagorean Theorem
1
2
(AC) 2 = 1 2 +12 = 2
45
AC = 2
B
C
1

Sin 45 =

OppositeSide 1
2
=
=
Hypotenuse
2
2

Tan 45 =

Cos 45 =

1
AdjacentSide
2
=
=
Hypotenuse
2
2

OppositeSide
=1
AdjacentSide

Table for the most commonly used angles

Angle q

Sine

Cosine

Tangent

0
1
2

0
3
3

60

2
2
3
2

3
2
2
2
1
2

90

Undefined

180

-1

30
45

1
3

Let us now derive some trigonometric identities:

A
By the Pythagorean Theorem,
c
b
a 2 + c 2 = b 2 (1.1)

q
C

From earlier definitions we have

Copyright 2001. Steve Saffell . Center For Academic Support . 271-4524

Sinq =

c
a
c
b
b
a
, Cosq =
, Tanq = , Secq =
, Cscq =
, Cotq =
b
b
a
a
c
c

The three trigonometric identities:

Let us divide equation 1.1 by b 2 ,

We get
a 2 c2 b2
+
=
b2 b2 b2
a2 c2
+
=1
b2 b2
( Sinq ) 2 + (Cosq ) 2 = 1 or Sin 2q + Cos 2q = 1
If we divide equation 1.1 by a 2 we get,
c2 b2
1+ 2 = 2
a
a

1 + (Tanq ) 2 = ( Secq ) 2 or 1 + Tan 2q = Sec 2q

Finally we divide equation 1.1 by c 2 we get,
a2
b2
+1 = 2
c2
c

(Cotq ) 2 + 1 = (Cscq ) 2

or Cot 2q + 1 = Csc 2q

Copyright 2001. Steve Saffell . Center For Academic Support . 271-4524