9/27/2011

Trigonometric Functions

Chapter 4.7
Solutions of Triangles

Let be an angle whose initial side is the

positive x axis. If x , y is a point on the
terminal side that is r units away from the
origin, then the six trigonometric functions
are defined as
sin yr

cos xr

tan yx

csc yr

sec xr

cot yx

Right Triangles
5

x, y

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

-1

a
C

-2
-3

a2 b2 c 2

-4

A B C 180

-5

b, a

c
A

a opp

c hyp
b adj
cos A
c hyp
a opp
tan A
b adj
sin A

a2 b2 c 2

sin A

opp
hyp

A B C 180

cos A

adj
hyp

tan A

opp
adj

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Solving Triangles

Example 4.7.1
Solve the triangle where A 61.7 , C 90 , and c 106.2.
B

A B C 180

c 106.2

B 180 61.7 90

To solve a triangle means to fine the lengths of

28.3

A 61.7

all sides and the measures of all angles.

sin A

opp
hyp

cos A

a
106.2
a 106.2sin 61.7 93.5
sin 61.7

C 90

adj
hyp

b
106.2
b 106.2cos 61.7 50.3
cos 61.7

Angle of Elevation

Angle of Depression

The angle between the horizontal and a line

The angle between the horizontal and a line

of sight above the horizontal is called an

of sight below the horizontal is called an

angle of elevation.

angle of depression.

Example 4.7.2
To measure cloud altitude
at night, a vertical beam of
light is directed on a spot
on the cloud. From a point
135 ft away from the light
source, the angle of
elevation to the spot is
found to be 67.35o. Find
the distance of the cloud
from the ground.

h
135
h 135tan 67.35 324 ft
tan 67.35

Conclusion:
The cloud is approximately
324 ft above the ground.

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Example 4.7.3
An aerial photographer who photographs farm
properties for a real estate company has
determined from experience that the best photo is
taken at a height of approximately 475 ft and a
distance of 850 ft from the farmhouse. What is the
angle of depression from the plane to the house.

475
850
475

B Arcsin
34
850
Conclusion:
sin B

The angle of depression from the airplane is

approximately 34 .

Oblique Triangles
C

A triangle with no right angle is called oblique.

Law of Sines
In any triangle, the ratio of a side and the
sine of the opposite angle is a constant.
a
b
c

sin A sin B sinC

sin A sin B sinC

a
b
c

A
c

Law of Cosines
In a triangle, the square of a side is the sum of
the squares of the other two sides, minus twice
the product of those sides and the cosine of the
included angle.
c2 a2 b2 2ab cos C
a2 b2 c2 2bc cos A
b2 a2 c2 2ac cos B

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Example 4.7.4

a 12, A 45 , C 75

Solve the following triangles.

B 60

1. a 12, A 45 , C 75

c 16.4

A B C 180
B 180 45 75 60

a
b

sin A sin B
12
b

sin45 sin75
12sin75
b
14.7
sin45

a
c

sin A sin C
12
c

sin45 sin75
12sin75
c
16.4
sin45

2. a 32, c 48, B 125.2

b2 a2 c 2 2ac cos B
b2 32 48 2 32 48 cos125.2

a 32, c 48, B 125.2

b 71.4

b 71.4

a2 b2 c 2 2bc cos A
2

32 71.4 48 2 71.4 48 cos A

2
2
2 71.4 48 cos A 71.4 48
2
2
71.4 48
cos A
2 71.4 48
71.4 2 48 2
A Arccos
21.5
2 71.4 48

3. a 3.5, b 4.7, c 2.8

2

a b c 2bc cos A
2

3.5 4.7 2.8 2 4.7 2.8 cos A

2
2
2
2 4.7 2.8 cos A 4.7 2.8 3.5
2
2
2
4.7 2.8 3.5

cos A
2 4.7 2.8
A 47.80

A 21.5
A B C 180
C 180 21.5 125.2 33.3

a 3.5, b 4.7, c 2.8

A 47.80
b2 a2 c 2 2ac cos B
2

4.7 3.5 2.8 2 3.52.8 cos B

2
2
2
2 3.5 2.8 cos B 3.5 2.8 4.7
2
2
2
3.5 2.8 4.7

cos B
2 3.5 2.8
B 95.86

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a 3.5, b 4.7, c 2.8

A 47.80
B 95.86
A B C 180
C 180 47.80 95.86 36.34