HSC Together Year 11 Maths Advanced: Using Trigonometric Ratios to Solve Problems (Sine, Cosine, Tangent)

Maths Advanced

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Using Trigonometric Ratios to Solve Problems (Sine, Cosine, Tangent)

What are trigonometric ratios?

In this post, we use the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios to solve problems involving right-angled triangles where angles are measured in degrees, or degrees and minutes, as a part of the Prelim Maths Advanced course under the topic Trigonometric Functions and sub-part Trigonometry. To define trigonometric ratios, we will use a right-angled triangle, and we refer to the ratio of two different sides according to how they are placed in relation to the angle \theta . To remember our trigonometric ratios, we use SOHCAHTOA. So:

  • SOH: sin(\theta) = \frac{opposite}{hypotenuse}
  • CAH:  cos(\theta) = \frac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}
  • TOA:  tan(\theta) = \frac{opposite}{adjacent}

 

What is sin, cos and tan?

This video covers where the theory of sine, cosine, and tangent, and their respective ratios by using SOHCAHTOA.

 

How do I use trigonometry to solve right angle triangle questions?

This video runs over some examples of using trigonometry to solve questions involving right-angled triangles, with a clear explanation of how to approach and set out your working.

 

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