Trigonometry: Finding Sides and Angles in Right Triangles

What is trigonometry and how is it used to find sides and angles of right triangles?

How do we apply trigonometry to solve for unknown sides or angles in a right triangle?

Trigonometry and its Application in Finding Sides and Angles

Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that deals with the study of relationships between sides and angles of triangles. It is widely used to solve problems involving triangles, especially right triangles. The trigonometric functions, including sine, cosine, and tangent, play a key role in trigonometry.

Trigonometry is essential in finding missing sides and angles of right triangles. By using trigonometric ratios such as sine, cosine, and tangent, we can determine unknown sides or angles in a triangle. The most common trigonometric functions used in this process are:

Sine Function (sin)

The sine function is defined as the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle.

Cosine Function (cos)

The cosine function is defined as the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle.

Tangent Function (tan)

The tangent function is defined as the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side in a right triangle.

By using these trigonometric functions, we can calculate missing sides or angles in right triangles accurately. Trigonometry is not only important in mathematics but also has practical applications in various fields such as engineering, physics, and architecture.