BASIC TRIGONOMETRY

 

Functions

 

Sine (sin)

Cosine (cos)

Tangent (tan)

 

Signs/Symbols

 

θ = theta

 

Definitions

 

sin θ = opposite/hypotenuse

cos θ = adjacent/hypotenuse

tan θ = opposite/adjacent

Other

 

Opposite is the side opposite to theta or the angle you need to know

Hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle, or the longest side

Adjacent is the side next to theta that is not opposite the right angle

 

Practice/Notes (assume all triangles are right triangles)

Given triangle DEF, Prove a2 + b2 = c2

 

(b/c)2 + (a/c) 2 = 1

b2/c2 + a2/c2 = 1

a2 + b2 = c2