Trigonometry

From GCSE Wiki

Usually, Trigonometry is used to deal with right-angled triangles. Trigonometry helps to find out the sides and angles using the relationship between them. Both the Sine and Cosine rules apply to any triangle - not just right-angled triangles.

Contents 1 Labelling 2 Sine 3 Cosine 4 Tangent 5 Memory Aids 6 The Sine Rule 7 The Cosine Rule

[edit] Labelling

• In right angled triangles, the side next to the angle you are using is called the 'adjacent', the side opposite, is called that. The longest side is called the hypotenuse.
• For the sine rule, the cosine rule and areas of triangles, the sides are labelled a,b and c and the anngles opposite a,b and c are labelled A, B and C.

[edit] Sine

[edit] Cosine

[edit] Tangent

[edit] Memory Aids

The sine, cosine, and tangents can be remembered by this rhyme: Some old hag came and had tea one afternoon (sine: opposite/hypotenuse, cosine: adjacent/hypotenuse, tangent: opposite/adjacent).

Another good memory aid is SOH, CAH, TOA. They are abbreviations for [sine=opposite/hypotenuse], [cos=adjacent/hypotenuse] and [tan=opposite/adjacent].

[edit] The Sine Rule

[edit] The Cosine Rule