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# 8.9: Inverse Trigonometric Ratios

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12
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What if you were told that the longest escalator in North America is at the Wheaton Metro Station in Maryland and is 230 feet long and is 115 ft high? What is the angle of elevation, x\begin{align*}x^\circ\end{align*}, of this escalator? After completing this Concept, you'll be able use inverse trigonometry to answer this question.

### Guidance

The word inverse is probably familiar to you. In mathematics, once you learn how to do an operation, you also learn how to “undo” it. For example, you may remember that addition and subtraction are considered inverse operations. Multiplication and division are also inverse operations. In algebra you used inverse operations to solve equations and inequalities. When we apply the word inverse to the trigonometric ratios, we can find the acute angle measures within a right triangle. Normally, if you are given an angle and a side of a right triangle, you can find the other two sides, using sine, cosine or tangent. With the inverse trig ratios, you can find the angle measure, given two sides.

Inverse Tangent: If you know the opposite side and adjacent side of an angle in a right triangle, you can use inverse tangent to find the measure of the angle. Inverse tangent is also called arctangent and is labeled tan1\begin{align*}\tan^{-1}\end{align*} or arctan. The “-1” indicates inverse.

Inverse Sine: If you know the opposite side of an angle and the hypotenuse in a right triangle, you can use inverse sine to find the measure of the angle. Inverse sine is also called arcsine and is labeled sin1\begin{align*}\sin^{-1}\end{align*} or arcsin.

Inverse Cosine: If you know the adjacent side of an angle and the hypotenuse in a right triangle, you can use inverse cosine to find the measure of the angle. Inverse cosine is also called arccosine and is labeled cos1\begin{align*}\cos^{-1}\end{align*} or arccos.

Using the triangle below, the inverse trigonometric ratios look like this:

tan1(ba)sin1(bc)cos1(ac)=mB=mB=mBtan1(ab)=mAsin1(ac)=mAcos1(bc)=mA

In order to actually find the measure of the angles, you will need you use your calculator. On most scientific and graphing calculators, the buttons look like [SIN1],[COS1]\begin{align*}[\text{SIN}^{-1}], [\text{COS}^{-1}]\end{align*}, and [TAN1]\begin{align*}[\text{TAN}^{-1}]\end{align*}. Typically, you might have to hit a shift or 2nd\begin{align*}2^{nd}\end{align*} button to access these functions. For example, on the TI-83 and 84, [2nd][SIN]\begin{align*}[2^{nd}][\text{SIN}]\end{align*} is [SIN1]\begin{align*}[\text{SIN}^{-1}]\end{align*}. Again, make sure the mode is in degrees.

Now that we know how to use inverse trigonometric ratios to find the measure of the acute angles in a right triangle, we can solve right triangles. To solve a right triangle, you would need to find all sides and angles in a right triangle, using any method. When solving a right triangle, you could use sine, cosine or tangent, inverse sine, inverse cosine, or inverse tangent, or the Pythagorean Theorem. Remember when solving right triangles to only use the values that you are given.

#### Example A

Use the sides of the triangle and your calculator to find the value of A\begin{align*}\angle A\end{align*}. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a degree.

In reference to A\begin{align*}\angle A\end{align*}, we are given the opposite leg and the adjacent leg. This means we should use the tangent ratio.

tanA=2025=45\begin{align*}\tan A = \frac{20}{25} = \frac{4}{5}\end{align*}, therefore tan1(45)=mA\begin{align*}\tan^{-1} \left ( \frac{4}{5} \right ) = m \angle A\end{align*}. Use your calculator.

If you are using a TI-83 or 84, the keystrokes would be: [2nd][TAN](45)\begin{align*}[2^{nd}][\text{TAN}]\left ( \frac{4}{5} \right )\end{align*}[ENTER] and the screen looks like:

So, mA=38.7\begin{align*}m \angle A = 38.7^\circ\end{align*}

#### Example B

A\begin{align*}\angle A\end{align*} is an acute angle in a right triangle. Use your calculator to find mA\begin{align*}m \angle A\end{align*} to the nearest tenth of a degree.

a) sinA=0.68\begin{align*}\sin A = 0.68\end{align*}

b) cosA=0.85\begin{align*}\cos A = 0.85\end{align*}

c) tanA=0.34\begin{align*}\tan A = 0.34\end{align*}

Solutions:

a) mA=sin10.68=42.8\begin{align*}m \angle A = \sin^{-1} 0.68 = 42.8^\circ\end{align*}

b) mA=cos10.85=31.8\begin{align*}m \angle A = \cos^{-1} 0.85 = 31.8^\circ\end{align*}

c) mA=tan10.34=18.8\begin{align*}m \angle A = \tan^{-1} 0.34 = 18.8^\circ\end{align*}

#### Example C

Solve the right triangle.

To solve this right triangle, we need to find AB,mC\begin{align*}AB, m \angle C\end{align*} and mB\begin{align*}m \angle B\end{align*}. Use AC\begin{align*}AC\end{align*} and CB\begin{align*}CB\end{align*} to give the most accurate answers.

AB\begin{align*}\underline{AB}\end{align*}: Use the Pythagorean Theorem.

242+AB2576+AB2AB2AB=302=900=324=324=18

mB\begin{align*}\underline{m \angle B}\end{align*}: Use the inverse sine ratio.

sinBsin1(45)=2430=45=53.1=mB

mC\begin{align*}\underline{m \angle C}\end{align*}: Use the inverse cosine ratio.

cosCcos1(45)=2430=45=36.9=mC

Watch this video for help with the Examples above.

#### Concept Problem Revisited

To find the escalator’s angle of elevation, we need to use the inverse sine ratio.

sin1(115230)=30The angle of elevation is 30.

### Vocabulary

Trigonometry is the study of the relationships between the sides and angles of right triangles. The legs are called adjacent or opposite depending on which acute angle is being used. The three trigonometric (or trig) ratios are sine, cosine, and tangent. The inverse trig ratios, sin1, cos1\begin{align*}\sin^{-1}, \ \cos^{-1}\end{align*}, and tan1\begin{align*}\tan^{-1}\end{align*}, allow us to find missing angles when we are given sides.

### Guided Practice

1. Solve the right triangle.

2. Solve the right triangle.

1. To solve this right triangle, we need to find AB,BC\begin{align*}AB, BC\end{align*} and mA\begin{align*}m \angle A\end{align*}.

AB\begin{align*}\underline{AB}\end{align*}: Use sine ratio.

sin62ABAB=25AB=25sin6228.31

BC\begin{align*}\underline{BC}\end{align*}: Use tangent ratio.

tan62BCBC=25BC=25tan6213.30

mA\begin{align*}\underline{m \angle A}\end{align*}: Use Triangle Sum Theorem

62+90+mAmA=180=28

2. Even though, there are no angle measures given, we know that the two acute angles are congruent, making them both 45\begin{align*}45^\circ\end{align*}. Therefore, this is a 45-45-90 triangle. You can use the trigonometric ratios or the special right triangle ratios.

Trigonometric Ratios

tan45BC=15BC=15tan45=15sin45=15AC AC=15sin4521.21

45-45-90 Triangle Ratios

BC=AB=15,AC=15221.21

### Practice

Use your calculator to find mA\begin{align*}m \angle A\end{align*} to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Let A\begin{align*}\angle A\end{align*} be an acute angle in a right triangle. Find mA\begin{align*}m \angle A\end{align*} to the nearest tenth of a degree.

1. sinA=0.5684\begin{align*}\sin A = 0.5684\end{align*}
2. cosA=0.1234\begin{align*}\cos A =0.1234\end{align*}
3. tanA=2.78\begin{align*}\tan A = 2.78\end{align*}

Solve the following right triangles. Find all missing sides and angles.

1. Writing Explain when to use a trigonometric ratio to find a side length of a right triangle and when to use the Pythagorean Theorem.

### Vocabulary Language: English

Two angles are adjacent if they share a side and vertex. The word 'adjacent' means 'beside' or 'next-to'.
Conic

Conic

Conic sections are those curves that can be created by the intersection of a double cone and a plane. They include circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas.
cosine

cosine

The cosine of an angle in a right triangle is a value found by dividing the length of the side adjacent the given angle by the length of the hypotenuse.
Hypotenuse

Hypotenuse

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is the longest side of the right triangle. It is across from the right angle.
Pythagorean Theorem

Pythagorean Theorem

The Pythagorean Theorem is a mathematical relationship between the sides of a right triangle, given by $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$, where $a$ and $b$ are legs of the triangle and $c$ is the hypotenuse of the triangle.
sine

sine

The sine of an angle in a right triangle is a value found by dividing the length of the side opposite the given angle by the length of the hypotenuse.
Slope

Slope

Slope is a measure of the steepness of a line. A line can have positive, negative, zero (horizontal), or undefined (vertical) slope. The slope of a line can be found by calculating “rise over run” or “the change in the $y$ over the change in the $x$.” The symbol for slope is $m$
Tangent

Tangent

The tangent of an angle in a right triangle is a value found by dividing the length of the side opposite the given angle by the length of the side adjacent to the given angle.

Jul 17, 2012

Feb 26, 2015