<img src="https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=iA1Pi1a8Dy00ym" style="display:none" height="1" width="1" alt="" />
You are viewing an older version of this Concept. Go to the latest version.

# Sine, Cosine, Tangent

## Trigonometric ratios based on sides of right triangles in relation to an angle.

Estimated9 minsto complete
%
Progress
Practice Sine, Cosine, Tangent
Progress
Estimated9 minsto complete
%
Sine, Cosine, Tangent

What if you were given a right triangle and told that its sides measure 3, 4, and 5 inches? How could you find the sine, cosine, and tangent of one of the triangle's non-right angles? After completing this Concept, you'll be able to solve for these trigonometric ratios.

### Watch This

Watch the parts of the video dealing with the sine, cosine, and tangent.

### Guidance

The word trigonometry comes from two words meaning triangle and measure. In this lesson we will define three trigonometric (or trig) functions.

Trigonometry: The study of the relationships between the sides and angles of right triangles.

In trigonometry, sides are named in reference to a particular angle. The hypotenuse of a triangle is always the same, but the terms adjacent and opposite depend on which angle you are referencing. A side adjacent to an angle is the leg of the triangle that helps form the angle. A side opposite to an angle is the leg of the triangle that does not help form the angle. We never reference the right angle when referring to trig ratios.

The three basic trig ratios are called, sine, cosine and tangent. At this point, we will only take the sine, cosine and tangent of acute angles. However, you will learn that you can use these ratios with obtuse angles as well.

Sine Ratio: For an acute angle in a right triangle, the is equal to the ratio of the side opposite the angle over the hypotenuse of the triangle. Using the triangle above, and .

Cosine Ratio: For an acute angle in a right triangle, the is equal to the ratio of the side adjacent to the angle over the hypotenuse of the triangle.Using the triangle above, and .

Tangent Ratio: For an acute angle , in a right triangle, the is equal to the ratio of the side opposite to the angle over the side adjacent to . Using the triangle above, and .

There are a few important things to note about the way we write these ratios. First, keep in mind that the abbreviations , and are all functions. Second, be careful when using the abbreviations that you still pronounce the full name of each function. When we write it is still pronounced sine, with a long “”. When we write , we still say co-sine. And when we write , we still say tangent. An easy way to remember ratios is to use the pneumonic SOH-CAH-TOA.

A few important points:

• Always reduce ratios when you can.
• Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing side (if there is one).
• The tangent ratio can be bigger than 1 (the other two cannot).
• If two right triangles are similar, then their sine, cosine, and tangent ratios will be the same (because they will reduce to the same ratio).
• If there is a radical in the denominator, rationalize the denominator.
• The sine, cosine and tangent for an angle are fixed.

#### Example A

Find the sine, cosine and tangent ratios of .

First, we need to use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the hypotenuse.

So, , and .

#### Example B

Find the sine, cosine, and tangent of .

Find the length of the missing side.

Therefore, , and .

#### Example C

Find the sine, cosine and tangent of .

This is a special right triangle, a 30-60-90 triangle. So, if the short leg is 6, then the long leg is and the hypotenuse is 12.

, and .

Watch this video for help with the Examples above.

#### Concept Problem Revisited

The trigonometric ratios for the non-right angles in the triangle above are:

and .

### 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.

1. What is ?

2. What is ?

3. What is ?

1.

2.

3.

### Practice

Use the diagram to fill in the blanks below.

From questions 1-6, we can conclude the following. Fill in the blanks.

1. and .
2. and are _________ of each other.

Find the sine, cosine and tangent of . Reduce all fractions and radicals.

1. Explain why the sine of an angle will never be greater than 1.
2. Explain why the tangent of a angle will always be 1.
3. As the degree of an angle increases, will the tangent of the angle increase or decrease? Explain.

### Vocabulary Language: English

Acute Angle

Acute Angle

An acute angle is an angle with a measure of less than 90 degrees.

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

Hypotenuse

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is the longest side of the right triangle. It is across from the right angle.
Legs of a Right Triangle

Legs of a Right Triangle

The legs of a right triangle are the two shorter sides of the right triangle. Legs are adjacent to the right angle.
opposite

opposite

The opposite of a number $x$ is $-x$. A number and its opposite always sum to zero.
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.

The $\sqrt{}$, or square root, sign.
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.
Trigonometric Ratios

Trigonometric Ratios

Ratios that help us to understand the relationships between sides and angles of right triangles.