8.1: Trigonometric Ratios:

 

 

This branch of mathematics helps us in finding  height of tall buildings, height of temples, width of river, height of mountains, towers etc without actually measuring them. In the lesson 8.3 we will be  solving few problems related to these.Different branches of Engineering use trigonometry and its functions extensively. Using trigonometry we can find sides and angles of triangles when sufficient data is given about triangles.

Trigonometry  deals with three (tri) angles (gonia) and measures (metric) namely triangles. Ancient Indians were aware of the sine function and it is believed that modern trigonometry migrated from Hindus to Europe through Arabs.

The Indian mathematicians who contributed to the development of Trigonometry are Aryabhata(6th Century AD), Brahmagupta(7th century AD) and Neelakantha Somayaji(15th Century AD).

 

We measure an angle in degrees from 0 to 3600. The angles are also measured using a unit called radians. The relationship between degree and radii is given by

2  radians = 3600. Hence, we have the table which gives relationship for various values of degree.

 

Degree >>

1800

900

600

450

360

300

150

Radian >>

/2

/3

/4

/5

/6

/12

 

Since any triangle can be split into 2 right angled triangle, in trigonometry we study right angled triangles only.

The three sides of a right triangle are called

  1. Opposite Side with respect to an angle( The side opposite to angle): In the figure: SA,TB,UC and XP in respect of  Y)
  2. Adjacent Side with respect to an  angle(The side on which angle rests) : In the figure: YA,YB,YC and YP in respect of  Y)
  3. Hypotenuse (the side opposite to the right angle): In the figure YS, YT, YU and YX)

 

Since sum of angles in a triangle is 1800 and one angle is 900, the other two angles in a right angled triangle have to be necessarily acute(<900)angles. The acute angles (two in number) are normally denoted

by Greek letters alpha (), beta (), gamma (), theta (), phi ().

In the adjoining figure XPY is a right angles triangle with XPY = 900

We also notice that SAY ||| TBY ||| UCY |||XPY. Thus by similarity property of  SAY and  TBY,

YA/YB =YS/YT=AS/BT

YA/YS=YB/YT= Adjacent  Side /Hypotenuse

YA/AS=YB/BT= Adjacent  Side /Opposite Side

AS/YS=BT/YT= Opposite Side / Hypotenuse

 

Since these ratios are constant irrespective of length of the sides  obviously, why not we represent these ratios by some standard names?

Thus, we have definitions of sine, cosine and other terms:

 

Since the right triangle has three sides we can have six different ratios of their sides as given in the following table:

 

No

Name

Short form

Ratio of sides

In the Figure

Remarks

1

sine Y

sin Y

Opposite Side /Hypotenuse

=PX/YX

(OH)

 

2

cosine Y

cos Y

Adjacent  Side /Hypotenuse

=YP/YX

(AH)

 

3

tangent Y

tan Y

Opposite Side /Adjacent  Side

=PX/YP

=sin Y /cos Y,(OA)

 

4

cosecant Y

cosec Y

Hypotenuse/Opposite Side

=YX/PX

=1/sin Y

 

5

secant Y

sec Y

Hypotenuse/Adjacent  Side

=YX/YP

=1/cos Y

 

6

cotangent Y

cot Y

Adjacent  Side /Opposite Side

=YP/PX

=1/tanY=cosY/sinY

Notes:

1. Last three ratios (4, 5 and 6) are reciprocals (inverse) of the first three ratios, hence for any angle

1. sin *Cosec =1

2. cos *Sec =1

3. tan*Cot =1

 

2. Naming (Identification) of Adjacent  Side  and Opposite Side  sides are interchangeable depending upon the angle opposite to the sides

(With respect to X, the Adjacent  Side  is XP and Opposite Side  is PY. With respect to Y, the Adjacent  Side  is YP and Opposite Side  is PX). PX is also called ‘Perpendicular’ of Y and YP is also called ‘Base’ of Y)

 

3. Trigonometric ratios are numbers without units.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise: Name the ratios with respect to the angle X.

 

8.1 Problem 1: From the adjacent figure find the value of sin B, tan C, sec2B - tan2B and sin2C + cos2C

 

Solution:

By Pythagoras theorem   BA2 = BD2+AD2   AD2 = BA2-BD2

= 132-52 = 169 -25 = 144 = 122  AD = 12

 

By Pythagoras theorem  AC2 = AD2+DC2 = 122+162 = 144 +256 = 400 = 202  AC = 20

 

By definition

1. sin B = Opposite Side /Hyp. = AD/AB= 12/13

2. tan C =Opposite Side /Adjacent Side  = AD/DC = 12/16 = 3/4

3. sec2B - tan2B = (AB/BD)2 – (AD/BD)2 = (AB2 - AD2)/ BD2 = (132 - 122)/ 52

=(169-144)/25 =1

 

4. sin2C + cos2C = (AD/AC)2+ (DC/AC)2 = (AD2 +DC2)/ AC2 = (122 +162)/ 202

= (144+256)/400 =1

 

8.1 Problem 2:   If 5 tan  = 4 find the value of (5 sin -3 cos)/(5 sin +2 cos)     

 

Solution:

tan  = 4/5 (It is given that 5 tan  = 4)

In the adjacent figure, tan = Opposite  Side /Adjacent  Side =BC/AB.

Let the sides be multiples of x units.

(For example, Let x be 3 cm so that BC = 12(4*3) cm and AB =15(5*3) and hence BC/AB = 12/15 =4/5)

We can say BC = 4x and AB= 5x

5 sin -3 cos = 5BC/AC – 3AB/AC = (5BC-3AB)/AC

5 sin +2 cos = 5BC/AC + 2AB/AC = (5BC+2AB)/AC

 (5 sin -3 cos)/(5 sin +2 cos) = {(5BC-3AB)/AC}/{(5BC+2AB)/AC} = (5BC-3AB)/(5BC+2AB)

= (5*4x- 3*5x)/(5*4x+2*5x)  (By substituting values for BC and AB)

= (20x-15x)/(20x+10x) = 5x/30x = 1/6

 

8.1 Problem 3:  Given sin  = p/q, find sin + cos  in terms of p and q.

 

Solution:

By definition sin  = Opposite  Side /Hyp.= BC/AC

Since it is given that sin = p/q, we can say BC =px and AC=qx

By Pythagoras theorem

AC2 = AB2+BC2

 AB2 = AC2-BC2

= (qx)2-(px)2

= x2(q2-p2)

 AB = x

By definition

cos   = AB/AC = (x )/qx = ()/q

 sin + cos  = p/q +()/q

= (p+)/q

 

8.1 Problem 4: Using the measurements given in the adjacent figure

1.      find the value of sin and tan

2.      Write an expression for AD in terms of

 

Solution:

Construction: Draw a line parallel to BC from D to meet BA at E.

By Pythagoras theorem  BD2 = BC2+CD2  CD2 = BD2-BC2 = 132-122 = 169 -144 = 25 = 52

 CD = 5

Since BA || CD and BC||DE, BE=CD(=5) EA = BA-BE = 14-5 =9

 

By Pythagoras theorem AD2 = AE2+ED2 = 92+122 = 81+144= 225 = 152

 AD = 15

By definition

1. sin =  5/13

2. tan = 12/9 = 4/3

3. cos  =  9/AD 

 AD = 9/cos = 9 sec

 

8.1 Problem 5: Given 4 sin = 3 cos   

Find the value ofsin , cos , cot2- cosec2.

 

Solution:

Since it is given that 4 sin = 3 cos , by simplifying we get  sin /cos =3/4

By definition

tan  = Opposite  Side / Adjacent Side = BC/AB  =3/4

Thus we can say BC = 3x and AB = 4x

By Pythagoras theorem AC2 = BC2+AB2= (3x)2+(4x)2 = 9x2+16x2 = 25x2 = (5x)2

 AC = 5x

 sin = BC/AC = 3x/5x = 3/5

 cos = AB/AC= 4x/5x = 4/5

cot2- cosec2

= (AB/BC)2-(AC/BC)2

= (4x/3x)2-(5x/3x)2

= (4/3)2-(5/3)2

= 16/9 -25/9

= (16-9)/9

= -9/9

= -1

 

8.1 Problem 6: In the given figure AD is perpendicular  to BC, tan B = 3/4, tan C = 5/12 and BC= 56cm, calculate the length of AD

 

Solution:

By definition

tan B = Opposite Side /Adjacent Side =AD/BD, and it is given that tan B = 3/4   

AD/BD = 3/4

i.e. 4AD = 3BD i.e. 12AD = 9BD                      ----à(1)

tan C = Opposite Side /Adjacent Side  = AD/DC and it is given that tan C = 5/12

AD/ DC = 5/12                       

i.e. 12AD = 5DC                                           ----à(2)

Equating   (1) and (2), we get 9BD = 5DC        ----à(3)

It is given that BD+DC = 56 and hence DC = 56-BD

Substituting this value in (3) we get

9BD = 5(56-BD) = 280-5BD

9BD+5BD = 280 (By transposition)

BD = 280/14 = 20

DC = 56-BD = 56-20 = 36

AD = (3/4)BD = (3/4)*20 = 15cm

 

 

 

8.1 Summary of learning

 

 

No

Points studied

1

sine= Opposite Side /hypotenuse(OH)

2

cosine= Adjacent Side /hypotenuse(AH)

3

tangent= Opposite Side /Adjacent Side (OA)

4

cosecant is reciprocal of sin

5

secant is reciprocal of cos

6

cotangent is reciprocal of tan