Topic (s): Trigonometric Ratios

Specific Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to >>
Define trigonometric ratios for a right-angled triangle based on the location of the angle
of interest.
Apply the most suitable trigonometric ratio to find the length of an unknown side of a
right-angled triangle at least 4 out of 5 times correctly.
Evaluate the size of an angle using the trigonometric ratios in a right-angled triangle
given the lengths of two sides at least 4 out of 5 times correctly
Prerequisites:
Students should have knowledge of transposition, triangles and computation
Type of learners
Mathematical-Logical
Procedure
Introductory Activity:
#1. Concept map:

TRIANGLE

Focus questions:
Properties
Types

Main Activity:
The triangle of most interest is the right-angled triangle.
The right angle is shown by the little box in the corner.
We usually know another angle .

And we give names to each side:

Adjacent: This is the side that is adjacent (next to) to the angle .
Opposite: This is the side that is opposite to(facing) the angle .

Hypotenuse: This side is ALWAYS opposite to the right angle; and is the longest side of
the right triangle.

The assignment of the opposite and adjacent sides is relative to . If the angle of interest (in this
case ) is located in the upper right hand corner of the above triangle the assignment of sides is
then:
NOTE: Different
triangles will be drawn
for students to identify
the opposite and the
adjacent sides
accurately.

Trigonometric Ratios are ONLY used with RIGHT ANGLED TRIANGLES and are used to
find the missing sides and/or missing angles.
The three most commonly used ratios are
sine

cosine

tangent
Generations of students have used the mnemonic "SOHCAHTOA" to remember which ratio is
which. (Sine: Opposite over Hypotenuse, Cosine: Adjacent over Hypotenuse, Tangent: Opposite
over Adjacent.)
Activity 1:
Students will use their calculators to find the sine, cosine and tangent of the following angles:
1.
2.
3.
4.

30o
60o
90o
120o

5.

45o

USING TRIG. RATIOS TO FIND A MISSING SIDE.

There are three steps when using trig. ratios:
1. Choose which trig ratio to use.
- Choose either sin, cos, or tan by determining which side you know and which side you are
looking for.
2. Substitute
- Substitute your information into the trig ratio.
3. Solve
- Solve the resulting equation to find the length of the side.
Example 1: What is the missing length here?

We know the Hypotenuse

We want to know the Opposite

Sine is the ratio of Opposite / Hypotenuse

Sin 45 = x / 20
x = 20 sin 45
Opposite length = 20 0.7071... = 14.14 (to 2 decimals)

Example 2:

Find b.
Step 1: Choose which trig ratio to use.
First, we know we must look at angle B because that is the angle we know the measure of(Now,

you could find the measure of angle A and then use that but that's less reliable since you could
make a mistake.)
So, looking at angle B, we want to identify which sides are involved. We know one side is 8m,
and that side is adjacent to angle B. The side we're lookingfor is opposite angle B.So we need to
choose the trig ratio that hasopposite and adjacent. This of course is the tangent.
Step 2: Substitute
Next, we write our trig ratio:

Then, we substitute in the angle and the side we know:

Step 3: Solve
Now move the 8 to the other side by multiplying both sides by 8:
And use a calculator to find the answer.Well round to the nearest tenth:3.7 m.
Find c
Now that we know two sides, you could use the Pythagorean Theoremto find the third. But that's
less reliable becauseif you made a mistake on side b, then side c will also be wrong.So we are
going to repeat the same process for side c.
Step 1: Choose the trig ratio to use.
We're still using angle B. 8m is the adjacent and c is the hypotenuse. The trig ratio that uses the
adjacent and hypotenuse is the cosine.
Step 2: Substitute
Write our trig ratio:

Then, we substitute in the angle and the side we know:

Step 3: Solve
Since our variable is on thebottom, we can start by cross multiplying:
Then we'll divide both sides by cos 25:
round to the nearest tenth:8.8 m.

Independent Practice:

And use a calculator to find the answer. Well

Find the following and round your answers to the nearest tenth.
1) a

2) c

3) x

4) y

Answers:
1) 7.4 in
2) 9.5 in.
3) 7.0 ft
4) 5.7 ft.

USING TRIG. RATIOS TO FIND A MISSING ANGLE.

Students will use their calculators to find the sine inverse, cosine inverse and tangent inverse of
the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

0.5
0.866
0.707
0.364
0.83

Step 1.Identify the given sides.

- Label the sides in terms of the angle that is required.
Step 2.Choose which trig ratio to use.
- Choose either sin, cos, or tan based on the sides that are given (Hypotenuse, Adjacent or
Opposite).
Step 3. Substitute
- Substitute your information into the trig ratio.
Step 3. Solve
- Solve the resulting equation to find the angle.

Find B.
Step 1. Identify the given sides.
- We are given the opposite and the adjacent sides. The hypotenuse is still unknown.
Step 2. Choose which trig ratio to use.
First, we know we must look at angle B because that is the angle we do not know (which is
marked x). This means that we must use Tan ( x)

O
A

Step 3. Substitute and solve

- Substitute your information into the trig ratio.
3 .7
8
Tan ( x ) 0.463
Tan ( x )

x Tan 1 (0.463)
x 25 0

Individual practice: Students will be given a set of questions to find the missing angle.
Culminating Activity:
Find the length s of the missing sides by using the appropriate trigonometric ratio.
1.
13

x
45

28
o

45
x

18

30

45

2.

Students will solve questions from past CSEC papers on using trigonometric ratios to
practice in class and for home work.

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Actions to be taken:
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Review of lesson
Reviewed by: ______________________________
Comments:

Date: ________________________

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In Class Practice Questions:

Write an equation using the appropriate trig ratio for finding the measure of the
given angle(s). Then find the measure(s) to the nearest tenth.

1.

2.

mA ______
6

mC ______
12

3.

4.

30

15

mB ______

mF ______

Z
5.

6.

12

13

G
7

mZ ______
mG ______

Use trig ratios and your graphing calculator to approximate each length and angle
measure to the nearest tenth (these are all RIGHT triangles).

7.

21

8.

15

17

14
y

9.

10.

61

48 cm
z

x11

52 cm

11.

1200

1500

3.

An air force pilot must descend 1500 feet over a distance of 9000 feet to
land smoothly on an aircraft carrier. What is the planes angle of
descent?

4.

An eagle spotted a mouse 20 feet below at an angle of 42 degrees with

the horizon. If the eagle flies along its line of sight, how far will it have to
fly to reach its prey?

5.

In a movie theatre 150 feet long, the floor is sloped so there is a

difference of 30 feet between the front and back of the theater. What is
the angle of depression?