Lesson Plan by Heather Johnson

Topic: Math 10C: Measurement

General Outcome: Develop spatial sense and proportional
reasoning.
Specific Outcome: 4. Develop and apply the primary
trigonometric ratios
(sine, cosine, tangent) to solve problems that involve right
triangles.
Achievement Indicator: 4.1. Explain the relationships between
similar right triangles and the definitions of the primary
trigonometric ratios.
Prior Skills:
Vocabulary: right triangle, ratio, angle, hypotenuse side, opposite
side, adjacent side
Aim: The aim of the lesson is to understand the primary trigonometry
ratios, namely sine, cosine, and tangent.
Start-Up Activity: Ask students to complete the following tasks:
Label the sides of the triangle as opposite, hypotenuse and adjacent
according to the identified angle.

Create all possible ratios of side lengths for the given triangle:
5

8
3

Body of the Lesson:

Developing the Lesson:
The main concept that is to be introduced is the names of
the primary trigonometry ratios and the side lengths that
coincide with them.
Tell the story of Chief Soh-Cah-Toa:

North American Indian Mathematician who got his

name from his great talent with trigonometry; in
Soh-Cah-Toas tribe individuals were named as
adults.
One day as he became frustrated with a proof he
could not figure out he threw a tantrum, kicked a
big rock and broke his big toe.
After this unfortunate incident, the young man was
constantly soaking his toe which led to his name
Chief Soh-Cah-Toa.

Explain that Chief Soh-Cah-Toa can help them remember

the primary trigonometry ratios sine, cosine and tangent. Write
on the board:
Soh sin x = Opposite_
Hypotenuse
Cah cos x = _ Adjacent__
Hypotenuse
Toa tan x = Opposite
Adjacent
Just think about when you stub your toe on a triangle you
want to SOH-CAH-TOA!
Explain to the students that the mnemonic Soh-Cah-Toa is
just one of many different memory techniques used to remember
the primary trig ratios.
Provide students the opportunity to come up with
their own sayings! Other examples include:

Some old horses can always hear their owner

approach.

Supper often has carrots and ham to ooze aroma.

Activity:
Have students get into pairs and find a right triangle in the
classroom. Once they have located a right triangle, instruct the
students to measure all of the sides and draw it on a piece of
paper. Then the students must indicate the angle that they will
be referencing for the primary trig ratios. Students must then
write out the primary trig ratios for the triangle.
Summary:

Have student volunteers come to the board and write one of the
primary trig ratios; ask a few students to explain their method of
remembering the ratios (ex Soh-Cah-Toa).
If time permits:
Introduce the secondary trig ratios or the reciprocals of the
primary trig ratios. They are as follows:
Cosecant, csc = _1_ = Hypotenuse
sin
Opposite
Secant, sec = _1_ = Hypotenuse
cos
Adjacent
Cotangent, cot = _1_ = _Adjacent_
tan
Opposite
Methods to remember the secondary trig ratios:
Cotangent is easy to remember as the reciprocal of tangent, but
cosecant and secant can get confusing.
1. If you look at sec and cos you see that sec is that reverse of cos
except with an e instead of an o.
2. Cosine goes with secant and sine goes with cosecant c goes
with s and s goes with c. In other words, the two
beginning with c or s do NOT match up.