Trigonometry is a discipline of mathematics that studies the relationships between the lengths of the sides and angles of a right-angled triangle. Trigonometric functions, also known as goniometric functions, angle functions, or circular functions, are functions that establish the relationship between an angle to the ratio of two of the sides of a right-angled triangle. The six main trigonometric functions are sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, or cosecant.
Angles defined by the ratios of trigonometric functions are known as trigonometry angles. Trigonometric angles represent trigonometric functions. The value of the angle can be anywhere between 0-360°.
As given in the above figure in a right-angled triangle:
- Hypotenuse: The side opposite to the right angle is the hypotenuse, It is the longest side in a right-angled triangle and opposite to the 90° angle.
- Base: The side on which angle C lies is known as the base.
- Perpendicular: It is the side opposite to angle C in consideration.
Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometry has 6 basic trigonometric functions, they are sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, and cotangent. Now let’s look into the trigonometric functions. The six trigonometric functions are as follows,
- sine: It is defined as the ratio of perpendicular and hypotenuse and It is represented as sin θ
- cosine: It is defined as the ratio of base and hypotenuse and it is represented as cos θ
- tangent: It is defined as the ratio of sine and cosine of an angle. Thus the definition of tangent comes out to be the ratio of perpendicular and base and is represented as tan θ
- cosecant: It is the reciprocal of sin θ and is represented as cosec θ.
- secant: It is the reciprocal of cos θ and is represented as sec θ.
- cotangent: It is the reciprocal of tan θ and is represented as cot θ.
According to the above image, Trigonometric Ratios are
Sin θ = Perpendicular / Hypotenuse = AB/AC
Cosine θ = Base / Hypotenuse = BC / AC
Tangent θ = Perpendicular / Base = AB / BC
Cosecant θ = Hypotenuse / Perpendicular = AC/AB
Secant θ = Hypotenuse / Base = AC/BC
Cotangent θ = Base / Perpendicular = BC/AB
Reciprocal Identities
Sin θ = 1/ Cosec θ OR Cosec θ = 1/ Sin θ
Cos θ = 1/ Sec θ OR Sec θ = 1 / Cos θ
Cot θ = 1 / Tan θ OR Tan θ = 1 / Cot θ
Cot θ = Cos θ / Sin θ OR Tan θ = Sin θ / Cos θ
Tan θ.Cot θ = 1
Values of Trigonometric Ratios
| 0° | 30° | 45° | 60° | 90° | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sin θ | 0 | 1/2 | 1/√2 | √3/2 | 1 |
| Cos θ | 1 | √3/2 | 1/√2 | 1/2 | 0 |
| Tan θ | 0 | 1/√3 | 1 | √3 | Not Defined |
| Sec θ | Not Defined | 2 | √2 | 2/√3 | 1 |
| Cosec θ | 1 | 2/√3 | √2 | 2 | Not Defined |
| Cot θ | Not Defined | √3 | 1 | 1/√3 | 0 |
Trigonometric Identities of Complementary and Supplementary Angles
- Complementary Angles: Pair of angles whose sum is equal to 90°
- Supplementary Angles: Pair of angles whose sum is equal to 180°
Identities of Complementary angles are
sin (90° – θ) = cos θ
cos (90° – θ) = sin θ
tan (90° – θ) = cot θ
cot (90° – θ) = tan θ
sec (90° – θ) = cosec θ
cosec (90° – θ) = sec θ
Identities of supplementary angles
sin (180° – θ) = sin θ
cos (180° – θ) = – cos θ
tan (180° – θ) = – tan θ
cot (180° – θ) = – cot θ
sec (180° – θ) = – sec θ
cosec (180° – θ) = – cosec θ
Quadrants of trigonometry
QUADRANTS
If sin a = 3/5 find cos a and tan a
Solution:
In right angled triangle
We have sin a = 3/5
therefore Sin θ = Perpendicular / Hypotenuse = AB/AC
therefore AB = 3
AC = 5
therefore as per the Pythagoras theorem
we have AC2 = BC2 + AB2
52 = BC2 + 32
25 = BC2 + 9
25-9 = BC2
16 = BC2
BC = 4
So now we have AB = 3
AC = 5
BC = 4
Now to find cos a and tan a
Cosine θ = Base / Hypotenuse = BC / AC
so cos a = 4/5
and Tangent θ = Perpendicular / Base = AB / BC
so tan a = 3/4
Similar Questions
Question 1: Prove the trigonometric equation: cos theta sec theta/cot theta = tan theta?
Solution:
Here we have cos theta sec theta / cot theta = tan theta
Therefore { cos θ sec θ }/ cot θ = tan θ
By taking L.H.S
cos θ sec θ / cot θ
we can write cos θ sec θ as 1
= (cos θ sec θ)/cot θ
= 1/cot θ { Cos θ = 1/ Sec θ therefore Cos θ Sec θ = 1}
= tan θ { Tan θ = 1 / Cot θ }
Therefore LHS = RHS
{cos θ sec θ}/ cot θ = tan θ
Hence Proved
Question 2: If tan a = 4/5 find cos a and sin a?
Solution:
In right angled triangle
We have tan a = 3/4
Therefore Tangent θ = Perpendicular / Base = AB / BC
AB = 3
BC = 4
Therefore as per the Pythagoras theorem
We have AC2 = BC2 + AB2
AC2 = 42 + 32
AC2 = 16+ 9
AC2 = 25
AC = 5
So now we have AB = 3
AC = 5
BC = 4
Now to find cos a and sin a
Cosine θ = Base / Hypotenuse = BC / AC
so cos a = 4/5
and Sin θ = Perpendicular / Hypotenuse = AB/AC
so sin a = 3/5