Right Triangle Trigonometry

Front

What is a right triangle?

Back

A right triangle is a triangle that has one angle measuring 90 degrees.

Front

What is the Pythagorean theorem?

Back

The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (c) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (a and b): a² + b² = c².

Front

What is the sine function?

Back

The sine function (sin) of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse.

Front

What is the cosine function?

Back

The cosine function (cos) of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the hypotenuse.

Front

What is the tangent function?

Back

The tangent function (tan) of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side.

Front

How do you find the length of a side using the sine function?

Back

To find the length of a side using the sine function, use the formula: opposite = hypotenuse × sin(angle).

Front

How do you find the length of a side using the cosine function?

Back

To find the length of a side using the cosine function, use the formula: adjacent = hypotenuse × cos(angle).

Front

How do you find the length of a side using the tangent function?

Back

To find the length of a side using the tangent function, use the formula: opposite = adjacent × tan(angle).

Front

What is the relationship between the angles and sides in a right triangle?

Back

In a right triangle, the angles determine the ratios of the sides, and the side lengths can be used to find the angles using inverse trigonometric functions.

Front

What is the inverse sine function?

Back

The inverse sine function (sin⁻¹) is used to find the angle when the length of the opposite side and the hypotenuse are known.