CHAPTER 4 : TRIGONOMETRY

Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that study relationship involving lengths and angles of
triangles. All trigonometry functions are used for right triangles only

4.1 TRIGONOMETRY RATIO

4.1.1 Trigonometry Ratio in Right-Angled Triangle

A right triangle has three sides which can be uniquely identified as the hypotenuse, adjacent to a

given angle of θ and opposite θ.

c
hypotenuse
a a, b and c refer to the
opposite lengths of the side

b
adjacent

TIPS :
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎
Sine function : sin 𝜃 = ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
= 𝑐 A mnemonic for remembering
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏 the trigonometric function
Cosine function : cos 𝜃 = =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 sin 𝜃
SOH CAH TOA
Tangent function : tan 𝜃 = = =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏 cos 𝜃
S – Sine

O – Opposite

H – Hypotenuse

C – Cosine

A – Adjacent

H- Hypotenuse

T – Tangent

O – Opposite

A – Adjacent
Example 4.1

3 θ

Find :

a) cos θ
b) sin θ
c) tan θ

Solution :

Example 4.2
1
𝐺𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 sin 𝜃 = , 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 tan 𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 cos 𝜃
3

Solution :
Example 4.3

Find the missing angle θ

a)
12
3 θ
θ

b) 2
√3
θ
θ

Solution :
4.1.2 Trigonometric Ratios for Special Angles

Definition 4.1 : Radian

𝜋
= 90°
2

𝜋 = 180° ( half a circle )

𝜋 = 180° 2𝜋 = 360°

3𝜋
= 270°
2

The values of trigonometric ratio of 30°, 45° 𝑎𝑛𝑑 60°

𝟒𝟓°
𝟑𝟎° √2
2 2
1
√3
𝟒𝟓°

𝟔𝟎°
1
1 1

θ (radian) 𝜃° (degree) Sin θ Cos θ Tan θ

𝜋 30° 1 1
√3
6 2 2 √3
𝜋 45° 1 1 1
4 √2 √2
𝜋 60° 1
√3 √3
3 2 2
Sin θ
1 sin 0° = 0
sin 90° = 1
sin 180° = 0
0 0
sin 270° = −1
sin 360° = 0

-1
Cos θ

0 cos 0° = 1
cos 90° = 0
cos 180° = −1
-1 1 cos 270° = 0
cos 360° = 1

Example 4.4

Find the value without using calculator

a) sin 30° + tan 45°

𝜋
b) cos 4 − 2 sin 30°

Solution :
4.1.3 Direction Angle and Trigonometric Ratio for Any Angle

Definition 4.2 : Positive angle and Negative angle

Terminal side

Initial side

Positive angles are angles measured in the anti-clockwise direction from the +ve x-axis to terminal side

Negative angles are angles measured in the clockwise direction from the +ve x-axis to terminal side

Definition 4.3 : Reference angle

A reference angle is the smallest angle that the terminal side of a given angle makes with the x-axis .

Reference angle is always less than or equal to 90°

Step to find reference angle :

1. Sketch the angle to see which quadrant it is in.

2. Depending on the quadrant, find reference angle

Quadrant Reference angle for θ

1 Same as θ
2 180° − 𝜃
3 𝜃 − 180°
4 360° − 𝜃

Procedure of finding the sine, cos and tan for an angle greater than 90◦ :

Step 1 : Sketch the angle

Step 2 : Determine the reference angle

Step 3 : Determine whether the value is positive or negative

Step 4 : Fine the value of sine, cos and tan

Example 4.5

1. Sketch the angle

a) 50°
b) 120°
c) 250°
d) −320°
e) −135°

Solution :

a)
50°
x
 2. Find the reference angle for each angle given

a) 𝜃 = 50°
b) 𝜃 = 120°
c) 𝜃 = 250°
d) 𝜃 = −320°
e) 𝜃 = −135°

Solution :

a) Step 1 : Sketch the angle to see which quadrant is in it

50°
x

Step 2 : Since it is in quadrant 1, so reference angle same as 𝜃 = 50°

 3. Find the value of trigonometric function
a) Cos 160°
b) Sin 125°
c) Tan 215°
d) Cos −100°

Solution :

a) y

160°

Reference angle = 180° − 160° = 20°

Since 𝜃 is in quadrant 2, cos is negative
So, cos 160° = − cos 20° = −0.9397
4.2 TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES

4.2.1 Reciprocal Identities

sin 𝜃
tan 𝜃 =
cos 𝜃
1
csc 𝜃 =
sin 𝜃
1 cos 𝜃
cot 𝜃 = =
tan 𝜃 sin 𝜃
1
sec 𝜃 =
cos 𝜃

4.2.2 Opposite Angle Identities

sin(−𝜃) = − sin 𝜃
cos(−𝜃) = cos 𝜃
tan(−𝜃) = − tan 𝜃

4.2.3 Pythagorean Identities

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 = 1

1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃

1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝜃

4.2.4 Complementary Angle Identities

cos 𝜃 = sin(90° − 𝜃)
sin 𝜃 = cos(90° − 𝜃)
tan 𝜃 = cot(90° − 𝜃)
sec 𝜃 = csc(90° − 𝜃)
cot 𝜃 = tan(90° − 𝜃)
csc 𝜃 = sec(90° − 𝜃)

4.2.5 Sum and Difference Identities

4.2.6 Double Angle Identities

sin 2𝜃 = 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃

cos 2𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃

= 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 − 1
= 1 − 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
2 tan 𝜃
tan 2𝜃 =
1 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃

4.2.7 Half Angle Identities

1
- By substituting the angle 𝜃 with 2 𝜃 in double angle formula

Lets start with the double angle identity for cosine,

cos 2𝜃 = 1 − 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
1
Now replace 𝜃 with 2 𝜃 :

𝜃
cos 𝜃 = 1 − 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2
2
𝜃 1 − cos 𝜃
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 =
2 2
 𝜃 1 − cos 𝜃
sin =√ Half angle identity for sine
2 2

How to get half-angle identity for cosine and tangent from double angle formula? Try by yourself .

𝜃 1 + cos 𝜃 Half angle identity for cosine

cos =√
2 2

𝜃 1 − cos 𝜃 Half angle identity for tangent

tan =√
2 1 + cos 𝜃

Example 4.6

1. Find a) csc 𝜃 12 13
b) sec 𝜃
c) cot 𝜃 𝜃
5

Solution :
 12 3
2. Given sin 𝐴 = − 13 𝑎𝑛𝑑 cos 𝐵 = 5 where A and B are in the same quadrant. Without using
calculator, find the values of

a) sec (−𝐵)
b) tan 𝐴 − tan 𝐵
c) cos 2𝐴

Solution :

𝜋
3. Show that cos( 2 − 𝑡) = sin 𝑡

Solution :
 4. By using the half angle formula and without using calculator, find the value of
a) cos 120°
b) sin 15°

Solution:

Challenge yourself by answer this question.

1. Simplify the following

a) sin 2𝑥 cos 𝑥 + cos 2𝑥 sin 𝑥 (𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 ∶ sin 3𝑥)

1+tan 𝑥
b) (𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 ∶ tan(45° + 𝑥))
1−tan 𝑥

2. Without using calculator and by using right triangle, find the exact values of
1
a) cos(60° − 120°) (𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 ∶ 2)
𝜋 𝜋 1+√3
b) tan( + ) (𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 ∶ )
4 3 1−√3
 4.3 TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATION

4.3.1 Simple Trigonometric Equation

A trigonometric equation is an equation which involves one or more trigonometric ratio. For
√3
example cos 𝜃 = 2
is a trigonometric equation.

Example 4.7

Solve the equation for 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋 given

√3
a) cos 𝜃 = 2
b) sin 𝜃 = −0.5
c) cos 2𝜃 = 0.4630
Solution:
 Try to solve this question. Think !!

√3
Solve and get the value of θ , cot 2𝜃 = − 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 360°
3

(𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 ∶ 𝜃 = 60°, 150°, 240°, 330°)

4.3.2 Trigonometric Equation In Quadratic

In quadratic equation, involving more than one trigonometric equation, use basic identities
and double angle formula.

Example 4.8

1. Solve the equation 2 cos 2𝑥 − cos 𝑥 − 1 = 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0° ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 360°

Solution :

Try to solve this question.

1. Find the values of 𝑥 between 0° ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 360° 𝑖𝑓 cot 2𝑥 = 1 + 7 tan 𝑥

(𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 ∶ 𝑥 = 11.3°, 161.6°, 191.3°, 341.6° )