Engineering Mathematics Trigonometry

Definition

Trigonometry deals with the relationship between the sides and angles of the triangle.

Things that we can measure in a triangle are the lengths of the sides, the angles and the area of
the triangle and so forth.

Triangles are used in the construction of houses, skyscrapers, bridges or any structure where
stability is desired. This branch of Mathematics is used to solve problems in Surveying,
Geography, Astronomy and Navigation etc.,

Definition on angle

An angle is when two rays (think of a ray as “half” of a line) have their end point in common.
The two rays make up the “sides” of the angle, called the initial and terminal side. A picture of
an angle is shown below.

Terminal
Initial

Pythagorean Theorem

Given a right angled triangle with sides of length a, b and c as shown below (c being the longest
side, which is also called the hypotenuse) then a2 + b2 = c2 .

c
a
b

Example

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing side of the right angled triangle shown below.

3 c

In this triangle we are given the lengths of the “legs” (i.e. the sides joining the right angle) and
we are missing the hypotenuse, or c. So

32 + 72 = c2 or c2 = 58 or c = √58 = 7.616

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Measurement of an angle in terms of radian and degree

Relation between radians and degrees
We have two ways to measure angles. In degrees a full revolution corresponds to 360° while in
radians a full revolution corresponds to 2π rads.

360° is equivalent to 2π rads.

Conversion

Degree. → ... = Radian
180 

180
Radian → ...  = Degree

Examples

1. Convert 240° to radians

2. Convert 3π/8 radians to degrees.

 4
1. 240° = 240°. 
= rad
180 3
3 3 180 
2. = . = 67.5
8 8 

Quadrants

Let X OX and YOY  be two lines at right angles to each other in the figure. We call
X OX and YOY  as x-axis and y-axis respectively.
Clearly these axes divide the entire plane into FOUR equal parts, called Quadrants.

Note: Angle is measured anti-clockwise from positive x-axis.

Memory Aid – “ALL Silver Tea Cups”
I II III IV - Positive

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Engineering Mathematics Trigonometry

The trigonometric functions or Trigonometric ratio for right-angled triangle

The six trigonometric functions are sine (sin), cosine (cos), tangent (tan), cotangent (cot), secant
(sec) and cosecant (csc). They are defined in terms of ratios in the following way.

Opposite side b
Sin B = =
Hypotenuse a
Adjacent side c
Cos B = =
Hypotenuse a
Opposite side b
Tan B = =
Adjacent side c
Hypotenuse a
Cosec B = =
Opposite side b
Hypotenuse a
Sec B = =
Adjacent side c
Adjacent side c
Cot B = =
Opposite side b
.
Example

If (2, 3) is a point on the terminal side of θ, find all the six trigonometric ratios.

x = 2, y = 3, r = x 2 + y 2 = 4 + 9 = 13
y 3 x 2
sin  = = cos = =
r 13 r 13
y 3 r 13
tan  = = cos ec = =
x 2 y 3
r 13 x 2
sec = = cot = =
x 2 y 3

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Sine Rule
Sine Rule can be used with any triangle as long as we have been given enough information.

a b c
= =
SinA SinB SinC
• Note: you need to know an angle and the side opposite to use Sine Law.

Example 1
Find the length of a in the following triangle.

Given information in the following table.

Side Angle
a=? A = 41°
b=? B=?
c = 10 C = 34°

Matching up the sides and angles, we get

a c
=
sin A sin C
a 10
=

sin 41 sin 34
Rearranging to solve for a,
10  sin 41 10  0.656
a= a = = 11.74m
sin 34 0.559

Note: b and B are unknown in the above example, so don’t choose the middle ratio.

Example 2
In triangle ABC, A = 35 017 , C = 45 013 and b = 42.1 cm, Find B, a and c using Sine Law.
Given information in the following table.
Side Angle
a=? A = 35 017
b = 42.1 B = ? [180 0 − 35017 − 45013] = 99 30
c=? C = 45 013

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a 42.1
=
sin 35 17 sin 99030
0

42.1
a=  sin 35 017 = 24.65
sin 99 30
o

42.1 c
=
sin 99 30 sin 45013
0

42.1
c=  sin 45 013 = 30.3
sin 99 o 30

Example 3
Triangle PQR has PQ = 7.73 cm, QR = 13 cm, and PRQ = 35 . Calculate the two possible
values of RPQ .

7.73 13
=
sin 35 sin P
13 sin 35
sin P = = 0.9646
7.73
P = sin −1 0.9646 = 74.71or105.29

Cosine Rule
Cosine Rule can be used with any triangle as long as we have been given enough information.
The Cosine rule can be used to find:
1. An unknown side when two sides of the triangle and the included angle are given (SAS)
2. An unknown angle when 3 sides are given (SSS).
Finding an unknown side

2 2 2
a = b + c – 2bcCosA

2 2 2
b = a + c – 2acCosB

2 2 2
c = a + b – 2abCosC
Alternate version: Finding an unknown angle
b2 + c 2 − a 2
CosA =
2bc
a + c2 − b2
2
CosB =
2ac
a + b2 − c2
2
CosC =
2ab

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Example

Angle A in the following triangle is 45o, length b is 2 units and length c is 3 units. Find angles B
and C and the length a using cosine rule.

Given information in the following table.

Side Angle
a=? A = 45°
b=2 B=?
c=3 C=?

2 2 2
a = b + c – 2bcCosA
a2 = 22 + 32 –2 (2)(3) cos (45o)
a2 = 4 + 9 –12 cos (45o)
a = 2.1
To work out the angle B, we can rewrite the cosine rule.
b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cos B
4 = 4.5 + 9 –12.6*cosB
4 – 4.5 – 9 = – 12.6 cos B
− 9.5
= cos B
− 12.6
 Cos B = 0.75
B = 410 24  41
Note that A + B + C = 180°
So C = 180° – 45° – 41° = 94°

Graph of trigonometric functions

Formula for drawing graph of the trig functions

Amplitude = A = A
360
Period =
B
If we sketch the graph of y = a sin (x),
a > 1 stretches the graph in the y-axis direction
a < 1 compresses the graph in the y-axis direction
Negative value of a flips graph in the x-axis
Here a = A
B defines how many times it repeats itself in 360°

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Example 1
Draw the graph of y = 3 sin x

A B
Amplitude = A = 3 = 3
360 
Period = = 360°
1
x -2π 3 -π  0  π 3 2π
− −
2 2 2 2
y 0 3 0 -3 0 3 0 -3 0

Note: As this curve has a period 2π, we can extend this curve in both directions along the x-axis
for as many cycles as we please.
Example 2
Draw the graph of y = – cos 3x

Amplitude = A = − 1 = 1
360 
Period = = 120°
3
x 0 30° 60° 90° 120°
y -1 0 1 0 -1

Note: The "minus" sign tells me that the graph is upside down

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Engineering Mathematics Trigonometry

Area for any triangle

1
Area =  absin C
2
1
Area =  bcsin A
2
1
Area =  acsin B
2
Example
Find the area of triangle ABC which has AB = 12 cm, BC = 14 cm and ABC = 35o.

12  14  sin 35 0
Area = = 48.18 cm2
2
Table of Fundamental Trigonometric Identities

Reciprocal identities Pythogorean Identities Quotient Identities

1 sin u
Sin u = Sin2u + Cos2u = 1 Tan u =
cscu cos u
1 cos u
Cos u = Sin2u = 1 - Cos2u Cot u =
sec u sin u
1
Tan u = Cos2u = 1- Sin2u
cot u
1
Csc u = 1 + tan2u = Sec2u
sin u
1
Sec u = 1 + cot2u = Csc2u
cos u
1
Cot u =
tan u
Example 1
Show that sec2 x + csc2 x = sec2x csc2 x

The problem means that we are to write the left-hand side, and then show, through substitutions
and algebra, that we can transform it to look like the right hand side. We begin:
1 1
Sec2x + csc2x = + Using Reciprocal identities
2
cos x sin 2 x
sin 2 x + cos2 x
= on adding the fractions
cos2 x sin 2 x
1
= Using Pythagorean identities
2
cos x sin 2 x
1 1
= 2 2
= sec2x + csc2x = RHS Using Reciprocal identities
cos x sin x

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Example 2
1 1
Show that + = 2 sec2 
1 + sin  1 − sin 

1 1 1 + sin  + 1 − sin 
LHS = + = on adding the fractions
1 + sin  1 − sin  1 − sin 2 

1 + sin  + 1 − sin  2 2
= = Using Pythagorean identities
1 − sin 
2
1 − sin  cos2 
2

2
= 2 sec2  = RHS Using Reciprocal identities
cos 
2

Solving trigonometric equation

A trigonometric equation is any equation that contains a trigonometric function.

Example 1
Solve for x in the following equation for 0  x  2
2 sin x − 1 = 0

1
2 sin x = 1  sin x =
2
sin x = 0.5
x = sin −1 0.5 = 30
Since the value is positive, the angle should be in QI and QII, hence
 5
x = and x =
6 6
Note: sin 30° = 0.5 and also sin 150° = 0.5 So, the angle should be in QI and QII
The answers can be checked numerically and graphically.
Example 2
Solve for x in the following equation for 0  x  2
x
(i) cos = 0.866
2
(ii) tan 2 x = −3.732

x
(i) cos = 0.866
2
Hence, reference angle = 300
x
Since 0 0 x360 0 ,0 0  180 0
2
x x
Thus, is in 1st quadrant only. = 30 0  x = 60 0
2 2

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(ii) tan 2 x = −3.732

tan 75 0 = 3.732
Hence, reference angle = 750
Since 0 x360 ,0 2 x720
0 0 0 0

Thus, 2x is in 1st quadrant and 3rd quadrant

2 x = 180 0 − 75 0 ,360 0 − 75 0 ,360 0 + (180 0 − 75 0 ),360 0 + (360 0 − 75 0 )
x = 52.5 0 ,142.5 0 ,232.5 0 ,322.5 0

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