Chapter 1

Fundamentals of Right Triangle Trigonometry

1.1 Angles
1.2 Triangles, Similar Triangles, and the Pythagorean Theorem
1.3 Right Triangle Trigonometry
1.4 Calculators and Solving Right Triangles
1.5 Applications
SE1 Sample Exam Questions
Chapter 1

1.1 Angles

Learning Objectives

1. Define angles and degree measure.

2. Classify angles and define the complement and supplement of an angle.
3. Review angles formed when parallel lines are cut by a transversal.

Angles are the fundamental building blocks of Geometry and Trigonometry. In this section,
we define angles, their measure, and introduce the most common classifications and
relationships between them. The goal is to form a good foundation for further study in this
course.

Objective: Define angles and degree measure.

Two rays that share a common point, called the vertex, form an angle. The direction of
rotation from one ray to the other indicates the initial and terminal side of the angle.

The angle in the above illustration is referred to as angle ACB. Typically the vertex, indicated
with the letter C in this case, is placed between the letters that represent two other points on
the rays. Alternatively, angle C, or a Greek letter such as theta θ, can be used to denote this
angle.

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 1.1

Positive angles rotate from the initial side in a counterclockwise direction and negative angles
rotate in a clockwise direction.

Angles can be measured with different instruments and with different units, similar to the way
distance can be measured with a tape measure, or a ruler, and in units of either feet or meters.
A protractor is a common instrument used to measure angles. In its simplest form, a protractor
consists of an arc of a circle marked with equal angles.

A familiar unit of measurement for angles is one degree, which is 1/360th of a revolution. Each
tick mark on the protractor’s scale typically represents one degree, and angles are measured by
counting the number of degrees between the initial to the terminal side. For more accuracy, a
degree can be divided into sixty equal parts, each of which is called a minute, and each minute
can be subdivided into sixty equal parts called seconds.

60 minutes (60') = one degree (1°)

60 seconds (60'') = one minute (1')

Frequently, angles smaller than one degree are expressed using decimal degrees instead of in
minutes and seconds. For example, 20 degrees 30 minutes is equal to 20.5 degrees.

20° 30' = 20.5°

Because there are 60 minutes or 3600 seconds in one degree, you can convert minutes and
seconds to decimal degrees using a unit analysis approach and the following conversion
factors.

 1 degree   1 degree 
  and  
 60 minutes   3600 seconds 

Example: Convert 35° 45' 18'' to decimal degrees.

Solution: Begin by converting 45' and 18'' to decimal degrees.

 1 degree  45
45' = 45 minutes ⋅  =  = 0.75°
degree
 60 minutes  60
 1 degree  18
18" = 18 seconds ⋅  =  = 0.005°
degree
 3600 seconds  3600

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Chapter 1

Next, add the results to 35°.

35°45'18"= 35° + 0.75° + 0.005°

= 35.755°

Answer: 35.755°

Most modern calculators have a function used to convert degrees, minutes, and seconds [DMS]
to decimal degrees. It is useful to know how to do this by hand and by using a calculator.

Try this! Convert 125° 15' to decimal degrees.

Answer: 125.25°

Example: Convert 56.429° to degrees, minutes, and seconds. Round to the nearest second.

Solution: Begin by determining how many minutes 0.429 of a degree represents.

 60 minutes 
0.429° =0.429 degree ⋅   = 25.74 '
 1 degree 
 

This is 25 whole minutes and some extra. Next, determine how many seconds 0.74 of a minute
represents. Round to the nearest second.

 60 seconds 
0.74 ' = 0.74 minute ⋅  =  44.4seconds ≈ 44"
 1 minute 

Answer: 56° 25' 44''

Try this! Convert 105.568° to degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Answer: 105° 34' 5''

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Objective: Classify angles and define the complement and supplement of an angle.

In Geometry, angles are classified according to their measure. Acute angles measure between
0° and 90°, and obtuse angles measure between 90° and 180°.

4
 1.1

Right angles measure exactly 90° and straight angles measure exactly 180°.

When the measures of two angles add to 90° they are called complementary angles, and when
the measures of two angles add to 180° they are called supplementary angles.

The angles in the above illustration are labeled with the Greek letters alpha α and beta β.

Example: Determine the complement and supplement of the given angles.

a. 73° b. 120°

Solution: To find the complement of an angle, subtract it from 90°. To find the supplement of
an angle, subtract it from 180°.

a. Subtract from 90° and 180° respectively.

90° − 73°= 17° and 180° − 73°= 107°

The complement of 73° is 17° because 73° + 17° = 90°, and the supplement of 73° is 107°
because 73° + 107° = 180°.

b. The complement or supplement may be negative.

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Chapter 1

90° − 120° = −30° and 180° − 120° = 60°

The complement of 120° is −30° because 120° + (−30°) = 90° and the supplement of 120° is
60° because 120° + 60° = 180°.

Answer:
a. Complement: 17°; supplement: 107°
b. Complement: −30°; supplement: 60°

Try this! Determine the complement and supplement of 15°.

Answer: Complement: 75°; Supplement: 165°

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Objective: Review angles formed when parallel lines are cut by a transversal.

Intersecting lines in a plane create vertical angles. Vertical angles share a common vertex and
are opposite one another across the intersecting lines.

Angles α and γ (gamma) form one pair of vertical angles, and angles θ and β form a second
pair of vertical angles. The above illustration gives credibility to the geometric result that the
measures of vertical angles are equal.

Example: Determine the measures of θ, α, and β.

Solution: Because angle θ is a vertical angle with the known 38° angle, we conclude that
θ= 38° . Here θ and α from a straight angle, and we have

6
 1.1

θ + α = 180°
38° + α
= 180°
=α 142°

Finally, β and α are vertical angles, so β measures 142° as well.

β 142°
α 142° , =
Answer: θ= 38° , =

Recall that parallel lines are lines that lie in the same plane but do not intersect. When parallel
lines are intersected by a third line (a transversal), eight angles are formed.

The angles between the parallel lines l and m, but on opposite sides of the transversal, are called
alternate interior angles. The angles outside of the parallel lines and on opposite sides of the
transversal are called alternate exterior angles.

Angles 3 and 5 are alternate interior angles as well as angles 4 and 6. Angles 2 and 8 are
alternate exterior angles as well as angles 1 and 7. It is known that alternate interior angles
have equal measure and that alternate exterior angles have equal measure. Furthermore,
parallel lines cut by a transversal also form corresponding angles. Corresponding angles lie
on the same side of the transversal, and have the same position with respect to different parallel
lines.

7
Chapter 1

Corresponding angles are also known to be equal. In the figure above, we can identify the
following pairs of angles with equal measures.

Corresponding Angles Vertical Angles

2 and 6 1 and 3
3 and 7 2 and 4
1 and 5 5 and 7
4 and 8 6 and 8

A transversal intersecting parallel lines also produces more complicated geometric

relationships. For example, consider angles β and θ below. They do not appear to have equal
measure, but they are related.

Since angles α and β are supplementary, we know

α + β = 180°

Moreover, since angles α and θ are corresponding angles, they have equal measure. If we
substitute θ for α we obtain

θ + β = 180°

In other words, θ and β are supplementary. In general, interior angles on the same side of
the transversal are supplementary.

8
 1.1

Example: Given that lines p and q are parallel, determine the measure of angles α, β and θ in
the figure below.

Solution: Since θ and the 140° angle form a straight angle, they are supplementary. Therefore
° 180° , and θ must be 40°.
θ + 140=

To find the measures of angles α and β, view this picture as parallel lines cut by two
transversals. It is helpful to extend one or both transversals to accentuate this view. Note that
we have labeled another angle γ (gamma) on the diagram for reference.

With the transversals added, it becomes evident that γ and θ= 40° are alternate interior angles
with respect to transversal m . Since alternate interior angles are equal, γ= 40° . Similarly, α
and 75° are alternate interior angles with respect to transversal  , and so α= 75° . We can now
find angle β by recognizing that 75°, β, and γ form a straight angle along the bottom parallel
line. Therefore,

75° + β +=γ 180°

75° + β + 40=° 180°
β + 115=° 180°
β= 65°

Answer: θ= 40° , α= 75° , β= 65°

Try this! Given that lines p and q are parallel, determine the measure of angles α, β and θ in
the figure below.

9
Chapter 1

Answer: α= 28° , β= 88° , θ= 64°

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Key Takeaways ***** ***** *****

•Angles can be measured in degrees, minutes and seconds, or in decimal degrees.

•Positive angles rotate counter-clockwise and negative angles rotate clockwise.
• Complementary angles add to 90°, and supplementary angles add to 180°.
• Angles less than 90° are called acute angles, an angle that measures 90° is called a right
angle, angles between 90°and 180° are called obtuse angles, and an angle measuring
180° is called a straight angle.
• When parallel lines are cut by a transversal, fundamental pairs of equal angles are
formed. These include alternate interior angles, alternate exterior angles, and
corresponding angles. Furthermore, interior angles on the same side of a transversal
are supplementary.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Section Exercises

Part A
Convert each angle measure to decimal degrees. When necessary, round decimals to
the nearest thousandth of a degree.

1. 35° 45' 5. 87° 13' 9. 110° 52' 24''

2. 125° 15' 6. 47° 57' 10. 26° 32' 36''
3. 10° 12' 7. 25° 45' 18'' 11. 50° 39' 27''
4. 78° 42' 8. 68° 30' 12'' 12. 33° 22' 41''
Convert each angle measure to degrees, minutes and seconds. When necessary, round
to the nearest second.

13. 65.5° 17. 32.25° 21. 123.525°

14. 12.4° 18. 54.12° 22. 67.875°
15. 18.8° 19. 47.24° 23. 25.383°
16. 36.6° 20. 56.38° 24. 79.713°

10
 1.1

25. A water wheel rotates 1 revolution 28. One website reported that Visalia,
every 10 seconds. Through how California is located at a latitude of
many degrees does it rotate in 1 36.3° north of the equator, and
second’s time? In 1/2 second’s another source reported Visalia’s
time? latitude to be 36° 19' 48''. Are these
answers the same? If not, by how
26. The famous London Eye Ferris much do they differ?
wheel rotates approximately 1
revolution every 30 minutes. 29. Through how many degrees does
Through how many degrees does it the hour hand of a clock sweep in 3
rotate in 10 minutes? In 1 minute? hours?

27. Two students measured an angle in 30. Through how many degrees does
Geometry class and got different the minute hand of a clock sweep in
answers. One student measured 3 hours?
36.25°, and the other student
measured 36°25'. Are these 31. The Earth rotates on its axis once
answers the same? If not, by how every 24 hours. Through how many
much do they differ? degrees does a point the surface
rotate in one week?

32. The Earth rotates around the Sun

once very year. Through how many
degrees does the Earth sweep in 1
month?

Part B
Classify each angle as acute or obtuse and give the complement and supplement of each.

33. 62° 37. 122° 41. 12° 15'

34. 48° 38. 159° 42. 52° 45'
35. 32.5° 39. 110.4° 43. 17° 33' 24''
36. 75.5° 40. 123.6° 44. 83° 57' 32'

45. Determine the measure of the 46. Determine the measure of the
smallest angle in the figure. smallest angle in the figure.

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Chapter 1

47. Two angles measuring x and x + 20° 49. One angle is twice the measure of
are complementary. Find the another. If the two angles are
angles. supplementary, find their measures.

48. Two angles measuring x and x – 30° 50. One angle is 3 less than twice that
are supplementary. Find the angles. of another. If the two angles are
complementary, find their
measures.

Part C
Find the measure of the missing angles. Assume lines l and m are parallel.

51. 55.

52.
56.

53.

57.

54.

58.

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 1.1

Determine the measure of angle θ. Assume lines l and m are parallel.

59. 61.

60.
62.

63. Two parallel streets are crossed by 64. The roof of a shed is angled at 15°
another at a 150° angle as pictured. as pictured. Find the measure of
Determine the interior angle θ. angle θ.

Answers to Exercises

Part A

1. 35.75° 8. 68.503° 15. 18°48'

2. 125.25° 9. 110.873° 16. 36°36'
3. 10.2° 10. 26.543° 17. 32° 15'
4. 78.7° 11. 50.658° 18. 54° 7'
5. 87.217° 12. 33.378° 19. 47° 14' 24''
6. 47.95° 13. 65° 30' 20. 56° 22' 48''
7. 25.755° 14. 12° 24' 21. 123°31' 30''
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Chapter 1

22. 67° 52' 30'' 26. 120°; 12° 29. 90°

23. 25° 22' 59'' 27. no; 10' or 0.16° 30. 1,080°
24. 79° 42' 47'' 28. no; 1'48'' or 0.03° 31. 2,520°
25. 36°; 18° 32. 30°

Part B

33. Acute; Complement: 28°; 41. Acute; Complement: 77° 45';

Supplement: 118° Supplement: 167°45'
34. Acute; Complement: 42°; 42. Acute; Complement: 37° 15';
Supplement: 132° Supplement: 127°15'
35. Acute; Complement: 57.5°; 43. Acute; Complement: 72° 26' 36'';
Supplement: 147.5° Supplement: 162° 26' 36''
36. Acute; Complement: 14.5°; 44. Acute; Complement: 6° 2' 28'';
Supplement: 104.5° Supplement: 96° 2' 28''
37. Obtuse; Complement: −32° ;
Supplement: 58° 45. 40°
38. Obtuse; Complement: −69° ; 46. 44°
Supplement: 21° 47. 35° and 55°
39. Obtuse; Complement: −20.4° ; 48. 75° and 45°
Supplement: 69.6° 49. 60° and 120°
40. Obtuse; Complement: −33.6° ; 50. 31° and 59°
Supplement: 56.4°

Part C

α 130° , β= 50° , =
51. = θ 130° 59. 20°
52. α= 25° , =
β 155° , γ= 25° 60. 140°
α 135° , β= 45° , =
53. = γ 135° 61. 132.5°
62. 145°
54. α= 28° , β= 28° , =
γ 152°
63. 30°
55. α= 80° , β= 68° , θ= 32° 64. 105°
56. α= 67° , β= 72° , =
θ 108°
β 142° , =
57. α= 91° , = γ 129°
58. α= 63° , β= 77° , =
θ 140°

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 1.2

1.2 Triangles

Learning Objectives

1. Define and classify triangles.

2. Review similar triangles.
3. Review the Pythagorean Theorem.

The word trigonometry comes from the Greek words “trigonon,” or triangle, and “metron,”
which means measure. Trigonometry is essentially the study of triangles, and the relationships
between the measurements of their sides and angles. In this section, we begin our study of
triangles by classifying them by type. We also review some essential geometric results about
triangles that we will use often.

Objective: Define and classify triangles.

A triangle is constructed by connecting three points that do not lie on the same line using line
segments. This forms a polygon with three sides, and is one of the basic shapes in Geometry.

Each corner represents the vertex of an angle, in this case, labeled A, B, and C. The resulting
shape is referred to as triangle ABC. Furthermore, it is typical to label each side with the lower
case of the letter that represents the subtending angle. In other words, the side opposite angle
A is labeled to have length a and so on. Recall from Geometry that the sum of the angles of
any triangle is 180°. Therefore, given any two angles we can determine the third.

Example: Find the measure of angle B.

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Chapter 1

Solution: Given the two angles 90° and 28° we can write,

28° + B + 90=
° 180°
118° + =B 180°
=
B 180° − 118°
B= 62°

Answer: 62°

One way to classify a triangle is to use the lengths of its sides. An equilateral triangle is a
triangle with all sides equal in length. When two sides are equal in length, the triangle is called
an isosceles triangle, and if no sides are equal in length, it is called a scalene triangle.

From geometry, we know angles that subtend the same length are equal in measure. Therefore,
we can conclude that all angles of an equilateral triangle are equal, and that two angles of an
isosceles triangle are equal.

Example: Given any equilateral triangle, determine the measure of the angles.

Solution: Because each angle subtends the same length, we know that all of the angles α are
equal. Their sum is 180°,

α + α + α = 180°
3α 180°
=
3 3
α= 60°
Answer: 60°

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 1.2

Triangles are further classified using angles. If all angles of a triangle measure less than 90°
then the triangle is called an acute triangle, and if one angle measures more than 90°, it is
called an obtuse triangle.

Try this! Given that the two equal angles of an isosceles triangle measure 75°, find the measure
of the third angle.

Answer: 30°

A right triangle is a triangle with one angle that measures exactly 90°. In Trigonometry, the
right triangle is of particular importance.

The right angle is often indicated by placing a small square at its vertex, here pictured at point
C. The hypotenuse (c as pictured) is the side opposite the right angle, and the other two sides
are called legs. The hypotenuse is always the longest side of a right triangle. As you will see,
right triangles provide the foundation on which Trigonometry is built.

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Objective: Review similar triangles.

In mathematics, the idea of proportionality is of particular importance because it allows us to

solve a wide array of applications. One application involves similar triangles, which have the
same shape, but not necessarily the same size. The measures of the corresponding angles of
similar triangles are equal and the lengths of the corresponding sides are proportional. Given
similar triangles ABC and RST, we may write ABC~RST, and conclude that all of the
corresponding angle measures are equal.

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Chapter 1

The notation indicates that angle A corresponds to angle R and that the measures of these angles
are equal, A = R.

In addition, the measures of angle B = S and C = T.

Denote the proportionality of the sides as follows:

a b c
= =
r s t

Note: Angles are said to be congruent if their measures are equal. This terminology is often
shortened by simply stating that the angles are equal.

Example: If triangle ABC is similar to RST where a = 3 , b = 4 , c = 5 , and r = 9 then find the
remaining two sides of triangle RST.

Solution: All known sides are labeled in the figure; the remaining unknown sides will be
represented by s and t,

Set up proportions and solve using cross multiplication.

18
 1.2

To find t: To find s:

5 3 4 3
= =
t 9 s 9
3⋅t = 5⋅9 3⋅ s = 4 ⋅9
3t 45 3s 36
= =
3 3 3 3
t = 15 s = 12

Answer: The two remaining sides measure 12 units and 15 units.

The reduced ratio of any two corresponding sides of similar triangles is called the scale factor.
In the previous example, the ratio of the two given sides a and r was,

3 1
=
9 3

Therefore, triangle ABC is similar to triangle RST with a scale factor of 1/3. This means that
each leg of triangle ABC is 1/3 of the measure of the corresponding legs of triangle RST.

It is often the case where the triangles are presented with different orientations. Consider the
following correspondences between the sides and angles in the similar triangles ABC and DEF
shown below.

In this case,

angle A corresponds to angle D side a corresponds to side d

angle B corresponds to angle E side b corresponds to side e
angle C corresponds to angle F side c corresponds to side f

In geometry, triangles that have the same size and shape are called congruent triangles. For
congruent triangles, corresponding sides and angles are equal in measure. Note that congruent
triangles are also similar with a scale factor of 1.

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Chapter 1

Example: Given similar triangles ABC and DEF illustrated below, find the length of side d.

Solution: Since side AC is the longest side in triangle ABC, it corresponds to side DF in
triangle DEF. Traveling counterclockwise around the triangles, we see that side BC
corresponds to side EF, and side AB corresponds to side DE. This can also be determined
using the notation,

ABC  D EF
ABC  DEF

Since corresponding sides of similar triangles are proportional, we have

AC BC
=
DF EF
10 6
=
8 d

Solve by cross multiplying,

10d = 48
48
d=
10
d = 4.8

Answer: 4.8 units

Example: Given that AB is parallel to CD in the figure below, find the length of side AE.

20
 1.2

Solution: First verify that the triangles are similar. Since AB is parallel to CD, the line through
A and D is a transversal making angle A and angle D equal alternate interior angles. Angle C
and angle B are also equal for a similar reason. The vertical angles at point E are equal,
therefore, all angles are equal (AAA), so the triangles are similar. Furthermore, AEB~DEC
and a proportion can be formed as follows.

3 4
=
x x+2
3( x + 2) = 4x
3x + 6 =4x
6=x

Now segment AE = x + 2 = 6 + 2 = 8 units.

Answer: 8 units

Example: As the sun begins to fall in the sky, a 6-foot tall man notices that he casts an 8-foot
shadow. Standing so that the tip of a nearby wall’s shadow lines up with the tip of his shadow,
he then determines that he is 11 feet from the wall. How tall is the wall?

Solution: The diagram illustrates a small triangle contained in a larger triangle. These
triangles are similar because their corresponding angles are equal (AAA). Forming a
proportion, we can write

6 h
=
8 8 + 11
3 h
=
4 19

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Chapter 1

Next, cross multiply to solve,

4h= 3 ⋅19
4h = 57
h = 14.25

Answer: The wall is 14.25 feet tall.

Try this! Determine the length of side x in the following figure.

Answer: 7.2 m

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Objective: Review the Pythagorean Theorem.

A special relationship exists between the sides of a right triangle. The Pythagorean Theorem
states that the sum of the squares of the two legs of a right triangle is equal to the square of its
hypotenuse.

Alternatively, using the notation in the figure above, the Pythagorean Theorem can be
abbreviated as a 2 + b 2 =c 2 . This relationship allows us to find the length of a side of a right
triangle given any of the other two.

Example: The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 12 centimeters, and a leg measures
9 centimeters. Determine the length of the unknown side. Give the exact answer and
approximate answer rounded to the nearest tenth of a centimeter.

22
 1.2

Solution: Given a right triangle, the Pythagorean Theorem applies. In this case, solve for a
knowing that the hypotenuse c = 12 centimeters and leg b = 9 centimeters.

a 2 + b2 =
c2
a 2 + 92 =
122
a 2 + 81 =
144
a 2 = 63
a = ± 63
a=
± 9⋅7
a = ±3 7

Since a represents the length of a side of a triangle, we choose the positive (principal) square
root a = 3 7 centimeters. This is the exact answer; obtain the approximate answer from a
calculator.

Answer: Exact: 3 7 cm; approximate: 7.9 cm

There are many ways to prove the Pythagorean Theorem. Here we use similar triangles.
Consider the following right triangle ABC below.

Draw the altitude of triangle ABC by connecting a line segment from the apex of the triangle
to the base. The altitude is perpendicular to the base so this creates two smaller right triangles.
In fact, triangle ABC is similar to both triangle ADC and triangle BDC. To see this, verify that
these triangles all have congruent angles. Since these triangles are similar, we can use
proportions to find relationships between their sides. Comparing triangle ADC with triangle
ABC, we obtain the proportion

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Chapter 1

b c
=
x b
b2 = c ⋅ x

Furthermore, comparing triangle DBC with triangle ABC, we obtain

a c
=
y a
a2 = c ⋅ y

Adding these two equations and simplifying,

a 2 + b2 = c ⋅ y + c ⋅ x
= c ( y + x)
= c⋅c
= c2

proves the result. The Pythagorean Theorem gives both a necessary and sufficient condition
for right triangles. In other words, if the sides of a triangle satisfy the relationship a 2 + b 2 =
c2
, then they form a right triangle. And conversely, all right triangles must satisfy the relationship.
(Note that our proof only verified the necessary condition.)

It should also be noted that choosing random values for a, b, and c may not produce a triangle
at all. The triangle inequality tells us that for any triangle, the sum of the two shortest sides
must be greater than the longest side. In other words, if c is the longest side,

a+b > c

Example: Show that a triangle with sides 6, 8, and 10 units forms a right triangle.

Solution: Since 6 + 8 > 10, we conclude that these lengths form a triangle. Next, using c = 10
units as the hypotenuse,
?
a 2 + b2 =
c2
?
6 2 + 82 =102
?
36 + 64 =
100
100 = 100

Answer: Since a 2 + b 2 =
c 2 we conclude these side lengths will form a right triangle.

24
 1.2

Example: Determine whether or not sides measuring 3, 2, and 8 centimeters forms a triangle.

Solution: Since the sum two shorter lengths is not greater than the longest length, the triangle
inequality implies that no triangle can be formed: 3 + 2 < 8.

Answer: No triangle can be formed.

Try this! Determine whether or not sides measuring 6, 3, and 8 units forms a triangle.

Answer: A triangle can be formed.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Key Takeaways ***** ***** *****

• Triangles can be classified according to their sides (isosceles, equilateral, or scalene),

and according to their angles (acute, obtuse, or right).
• Similar triangles have equal (congruent) angles and therefore are the same shape;
corresponding sides of similar triangles are proportional.
• The longest side of a right triangle is called the hypotenuse, and the Pythagorean
Theorem tells us that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum
of the square of the other two legs.
• According to the Triangle Inequality, the sum of the shortest two legs of any triangle
is always greater than the third side.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Section Exercises

Part A
Determine whether or not the given sides form a triangle. Furthermore, test to see it
they form a right triangle.

1. a = 9 m, b = 12 m, and c = 15 m. 7. a = 12 m, b = 6 m, and c = 20 m.
2. a = 5 ft., b = 10 ft., and c = 6 ft. 8. a = 1 ft., b = 1 ft., and c = 2 ft.
3. a = 8 in., b = 8 in., and c = 8 in.
9. a = 1 ft., b = 3 ft., and c = 2 ft.
4. a = 10 yd., b = 24 yd., and
10. a = 7.2 km, b = 13.8 km, and
c = 26 yd.
c = 3.5 km
5. a = 4 cm, b = 8 cm, and c = 10 cm.
6. a = 5 mi., b = 5 mi., and c = 9 mi.

25
Chapter 1

Based on the figure, classify the triangle as equilateral, isosceles, scalene.

11.

15.

16.

12.

17.

13.

18.
14.

Given triangle ABC, find the measure of the indicated angle.

19. A = 25°, B = 65°, find C. 24. B = 165.7°, C = 12.1°, find A.

20. A = 81.5°, B = 6.5°, find C. 25. A = 14° 15', B = 65° 25', find C.
21. A = 12.86°, C = 56.13°, find B. 26. A = 122° 45' 16'', B = 25° 10' 2'',
22. B = 5.2°, C = 64.4°, find A. find C.
23. A = 114°, C = 28°, find B.

26
 1.2

27. Find θ. 29. Find β.

30. Find β.
28. Find α.

31. If the two equal angles of an 35. Find the interior angle of the regular
isosceles triangle measure 38°, find pentagon (5 equal sides as
the measure of the third angle. pictured). Hint: Break the figure up
into 5 triangles each with a vertex at
the center.
32. Find all angle measures of an
isosceles right triangle.

33. If the measures of each angle of a

triangle are x, x + 2°, and x + 4° 36. Find the interior angle of the regular
degrees. Find the measure of all hexagon (6 equal sides).
angles in the triangle.
37. Find the interior angle of the regular
34. If the measures of each angle of a octagon (8 equal sides).
triangle are 2x, x − 5°, and 2x + 10°
degrees. Find the measure of all 38. Develop a formula for the interior
angles in the triangle. angle θ for any regular n-gon.

Part B
Given the two triangles list all angle and side correspondences.

39. 40.

27
Chapter 1

Solve for the indicated unknown(s).

41.
46.

42. 47.

48.
43.

44.

49.

45.

50.

28
 1.2

Given triangle ABC is similar to triangle DEF, find the indicated unknown.

51. a = 6 , c = 5 , e = 12 and f = 15 53. a = 6 , c = 16 , e = 3 and f = 8

find b. find d.
52. c = 3 , b = 5 , d = 6 and e = 25 54. b = 20 , c = 5 , e = 30 and d = 15
find f. find a.

55. As the sun begins to fall in the sky, 58. In a circular tent, the last row of
a 6-foot tall man notices that he seats are to be placed 20 feet away
casts an 8-foot shadow. He stands from a central pole that is 18 feet
so that the tip of a nearby flagpole’s high. Ropes from the top of the pole
shadow lines up with the tip of his are to be staked into the ground in
shadow. If he is 20 feet from the such a way that they are 6 feet
base of the flagpole, how tall is the above ground where the last row of
pole? seats are to be placed. At what
distance from the central pole
should the ropes be staked in?

59. A 5.8-foot person stands next to a

pole and shadows are measured.
The person’s shadow measures 3.5
feet and the poles shadow extends 4
feet beyond that point. Use this
information to approximate the
56. A tree casts an 11-foot shadow at height of the pole to the nearest
the same time a vertical 3-foot post tenth of a foot.
casts a 2-foot shadow. How tall is
the tree?

57. A 10-foot ladder and a 16-foot

ladder are both leaning against a
wall in such a way as to make the
same angle with the ground. The
shorter ladder reaches 9 feet up the
wall. How far up the wall does the
longer ladder reach?

29
Chapter 1

60. A man stands beside his house 63. To find the distance on a pond from
looking up at a mountain. He point A to point B, the following
knows the mountain is measurements were taken. Use this
approximately 5,000 feet tall, and information to find the distance.
that his horizontal distance from the
base of the mountain is 1.2 miles. If
he measures that he is 800 feet from
the tree, how tall is the tree?

64. From the ground, a hot air balloon

ascends 300 feet for every 1000 feet
forward. If it continues ascending at
this rate, determine its height after 1
61. To measure the width of a river, a mile (5,280 feet) of forward
surveyor carefully constructed and motion?
measured the following legs of
similar triangles. Use this
information to determine the width
of the river.

65. A 5 1/2-foot person views the top of

a pole through a small mirror placed
on the ground 4 feet away. The pole
is 40 feet from the mirror and two
similar triangles are formed as
62. To measure the width of a river, a
illustrated. How tall is the pole?
surveyor carefully constructed and
measured the following legs of
similar triangles. Use this
information to determine the width
of the river.

30
 1.2

66. A 6-foot man views the top of a tree frontage is 200 feet where lot A has
through a small mirror that is placed a width of 100 feet and lot B has a
on the ground 5 feet in front of him. width of 50 feet as pictured.
If the mirror is measured to be 20 Approximate the length of beach
feet from the tree, determine the frontage for each lot.
height of the tree.

67. An 85-foot building is to be

constructed 120 feet from a
building directly across the street.
How far from the edge must a 4-
foot air conditioning unit be placed
on the roof so that it is not visible
from any point on the ground?

68. A window is 25 feet above a porch

that is 2 feet above the ground. If
the porch projects 10 feet, how long
of a ladder is needed to reach the
window from the ground? Ladders 70. A gable roof is to be constructed for
are only available in 1-foot a new house that is 30 feet wide, 36
increments. feet high at the ridge, and 28 feet
high under the eaves. How long
69. A real estate broker is offering two should the rafters be if they are to
beach-front properties for sale and extend 2 feet horizontally from the
wishes to list the length of each sides of the house?
along the beach. The total beach

Part C
Given right triangle ABC, determine the length of the unknown side. Give the exact
answer when possible and an approximate answer rounded to the nearest tenth.

71. a = 3 m, b = 4 m, find c. 74. a = 4 m, b = 8 m, find c.

72. a = 3 ft., c = 13 ft., find b. 75. b = 112.4 km, c = 254.2 km, find a.
73. b = 7 cm, c = 10 cm, find a. 76. a = 8.2 in, c = 10.6 in, find b

31
Chapter 1

77. Find the exact length of the 83. A girl walks 2 miles due east, and
diagonal of a square with sides of then turns left and walks 3 miles
length 10 centimeters. due north. How far is she from her
starting place?
78. The diagonal of a square measures
6 meters, find the exact length of 84. A 10-foot ladder is leaning up
each side. against a wall. If the base of the
ladder is 4 feet from the wall, how
79. Develop a formula for the diagonal far up the wall does the ladder
of a square d in terms of its sides reach?
measuring x units.
85. The frame of a rectangular gate is to
80. Develop a formula for the sides of a be 3 feet by 4 feet. What must the
square x in terms of its diagonal length of the diagonal be to ensure
measuring d units. that the frame is “square?” That is,
all angles are at 90°.
81. The length of a rectangle is twice
that of its width. If the diagonal 86. What length of cable is needed to
measures 10 centimeters, find the stretch from the top of a vertical 20-
dimensions of the rectangle. foot pole to a point that is 15 feet
from its base?
82. The diagonal of a rectangle is 2
centimeters longer than its width. If
the length is 6 centimeters, what is
the length of the diagonal?

Solve for x.

87. 89.

90.
88.

32
 1.2

91. 92.

93. Find the altitude of an equilateral 97. Find the diagonal d of a rectangular
triangle with sides 20 centimeters. prism where the base measures 5
Give the exact value and the units by 3 units and the height is 4
approximate value rounded to the units.
nearest tenth.

94. Find the altitude of an isosceles

triangle with base measuring 18
centimeter, and two equal sides
measuring 10 centimeters. Give the
exact value and the approximate 98. Find the diagonal d of a rectangular
value rounded to the nearest tenth. prism where the base measures 10
units by 4 units and the height is 2
units
95. Find the diagonal of the cube d
where each side measures 4 units. 99. A satellite is sighted at a distance of
780 miles just as it comes over the
horizon at point A on the Earth
(A = 90°). How far above the Earth
at point B is the satellite? (Use r ≈
4,000 miles as an approximation of
the radius of the Earth.)
96. Develop a formula for the diagonal
of a cube with sides measuring x
units.

33
Chapter 1

Answers to Exercises

Part A

1. right triangle 13. scalene 27. 60°

2. triangle 14. isosceles 28. 38°
3. triangle 15. isosceles 29. 25.5°
4. right triangle 16. equilateral 30. 49.3°
5. triangle 17. isosceles 31. 104°
6. triangle 18. scalene 32. 45°, 45°, 90°
7. no triangle is 19. 90° 33. 58°, 60°, 62°
formed 20. 92° 34. 30°, 70°, 80°
8. right triangle 21. 111.01° 35. 108°
9. right triangle 22. 110.4° 36. 120°
10. no triangle is 23. 142° 37. 135°
formed 24. 2.2° 180°n − 360°
38. θ =
11. scalene 25. 100° 20' n
12. scalene 26. 32° 4' 42''

Part B

39. Answer: angle A corresponds to angle D side AB corresponds to side DE

angle B corresponds to angle E side BC corresponds to side EF
angle C corresponds to angle F side CA corresponds to side FD

40. Answer: angle P corresponds to angle F side PQ corresponds to side FG

angle Q corresponds to angle G side QR corresponds to side GE
angle R corresponds to angle E side RP corresponds to side EF
41. x = 12 ; y = 18 51. 4 62. 90 ft.
42. x = 10 ; y = 7 52. 15 63. 80 ft.
43. x ≈ 15.6 ; y ≈ 3.0 53. 3 64. 1,584 ft.
54. 10 65. 55 feet
44. x = 9 ; y = 4
55. 21 ft. 66. 24 feet
45. x = 6.4
56. 16.5 feet 67. 5.6 feet
10
46. =
x ≈ 3.3 57. 14.4 ft. 68. 29-foot ladder
3 58. 30 feet 69. Lot A: 133 ft.; lot
47. x = 7 59. 12.4 ft. B: 67 ft.
48. x = 8 60. approximately 70. 19.3 feet
49. x = 14 630 feet
50. x = 6 61. 96.25 ft.

34
 1.2

Part C
71. 5 m 81. 2 5 cm by 91. 4 in.
72. 12.6 ft. 92. 5 cm
4 5 cm
73. 51 cm; 7.1 cm 82. 10 cm 93. 10 3 cm; 17.3 cm
74. 4 5 m; 8.9 m 83. 13 mi; 3.6 mi. 94. 19 cm; 4.4 cm
75. 228.0 km 95. 4 3 units
84. 2 21 ft.; 9.2 ft.
76. 6.7 in
85. 5 ft. 96. x 3 units
77. 10 2 cm 86. 25 ft. 97. 5 2 units
78. 3 2 m 87. 5.8 cm 98. 2 30 units
79. d = x 2 units 88. 8 231 m; 121.6 m 99. 75 miles
d 2 89. 15 cm
80. x = units
2 90. 5 km

35
Chapter 1

1.3 Right Triangle Trigonometry

Learning Objectives

1. Define the six trigonometric functions for acute angles.

2. Study the side ratios for the special triangles: 30°-60°-90° and 45-°45°-90°.
3. Introduce the Cofunction Theorem for acute angles.
4. Find trigonometric ratios when one side of a right triangle is missing.

In this section we introduce a definition of the six trigonometric functions for acute angles.
These functions are used to solve for missing parts of a triangle. We also introduce two very
special triangles: the 30°-60°-90° triangle and the 45°-45°-90° triangle. The study of
Trigonometry requires much memorization. Both the definition and the special triangles
presented here should be memorized as soon as possible.

Objective: Define the six trigonometric functions for acute angles.

For each acute angle of a right triangle, six possible side ratios can be formed, and hence there
are six defined trigonometric functions. These ratios occur so often that they are each given
their own names: sine, cosine, secant, cosecant, tangent and cotangent.

Given any right triangle ABC, the six trigonometric functions (and their abbreviations) defined
for angle A follow:

opposite side a hypotenuse c

=
(sine) sin A = =
(cosecant) csc A =
hypotenuse c opposite side a
adjacent side b hypotenuse c
=
(cosine) cos A = =
(secant) sec A =
hypotenuse c adjacent side b
opposite side a adjacent side b
(tangent) tan A = = =
(cotangent) cot A =
adjacent side b opposite side a

36
 1.3

This definition is called the right triangle definition of the trigonometric functions for an
acute angle. Note that the ratios in the second column are the reciprocals of those in the first
column.

Given the lengths of all the sides of a right triangle, we can determine the values of all six
trigonometric functions of either acute angle.

Example: Given the 3-4-5 right triangle, determine all six values for the trigonometric
functions of angle A.

Solution: Here the length indicated opposite to angle A is 3 units, while the adjacent length is
4 units. The side opposite the right angle is always the hypotenuse, which in this case is 5 units.

Answer:

3 5
=sin A =csc A
5 3
4 5
=cos A = sec A
5 4
3 4
=tan A = cot A
4 3

To find the values for the trigonometric functions of angle B, first identify the opposite and
adjacent sides to angle B. For example, to determine the six ratios for angle B, use b as the
length of the side opposite and a as the length of the side adjacent.

opp b hyp c
sin=
B = =
csc B =
hyp c opp b

adj a hyp c
=
cos B = =
sec B =
hyp c adj a

opp b adj a
tan=
B = cot=
B =
adj a opp b

37
Chapter 1

The right triangle definition allows us to determine the six trigonometric ratios for any acute
angle in a right triangle, regardless of the orientation in which the right triangle is drawn.

Example: Given the 5-12-13 right triangle, determine all six trigonometric ratios for angle B.

Solution: Here the length indicated opposite to angle B is 12 units, while the adjacent length
is 5 units. The hypotenuse in this triangle is 13 units.

Answer:

12 13
=sin B = csc B
13 12
5 13
=cos B = sec B
13 5
12 5
=tan B = cot B
5 12

Try this! Given the 5-12-13 right triangle ABC pictured in the previous example, determine
all six trigonometric ratios for angle A.

Answer:

5 13
=sin A = csc A
13 5
12 13
=cos A = sec A
13 12
5 12
=tan A = cot A
12 5

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

38
 1.3

Objective: Study the side ratios for the special triangles: 30°-60°-90° and 45°-45°-90°.

We begin with an equilateral triangle in which each side measures 2 units. Draw the altitude
to form a 30°-60°-90° triangle.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the missing leg. In this case, choose the
positive square root.

a 2 + b2 =
c2
a 2 + 12 =
22
a 2 + 1 =4
a2 = 3
a= ± 3

Now use this triangle and the right triangle definition to find all six trigonometric function
values for 60°.

opp 3 hyp 2
=
sin 60 ° = =
csc 60° =
hyp 2 opp 3
adj 1 hyp
=
cos 60 ° = =
sec 60° = 2
hyp 2 adj
opp 3 adj 1
=
tan 60° = = 3 =
cot 60° =
adj 1 opp 3

Use the same construction above to determine the six trigonometric function values for 30°.
Here the length of the side opposite 30° is 1 unit, and the length of the side adjacent to 30° is
3 units.

1
=sin 30° =csc 30° 2
2
3 2
=cos 30° =sec 30°
2 3
1 3
tan 30=
° cot 30=
° = 3
3 1

39
Chapter 1

In Algebra, it is customary to rationalize and present fractions without radicals in the

denominator. However, in Trigonometry it is often convenient to work with ratios with radicals
in the denominator. Therefore, we will rationalize only when it is convenient.

Since the six trigonometric functions are ratios of side lengths, their values are independent of
the size of the triangle. More specifically, if a right triangle containing an acute angle θ, is
replaced with a similar right triangle that also contains angle θ, the six ratios will remain the
same. Using this fact, we can generalize the construction of the 30°-60°-90° triangle by using
x as a scale factor. In other words, multiply each side by any positive value x.

Given the length of one side of any 30°-60°-90° triangle, we can use this generalized 30°-60°-
90° triangle to find the remaining sides.

Example: The hypotenuse of a 30°-60°-90° triangle has length 10 meters. Find the lengths of
the legs.

Solution: The hypotenuse is given to be 10 meters. Using the generalization, the hypotenuse
of a 30°-60°-90° triangle is labeled 2x, and so we have,

2 x = 10
x=5

Once we know that x = 5 , we conclude that the side opposite 30° is 5 meters. Again, using the
generalization, the side opposite 60° is labeled with length x 3 , and so is 5 3 meters.

Answer: Short leg: 5 m; long leg: 5 3 m

40
 1.3

Try this! The smallest leg of a 30°-60°-90° triangle has length 4 centimeters. Find the lengths
of the remaining sides.
Answer: Hypotenuse: 8 cm; long leg: 4 3 cm

Next, we construct a 45°-45°-90° triangle beginning with a square whose sides are 1-unit long.
Connect the corners with a diagonal and this forms a 45°-45°-90° triangle.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the missing side. Chose the positive result
and obtain the following special right triangle.

a 2 + b2 =
c2
12 + 12 =
c2
2 = c2
± 2=
c

Now use the construction above to determine the six trigonometric function values for 45°.
Here both the side opposite and the side adjacent to 45° have length 1-unit.

1
=sin 45° = csc 45° 2
2
1
=cos 45° =sec 45° 2
2
=tan 45° 1 = cot 45° 1

Recall that the six trigonometric ratios are independent of the size of the triangle. Using this
fact we can generalize the construction by multiplying each side by any positive scale factor x.

41
Chapter 1

Example: Given that the hypotenuse of a 45°-45°-90° triangle has length 7 meters, find the
lengths of the remaining legs. Round answers to the nearest tenth of a meter.

Solution: Using the generalization, we know that the hypotenuse of a 45°-45°-90° triangle is
x 2 units. In this case, it is given to be 7 meters, and we have,

x 2 =7
7
x=
2
x ≈ 5.0

Answer: Each leg is approximately 5.0 meters in length.

Try this! Find the length of the diagonal of a square with sides measuring 5 units. Approximate
to the nearest tenth.
Answer: 7.1 units

In summary, we have constructed the following special triangles:

Using these special triangles, we found the values of the six trigonometric functions for 30°,
45°, and 60°. These function values are used often, you should commit them to memory.

1 2 3
=sin 30° = sin 45° = sin 60°
2 2 2
3 2 1
=cos 30° =cos 45° =cos 60°
2 2 2
3
=tan 30° =tan 45° 1 = tan 60° 3
3

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

42
 1.3

Objective: Introduce the Cofunction Theorem for acute angles.

You may be wondering why three of the six trigonometric ratios are named beginning with the
prefix “co”, followed by the name of one of the other three ratios, as in sine and cosine. This
is no accident! In any right triangle, there are always three angles; one right angle and a pair
of complementary angles. For example, in a 30°-60°-90° triangle, the 30° angle and the 60°
angle are complementary angles.

You should observe that the side opposite one of these angles is exactly the side adjacent to
the other one. The side opposite of B is the side adjacent to A for example. For this reason,
the sine of A will be equivalent to the cosine of B. This relationship is the reason for the prefix
“co” in the name cosine. Three such relationships are summed up by the Cofunction
Theorem, which states that cofunctions of complementary angles are equal. In general,

sin θ cos ( 90° − θ )

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

We will prove this theorem in a later section. For now, it is worth reviewing the trigonometric
functions of the angles that we know so far to justify the theorem. For example,

1 1
=sin 30° =
and cos 60°
2 2

Here, the cofunction values of the complementary angles 30° and 60° are the same.

Example: Write cos 75° in terms of its cofunction.

Solution: Apply the Cofunction Theorem with sine as the cofunction and θ= 75° .

75° sin ( 90° − 75° )

cos=
= sin15°

Answer: sin15°

43
Chapter 1

Try this! Write csc10° in terms of its cofunction.

Answer: sec80°

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Objective: Find trigonometric ratios when one side of a right triangle is missing.

When two sides of the right triangle are given, use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the
length of the third side before determining the six trigonometric ratios.

Example: Determine all six trigonometric function values for the indicated angle θ.
Rationalize all denominators.

Solution: Let a represent the length of the unknown leg and use the Pythagorean Theorem to
determine its length.

a 2 + b2 =
c2
a 2 + 42 =
82
a 2 + 16 =
64
a 2 = 48

Now apply the square root property.

a = ± 48
a=
± 16 ⋅ 3
a = ±4 3

Here we use the positive value for a.

44
 1.3

The hypotenuse measures 8 centimeters, the adjacent side measures 4 centimeters, and the
opposite side measures 4 3 centimeters. Use these lengths to determine the values for the six
trigonometric functions for θ.

Answer:

4 3 3 2 3 2 3
sin θ = = csc θ = ⋅ =
8 2 3 3 3
4 1
cos θ= = sec θ= 2
8 2
4 3 1 3 3
tan θ = = 3 cot θ = ⋅ =
4 3 3 3

6
Example: Determine all six trigonometric function values for θ, given that tan θ = .
7

Solution: Given tan θ = 6 / 7 , we can imagine that θ is an angle in a right triangle with opposite
side of length 6 units, and adjacent side of length 7 units.

Then use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the length of the hypotenuse.

a 2 + b2 =
c2
62 + 7 2 =
c2
36 + 49 =
c2
85 = c 2
± 85 =
c

Use the positive value for c and determine the six trigonometric ratios for θ.

Answer:

45
Chapter 1

opp 6 85
=
sin θ = =
csc θ
hyp 85 6
adj 7 85
=
cos θ = =
sec θ
hyp 85 7
opp 6 7
=
tan θ = =
cot θ
adj 7 6

Try this! Given a right triangle with one leg 0.75 meters in length and hypotenuse 1.25 meters
in length, determine sine, cosine, and tangent of angle α.

Answer: sin α = 0.6 , cos α = 0.8 , tan α = 0.75

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Key Takeaways ***** ***** *****

• The right triangle definitions of the six trigonometric functions are all possible ratios
of sides of a right triangle. They are named sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, and
cotangent.
• There are two frequently occurring special triangles whose side ratios should be
memorized. The 30°-60°-90° triangle has side ratios 1 − 2 − 3 and the 45°-45°-90°
has side ratios 1 − 1 − 2 .
• The Cofunction Theorem tells us that cofunctions of complementary angles are equal.
• Given any two sides of a right triangle, we can find the third side using the Pythagorean
Theorem as well as all six trigonometric function values of the angle.
• Trigonometry is a subject that requires much memorization. You should memorize the
right triangle definition and the special triangles as soon as possible.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

46
 1.3

Section Exercises

Part A
Find all six values for the trigonometric functions for angle A.

1. 5.

2.

6.

7.
3.

8.

4.

47
Chapter 1

9. Round answer to the nearest ten- 10. Round answer to the nearest ten-
thousandth. thousandth.

Given right triangle ABC where C is the right angle, find all six trigonometric functions
for angle B. Give exact values.

11. a = 6 m, b = 8 m, and c = 10 m. 15. a = 2 cm, b = 3 cm, and

12. a = 12 ft., b = 9 ft., and c = 15 ft.
c = 5 cm.
13. a = 5 ft., b = 5 ft., and c = 5 2 ft.
16. a = 2 cm, b = 1 cm, and
14. a = 5 3 cm, b = 5 cm, and
c = 3 cm.
c = 10 cm.

Part B
Use the 30°-60°-90° and 45-°45°-90° special triangles to find the following.

17. The legs of a 30°-60°-90° triangle 21. The shorter leg of a 30°-60°-90°
if the hypotenuse is 12 cm. triangle if the longer leg is 15 yd.

18. The hypotenuse of a 30°-60°-90° 22. The legs of a 45-°45°-90° triangle

triangle if the shorter leg is 5 ft. if the hypotenuse is 10 cm.

19. The hypotenuse of a 30°-60°-90° 23. The hypotenuse of a 45-°45°-90°

triangle if the longer leg is 12 m. triangle if the legs are 8 ft.

20. The longer leg of a 30°-60°-90° 24. The legs of a 45-°45°-90° triangle
triangle if the hypotenuse leg is 3 if the hypotenuse is 1 cm.
in.

Given the special triangle, find the remaining sides.

25. 26. 27.

48
 1.3

28. 30. 32.

29. 31.

Determine the exact values.

33. sin 60° 36. cos 45° 39. tan 45°

34. sin 30° 37. sin 45° 40. tan 60°
35. cos 60° 38. tan 30°

Find the exact answer to the following.

41. sin 30° + cos 60° 44. cos 45° + cos 30° 47. cos 30° − sin 60°
42. sin 60° + sin 30° 45. tan 30° + tan 60° 48. cos 60° − cos 45°
43. sin 45° + cos 45° 46. tan 45° + tan 45°

Part C
Write each function in terms of its cofunction.

49. cos 35° 54. sin14° 24 ' 10 '' 59. cos θ

50. sin 50° 55. tan 50° 60. sec β
51. sin 35.2° 56. sec 20° 61. tan ( 90° − θ )
52. cos 73.4° 57. c sc18.45°
62. cos ( 90° − θ )
53. cos 65° 45 ' 16 '' 58. cot12.5°

Fill in the blanks with exact values.

63.= sin 30° cos
= ( ___ ) ___
64. =
cos 30° sin
= ( ___ ) ___
65. =
cos 45° sin
= ( ___ ) ___
66.=
sin 60° cos
= ( ___ ) ___

49
Chapter 1

Assume the arguments represent positive acute angles and solve for θ.

67. sin ( 3θ +=
20° ) cos ( 2θ − 10° )
68. cos (θ + =
12° ) sin ( 2θ − 15° )
69. tan ( 6θ −=
5° ) cot ( 4θ + 15° )
70. cot (=
θ ) tan ( 5θ − 30° )

Part D
Find all six values for the trigonometric functions for the indicated acute angle. If
necessary, round answers to the nearest tenth.

71. 76.

72. 77.

78.
73.

79.
74.

80.
75.

50
 1.3

Given right triangle ABC where C is the right angle find all six trigonometric functions
for angle A.
81. a = 6 m, b = 8 m 84. b = 3 cm, c = 7 cm

82. a = 12 ft., b = 9 ft. 85. b = 2 2 m, c = 8 m

83. a = 7 cm, c = 7 2 cm 86. b = 3 5 m, c = 9 m

Determine all six trigonometric function values for the acute angle θ, given:

2 7 97. sec θ = 7
87. sin θ = 91. tan θ =
5 3 9
98. sec θ =
5 92. tan θ = 5 2
88. cos θ =
7 93. tan θ = 2 2
1 99. cot θ =
89. cos θ =
3 94. tan θ = 2
2
4 100. cot θ = 3
95. csc θ = 5
21
90. sin θ = 3
5 96. csc θ =
2

51
Chapter 1

Answers to Exercises
Part A
3 4 3 5 5 4
1. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
5 5 4 3 4 3
4 3 4 5 5 3
2. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
5 5 3 4 3 4
3 2 3 13 13 2
3. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
13 13 2 3 2 3
19 9 19 10 10 9
4. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
10 10 9 19 9 19
12 5 12 13 13 5
5. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
13 13 5 12 5 12
1 2 1 5
6. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = 5 , sec A = , cot A = 2
5 5 2 2
5 12 5 13 13 12
7. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
13 13 12 5 12 5
1 1
8. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = 1 , csc A = 2 , sec A = 2 , cot A = 1
2 2
9. sin A ≈ 0.5361 , cos A ≈ 0.8453 , tan A ≈ 0.6341 , csc A ≈ 1.8654 ,
sec A ≈ 1.1829 , cot A ≈ 1.5769
10. sin A ≈ 0.8699 , cos A ≈ 0.4932 , tan A ≈ 1.7639 , csc A ≈ 1.1496 ,
sec A ≈ 2.0278 , cot A ≈ 0.5669
4 3 4 5 5 3
11. sin B = , cos B = , tan B = , csc B = , sec B = , cot B =
5 5 3 4 3 4
3 4 3 5 5 4
12. sin B = , cos B = , tan B = , csc B = , sec B = , cot B =
5 5 4 3 4 3
1 1
13. sin B = , cos B = , tan B = 1 , csc B = 2 , sec B = 2 , cot B = 1
2 2
1 3 1 2
14. sin B = , cos B = , tan B = , csc B = 2 , sec B = , cot B = 3
2 2 3 3
3 2 3 5 5 2
15. sin B = , cos B = , tan B = , csc B = , sec B = , cot B =
5 5 2 3 2 3
1 2 1 3
16. sin B = , cos B = , tan B = , csc B = 3 , sec B = , cot B = 2
3 3 2 2

52
 1.3

Part B

17. longer leg 6 3 cm; 5 3 37. 2/2

27. Longer leg: ;
shorter leg 6 cm 3 38. 1/ 3
18. 10 ft. 10 3 39. 1
hypotenuse:
19. 8 3 3 40. 3
3 3 28. Shorter leg: u 3 ; 41. 1
20. m
2 hypotenuse: 2u 3 3 +1
42.
21. 5 3 yd. 29. Each leg: 8 2 2
22. 5 2 cm 30. Leg: 7; hypotenuse: 43. 2
23. 8 2 ft. 7 2 2+ 3
44.
2 31. Each leg: u 2 2
24. cm
2 5u 4 3
32. Leg: ; 45.
25. Longer leg: 4 3 ; 2 3
shorter leg: 4 hypotenuse 5u 46. 2
26. Longer leg: 3 3 ; 33. 3 / 2 3 −1
47.
hypotenuse: 6 34. 1/2 2
35. 1/2 1− 2
48.
36. 2/2 2

Part C
49. sin 55° 65. 45°; 2/2
50. cos 40° 66. 30°; 3/2
51. cos 54.8° 67. 16°
52. sin16.6° 68. 31°
53. sin 24°14 ' 44 '' 69. 8°
54. sin 75° 35' 50 '' 70. 20°
55. cot 40°
56. csc 70°
57. sec 71.55°
58. tan 77.5°
59. sin ( 90° − θ )
60. csc ( 90° − β )
61. cot θ
62. sin θ
63. 60°; 1/2
64. 60°; 3/2

53
Chapter 1

Part D

5 8 5 89 89 8
71. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
89 89 8 5 8 5
1 1
72. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = 1 , csc θ = 2 , sec θ = 2 , cot θ = 1
2 2
2 5 2 29 29 5
73. sin α = , cos α = , tan α = , csc α = , sec α = , cot α =
29 29 5 2 5 2
2 3 2 13 13 3
74. sin α = , cos α = , tan α = , csc α = , sec α = , cot α =
13 13 3 2 3 2
4 10 3 4 10 13 13 3
75. sin β = , cos β = , tan β = , csc β = , sec β = , cot β =
13 13 3 4 10 3 4 10
3 4 3 5 5 4
76. sin γ = , cos γ = , tan γ = , csc γ = , sec γ = , cot γ =
5 5 4 3 4 3
2 5 2 3 3 5
77. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
3 3 5 2 5 2
3 7 3 4 4 7
78. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
4 4 7 3 7 3
79. sin α ≈ 0.6 , cos α ≈ 0.8 , tan α ≈ 0.8 , csc α ≈ 1.6 , sec α ≈ 1.3 , cot α ≈ 1.2
80. sin α ≈ 0.8 , cos α ≈ 0.6 , tan α ≈ 1.3 , csc α ≈ 1.3 , sec α ≈ 1.7 , cot α ≈ 0.7
3 4 3 5 4 4
81. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
5 5 4 3 5 3
4 3 4 5 5 3
82. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
5 5 3 4 3 4
1 1
83. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = 1 , csc A = 2 , sec A = 2 , cot A = 1
2 2
2 10 3 2 10 7 7 3
84. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
7 7 3 2 10 3 2 10
14 2 4 4 1
85. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = 7 , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
4 4 14 2 7
2 5 2 5 3 5
86. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = , csc A = , sec A = , cot A =
5 3 5 2 5 2
2 21 2 5 5 21
87. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
5 5 21 2 21 2
2 6 5 2 6 7 7 5
88. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
7 7 5 2 6 5 2 6

54
 1.4

13 3 13 4 4 3
89. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
4 4 3 13 3 13
21 2 21 5 5 2
90. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
5 5 2 21 2 21
7 3 7 58 58 3
91. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
58 58 3 7 3 7
5 1 26 1
92. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = 5 , csc θ = , sec θ = 26 , cot θ =
26 26 5 5
2 1 5 1
93. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = 2 , csc θ = , sec θ = 5 , cot θ =
5 5 2 2
1 2 1 5
94. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = 5 , sec θ = , cot θ = 2
5 5 2 2
1 2 6 1 5
95. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = 5 , sec θ = , cot θ = 2 6
5 5 2 6 2 6
2 5 2 3 3 5
96. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
3 3 5 2 5 2
4 3 1 7 1
97. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = 4 3 , csc θ = , sec θ = 7 , cot θ =
7 7 4 3 4 3
77 2 77 9 9 2
98. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = , cot θ =
9 9 2 77 2 77
2 1 2 6 2
99. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = , sec θ = 3 , cot θ =
6 3 2 2 2
1 3 1 2
100. sin θ = , cos θ = , tan θ = , csc θ = 2 , sec θ = , cot θ = 3
2 2 3 3

55
Chapter 1

1.4 Calculators and Solving Right Triangles

Learning Objectives

1. Use a calculator to determine trigonometric function values of angles.

2. Use a calculator to determine an acute angle given its trigonometric value.
3. Understand and apply significant digits and rounding.
4. Solve a right triangle given one acute angle and one side, or given two sides.

We have seen that right triangles form the foundation of trigonometry, therefore, finding all
sides and angles is important. In this section, we begin to learn how to find all missing
information for angles that are not special. We begin with a discussion of calculator use when
working with trigonometric functions. In addition, we lay out guidelines for rounding and
answer reporting. It is important to state at the beginning of this section that we will be working
with trigonometric functions of acute angles only.

Objective: Use a calculator to determine trigonometric function values of angles.

To expand our ability to solve problems involving triangles, we must learn to work with angles
that are not “special”. In this section, we introduce the use of a calculator to evaluate
trigonometric functions of acute angles of any size. To learn how your calculator works, it is
1
best to begin with a known fact, such as sin 30° = , to test your particular model. Most modern
2
scientific calculators have a sine, cosine, and tangent button. Typically, we begin by pressing
the sine button. Next, type in the angle and then push the equal (or enter) button.

0.5

If your calculator does not give 0.5 (or 1/2) as the result, check to make sure you are in degree
mode (DEG). Later in the course, we will learn another system used to measure angles called
radians, which will require radian mode (RAD). Note that some older models require that you
type the angle first and then push the sine button.

0.5

At this point, you should try some other known values and become comfortable with your
particular calculator model.

56
 1.4

1
=
sin 45° ≈ 0.7071 =
tan 45 ° 1
2
3 1
sin 60°= ≈ 0.8660 cos 60°= = 0.5
2 2

Example: Find cos87°45' . Round to four decimal places.

Solution: Begin by converting 87°45' to decimal degrees:

 1 degree  45
45' = 45 minutes ⋅  =  degree ≈ 0.75°
 60 minutes  60

Now find cos87.75° using a calculator,

0.0393

Answer: 0.0393

Try this! Find tan 54° . Round to four decimal places.

Answer: 1.3764

Notice that your calculator does not have a cosecant, secant, or cotangent button. In order to
use your calculator to find these trigonometric values, you will need to use the reciprocal
relationships from the right triangle definition of the trigonometric functions. Again, the exact
input steps vary from calculator to calculator. You should practice with your particular model
to make sure you can duplicate the following results.

Example: Find csc12° . Round to four decimal places.

Solution: We know that the cosecant is defined as the reciprocal of sine, so to find csc12° ,
first find sin12° , and then find the reciprocal of this result.

0.20791169

4.8097

Answer: 4.8097

Example: Find sec87.4° . Round to four decimal places.

57
Chapter 1

Solution: The secant function is defined to be the reciprocal of cosine. Find cos87.4° , and
then find the reciprocal of the result.

0.045362988

22.0444

Answer: 22.0444

Try this! Find cot 54°18'30" . Round to four decimal places.

Answer: 0.7184

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Objective: Use a calculator to determine an acute angle given its trigonometric value.

Sometimes we will need to determine an angle given the value of one of its six trigonometric
functions. To do this, recall from Algebra the concept of an inverse function. In the most
basic sense, an inverse function is a function that reverses the action of another function. For
example, the cubing function f ( x ) = x3 and the cube root function g ( x ) = 3 x are inverse
functions because they “reverse” each other’s actions. For instance,

23 =
8 ⇒ 3
8=
2

The cubing function changes the 2 into an 8, and the cube root function “reverses” this action,
and changes the 8 back to the original 2.

When a function is known to be an inverse of another function f , the notation f −1 , read “f

inverse”, is used. In this example, we replace g with f −1 and write f −1 ( x ) = 3 x . Similarly,

58
 1.4

the sine function has an inverse function expressed as sin −1 θ and read “sine inverse of θ,”
which reverses its action. Sometimes the sine inverse function is called the arcsine function.
For example,

sin 30°= 0.5 ⇒ sin −1 ( 0.5 )= 30°

sin 30°= 0.5 ⇒ arcsin ( 0.5 )= 30°

Similarly, the cosine and tangent functions have inverse functions expressed as cos −1 θ (read
cosine inverse of θ ) and tan −1 θ (read tangent inverse of θ), respectively. For acute angles,
this basic reversing property of inverse functions will always work. In general, if θ is an acute
angle:

sin θ = k cos θ = k tan θ = k

θ = sin −1
(k ) θ = cos −1
(k ) θ = tan −1 ( k )

or θ = arcsin ( k ) or θ = arccos ( k ) or θ = arctan ( k )

Most modern scientific calculators have sine inverse (arcsine), cosine inverse (arccosine), and
tangent inverse (arctangent) functions. These are typically located above the sine, cosine and
tangent buttons. To access them, you will most likely be required to push to the “2nd” button
(on some models, this is the “shift” button). You should locate inverse sine function, and verify
that your calculator agrees with some known values. Try the following:

30.

If your calculator does not give 30° as the result, check to make sure you are in degree (DEG)
mode.

At this point, you should try some other known values.

 1 
sin −1  =45° tan −1 1 =
45°
 2
 3  3
sin −1   =
60° cos −1   =
30°
 2   2 

59
Chapter 1

 1 
Example: Find cos −1  .
 2

1
Solution: Since cos 45° = is an exact value, we expect the result to be 45°. The following
2
sequence of buttons should produce the result.

45.

Answer: 45°

Example: Find tan −1 ( 0.24 ) . Round to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Solution: Push the following sequence of buttons

13.4957

Answer: 13.5°

Try this! Find cos −1 ( 0.026 ) . Round to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Answer: 88.5°

Occasionally, we will need to find an acute angle given its cosecant, secant, or cotangent value.
This is a bit tricky since calculators do not have buttons for these functions. Careful attention
to order of operations is required. For example, if we want to determine the value of an acute
angle given that its cosecant value 1.68, we seek csc −1 (1.68 ) . We must tell the calculator to
find the reciprocal of 1.68 (to change the angle’s cosecant value into the angle’s sine value),
and then use the inverse sine button to reverse the action of sine.

60
 1.4

csc θ = n
1
sin θ =
n
1
θ = sin −1  
 
n

In this particular example,

 1 
csc −1 (1.68 ) = sin −1  
 1.68 
≈ 36.5°

Example: Find sec −1 (1.32 ) . Round to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Solution: We have,

 1 
sec −1 (1.32 ) = cos −1  
 1.32 
≈ 40.7°

Push the following sequence of buttons. Note that the parentheses are included to make sure
the correct order of operations are followed. The parentheses tell the calculator to do the
reciprocal before reversing the action of the cosine function.

40.74905

Answer: 40.7°

Try this! Find cot −1 ( 2.4 ) . Round to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Answer: 22.6°

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Objective: Understand and apply significant digits.

You will notice that when using a calculator in earlier examples, we have reported
trigonometric function outputs to four decimal places accuracy, angle outputs to one decimal
place, and side lengths to one decimal place.

61
Chapter 1

sin 60° ≈ 0.8660 Ratios to 4 decimal places.

sin −1 ( 0.2231) ≈ 12.9° Angles to 1 decimal place.
=c 13 ≈ 3.6 Sides to 1 decimal place.

This is a choice that we will frequently adhere to in this text. However, in practice, the
appropriate accuracy to which to report an answer depends not only on the situation, but also
on the accuracy of the numbers used to arrive at the answer. The digits known to be accurate
in a reported number are called significant digits.

Sometimes appropriate accuracy of a result is essential and not so easily determined. Suppose
you have measured the number of grams of sodium chloride for a chemistry experiment on a
precision scale, and have reported your measurement as 22.46 grams. We say this number has
four significant digits, because the measurement is precise in each place value.

However, if instead you counted the number of students enrolled in Trigonometry at the college
in a given semester, you might report 200 students, since the capacity of each section is 40
students, and there are 5 sections. Although, should one or more classes not fill to capacity,
the actual number of students may be slightly lower, say 192 students. When the number 200
is considered, it may be unclear whether it is exact, or if it has been rounded to the nearest
hundred. When uncertainty exists, we assume a number was rounded. In this example, we say
that the number 200 has one significant digit.

Zeros may or may not be considered significant. We will adopt the convention that zeros at
the end of an integer, or at the start of a decimal are not significant, but that all other zeroes are
significant. By this approach,

0.0385 has three significant digits

4025 has four significant digits

3200 has two significant digits

12.000 has three significant digits

150.032 has six significant digits

In general, when reporting an answer based on a calculation that involves several numbers,
your answer should contain no more significant digits than that of the number used in the
calculation with the least amount of significant digits.

62
 1.4

Example: Find sin θ given the following information.

Solution: Use the right triangle definition to find the ratio for sine.

5.2
sin θ =
9.34
sin θ ≈ 0.556745182

The calculator reports nine digits in the answer. Whether or not all nine decimal places are
accurate depends on the accuracy of the original numbers. Using the rules of significant digits,
the answer should be reported as

sin θ ≈ 0.56

Here we reported two significant digits because the given leg of length 5.2 units has only two
significant digits. However, we have adopted the convention to report Trigonometric function
values to four decimal places. With this convention, report the answer as

sin θ ≈ 0.5567

By reporting the answer to four decimal places of accuracy, we are assuming that the original
numbers, 5.2 and 9.34, are exact, and that they have not been rounded. We adopt this
convention throughout the text whenever possible, and only apply significant digit rules when
necessary.

Try this! Find cos θ using significant digit rules, and using the textbook convention.

Answer: Three significant digits: 0.762; textbook convention: 0.7620.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

63
Chapter 1

Objective: Solve a right triangle given one acute angle and one side, or given two sides.

To solve a right triangle means to find the measures of all its sides and all its angles. We can
use Trigonometric functions, together with the Pythagorean Theorem, to find any or all parts
of a right triangle, when three parts are known. Since all right triangles contain a 90° angle,
we need only know two other parts to be able to solve a triangle.

Example: Given angle B = 52° and a = 3.2 centimeters, find b.

Solution: Since we are trying to find the length of the side opposite to the given angle provided
opp
an adjacent side, choose to use the tangent function. Recall that tan θ = .
adj

b
tan 52° =
3.2

Now solve for b.

b
3.2 ⋅ tan 52=
° 3.2 ⋅
3.2
3.2 ⋅ tan 52° =b
4.1 ≈ b

Answer: The length of the leg is approximately 4.1 centimeters.

Note: We are following our textbook convention here, and not using the rules of significant
digits.

Try this! Given angle A = 12° and a = 7 centimeters, find c.

Answer: c ≈ 33.7° cm

64
 1.4

Example: Find the acute angle A in the triangle below given a = 7 centimeters and b = 5
centimeters.

Solution: Since the lengths of the opposite and adjacent sides to the angle are given, we will
choose to use the inverse tangent function. A is an acute angle, so

7
tan A =
5
7
A = tan −1  
5
A ≈ 54.5°

Answer: Angle A is approximately 54.5°.

Example: Determine all angles of the 3-4-5 right triangle.

Solution: Use the sine inverse function (for acute angles) to solve for angle A and then angle
B.

3 4
sin A = sin B =
5 5
3 4
A = sin −1   B = sin −1  
5 5
A ≈ 36.9° B ≈ 53.1°

65
Chapter 1

Answer: A ≈ 36.9° ; B ≈ 53.1°

Try this! Find angle B given a = 4.1 centimeters and c = 9.2 centimeters.

Answer: B ≈ 63.5°

Example: Solve the following triangle.

Solution: Use the fact that the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180° to find angle B.

38° + C + =B 180°
38° + 90° + =
B 180°
128° + =B 180°
B= 52°

Next, find side b using the tangent ratio and side c using the sine ratio.

3.3 3.3
tan 38° = sin 38° =
b c
3.3 3.3
b= c=
tan 38° sin 38°
b ≈ 4.2 c ≈ 5.4

Note that we could have found side c using the Pythagorean Theorem instead of the sine ratio.
However, to do this, we must use the computed value for side b. Since b has been rounded,
we will not get exactly the same decimal value for c if we use this rounded number in another
calculation.

c=
2
a 2 + b2
( 3.3) + ( 4.2 )
2 2
=
c2
c 2 = 28.53
c ≈ 5.3

66
 1.4

The answers for side c do not agree because there is round off error in the above calculation.
Whenever possible, avoid using a rounded number in other calculations.

Answer: B = 52°; b ≈ 4.2 ; c ≈ 5.4

Try this! Solve the following triangle.

Answer: A = 18°; a ≈ 3.4 ; c ≈ 11.0

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Key Takeaways ***** ***** *****

• Make sure your calculator is in degree mode [DEG] when evaluating trigonometric
functions.

• Use together with the , and buttons to find the values of

cosecant, secant, and tangent.

• Use the (shift) button, , and , and the reciprocal button to

evaluate csc θ , sec θ , and be careful with order of operations.
−1 −1

• Digits that are zero are considered significant unless they are at the end of an integer or
at the beginning of a decimal number.
• Report Trigonometric values to four decimal places, and sides and angles to one
decimal place, unless instructed otherwise to use significant digits.
• To solve a right triangle, find all sides and all angles in the triangle.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

67
Chapter 1

Section Exercises

Part A
Use your calculator to evaluate the trigonometric functions for the following angles.
Round answers to the nearest ten-thousandth.

1. sin 28° 8. cos 62°45' 15. csc 33°

2. cos18° 9. cos 49°12 ' 25" 16. csc 78°20 ' 45"
3. cos 45° 10. sin 72°10 '30" 17. sec 5°
4. sin 60° 11. tan 42° 18. sec 56.38°
5. sin 76.35° 12. tan 37.82° 19. cot 32°37"
6. cos 62.15° 13. tan 78.25° 20. cot 5°
7. sin 32°15' 14. tan 62°45'

Part B
Use your calculator to find each acute angle. Round answers to the nearest tenth of a
degree.

21. sin −1 ( 0.88 ) 28. tan −1 (10 ) 34. sec −1 (102.6 )

22. sin −1 ( 0.2149 ) ( )
29. tan −1 1/ 3 35. sec −1 (1)
23. cos −1 ( 0.45 ) 36. sec −1 ( 2 )
30. tan −1 ( 3)
24. cos −1 ( 0.9866 ) 37. csc −1 (1.5 )
31. cot −1 (1.2 )
25. tan −1 ( 5.37 ) 38. csc −1 (1.3031)
32. cot −1 ( 6.92 )
26. tan −1 ( 0.4567 ) 39. csc −1 ( 3)
33. sec −1 ( 8.38 )
27. tan −1 (1) 40. csc −1 ( 96 )

Part C
Determine the number of significant digits.

41. 5200 45. 750.2 49. 217

42. 206 46. 11,320 50. 500,600
43. 0.3056 47. 0.2040
44. 2.5400 48. 0.0040

68
 1.4

Part D

Solve for the indicated part of each right triangle. Assume all triangles are labeled as
the figure and round to the nearest tenth.

51. Find a given that A = 15° and 59. Find c given that A = 84.2° and
c = 12 m b = 3.5 mi
52. Find a given that A = 35° and 60. Find A given that a = 2 km and
b = 8 ft. b = 3 km
53. Find a given that B = 22.8° and 61. Find A given that b = 8 ft. and
b = 3.1 cm c = 14 ft.
54. Find b given that B = 57° and 62. Find A given that a = 12.7 m and
c = 10 in. c = 16.8 m
55. Find b given that A = 43° and 63. Find B given that a = 6 mi and
c = 18 m c = 13 mi
56. Find b given that A = 31.6° and 64. Find B given that a = 5 cm and
a = 17.9 ft. b = 15 cm
57. Find c given that A = 68° and 65. Find B given that b = 11.2 ft. and
a = 18 yd. c = 20.5 ft.
58. Find c given that B = 6° and 66. Find B given that a = 6.2 cm and
a = 22 cm c = 10.5 cm

Find all angles of each right triangle. Round to the nearest tenth of a degree.

67. A triangle with sides 6, 8, and 71. A triangle with sides 1, 1, and
10 units. 2 units.
68. A triangle with sides 15, 20, and
72. A triangle with sides 1, 3 , and
25 units.
2 units.
69. A triangle with sides 7.5, 18, and
73. A triangle with sides 8, 15, and
19.5 units.
17 units.
70. A triangle with sides 20, 21, and
74. A triangle with sides 6, 12, and
29 units.
6 5 units.

69
Chapter 1

Solve each triangle.

75.
78.

76.

79.

77.
80.

70
 1.4

Answers to Exercises

Part A

1. 0.4695 6. 0.4672 11. 0.9004 16. 1.0210

2. 0.9511 7. 0.5336 12. 0.7762 17. 1.0038
3. 0.7071 8. 0.4579 13. 4.8077 18. 1.8061
4. 0.8660 9. 0.6533 14. 1.9416 19. 1.5997
5. 0.9718 10. 0.9520 15. 1.8361 20. 11.4301

Part B

21. 61.6° 26. 24.5° 31. 39.8° 36. 60°

22. 12.4° 27. 45° 32. 8.2° 37. 41.8°
23. 63.3° 28. 84.3° 33. 83.1° 38. 50.1°
24. 9.4° 29. 30° 34. 89.4° 39. 19.5°
25. 79.5° 30. 60° 35. 0° 40. 0.6°

Part C

41. two 44. five 47. four 50. four

42. three 45. four 48. two
43. four 46. five 49. three

Part D

51. 3.1 m 55. 13.2 m 59. 34.6 mi 63. 62.5°

52. 5.6 ft. 56. 29.1 ft. 60. 33.7° 64. 71.6°
53. 7.4 cm 57. 19.4 yd. 61. 55.2° 65. 33.1°
54. 8.4 in 58. 22.1 cm 62. 49.1° 66. 53.8°

67. 36.9°, 53.1°, 90° 75. B = 22°; a = 22.3; 79. B = 55°; a = 4.0;
68. 36.9°, 53.1°, 90° c = 24.0 b = 5.7
69. 22.6°, 67.4°, 90° 76. A = 39°; a = 15.1; 80. A = 42°; a = 7.2;
70. 43.6°, 46.4°, 90° b = 18.7 c = 10.8
71. 45°, 45°, 90° 77. A = 36.9°;
72. 30°, 60°, 90° B =53.1°; c = 25
73. 28.1°, 61.9°, 90° 78. A = 67.4°;
74. 26.6°, 63.4°, 90° B = 22.6°;
a = 11.5

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Chapter 1

1.5 Applications

Learning Objectives

1. Develop problem solving strategies.

2. Solve applications involving angles of elevation and depression.
3. Introduce bearing and solve navigation problems.

Mathematics exists all around us, but perhaps its most important use is to solve real world
problems. Trigonometry is frequently applied in astronomy, computer graphics, physics,
geological mapping and work with electrical current to name a few. In this section, we show
how right triangle Trigonometry is applied to solve problems.

Objective: Develop problem solving strategies.

We begin with problem solving strategies introduced by George Polya, a prominent

mathematician and educator, in his well-regarded book, How to Solve It. In it he suggests the
following time-honored problem solving guidelines.

1. Understand the problem.

2. Devise a plan for solving it.
3. Carry out the plan.
4. Look back on your solution.

George Polya 1887-1985

In Trigonometry, step 1 is possibly the most important step. Investing effort into understanding
the problem at hand is critical for success. We achieve understanding by thoroughly reading
the problem, and often re-reading it several times. It is helpful to draw a sketch, make a table
or diagram, and identify and label quantities that are known and those which are unknown.
Sometimes, just plain thinking about what is going on in the problem is useful.

There may be several ways to approach the problem, give yourself plenty of time and space to
try many of them. If your plan does not lead to a solution, learn from it and go back and try
another method. Trying many different approaches and running into “dead ends” is a normal
part of the process.

72
 1.5

Example: A ladder leans up against a shed and forms an angle of 60° with the ground. If it is
a 6 foot ladder, how high up the side of the shed will the top of the ladder reach?

Solution: Upon reading the problem we realize that a ladder is leaning up against a shed and
an angle is formed. To better understand where this angle belongs, a rough sketch of the ladder
and shed might help. In our sketch, we label the length of the ladder, the right angle formed
between the shed and the ground, and the 60° angle.

Our labeled drawing reveals a right triangle, and so we devise and carry out a plan. The
Pythagorean Theorem and Trigonometric functions can be used to solve right triangles. In our
sketch, we see that we know the hypotenuse, and one angle of this triangle. Use the sine
function to find the opposite side h.

h
sin 60° =
6
6sin 60° =h
3
3
6⋅ =h
2
=h 3 3 ≈ 5.2

The final step in our strategy is to look back. While doing so, think about whether our solution
to the previous example was the best approach and whether or not it makes sense. You can
learn a lot from the look back. A quick look at the sketch gives our answer credibility.
However, notice that we could have recognized the triangle as a 30°-60°-90° triangle, and used
the ratios for this special triangle to find the height of the ladder instead. Often, there are
multiple ways to solve a problem.

Answer: The ladder reaches approximately 5.2 feet up the side of the shed.

Try this! A straight path up the side of a hill makes an angle of 8° with the horizontal. If the
length of the path is 1025 feet, how high is the hill?
Answer: 142.7 ft.

73
Chapter 1

The use of primitive forms of Trigonometry can be traced back to the Egyptians building
pyramids, as far back as the second millennium BCE. Trigonometry is used today extensively
in the building trades as the next example illustrates.

Example: A builder must build a staircase to reach from the first floor to the second floor of a
house. The vertical rise between floors is 10 feet, and to meet code requirements, the horizontal
length of the stair must be 18 feet. What angle will the staircase make with the floor?

Solution: To understand the problem, begin with a sketch. In this case, the staircase forms
the hypotenuse of a right triangle. We know two sides, and we seek an unknown angle labeled
α.

Since the sides opposite and adjacent to angle α are known, use the tangent function.

10
tan α =
18
 10 
α = tan −1  
 18 
α ≈ 29.1°

Answer: The staircase makes an angle of approximately 29.1° with the floor.

Try this! A wheelchair accessible ramp is to be built in the shape of an inclined plane with a
24 foot run and a 2 foot rise. What angle does the ramp make with the ground?

Answer: 4.8°

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

74
 1.5

Objective: Solve applications involving angles of elevation and depression.

An angle of elevation is the observed angle measured from the horizontal to an object above.
An angle of depression is the angle measured from the horizontal to some object below.

These types of angles can be measured with a clinometer or a tiltmeter. If precision is not
important, angles can be estimated with a simple protractor. You can find an app for most
smart phones today that can measure angles of elevation and depression.

Example: A street lamp casts a 4-foot shadow onto a level sidewalk. The angle of elevation
from the tip of the shadow to the top of the lamp is 63.5°. Estimate the height of the lamp.

Solution: Assuming that the street lamp is at a right angle with the ground we have,

h
tan 63.5° =
4
4 ⋅ tan 63.5° =h
8.0228 ≈ h

Answer: The street lamp is approximately 8 feet tall.

75
Chapter 1

Example: The angle of depression from the top of a 42-foot building to the base of a street
lamp is measured to be 30°. Estimate the distance from the building to the lamp.

Solution: Use the right triangle formed by the building and the ground, where the angle with
the building is the complement to the given angle.

x
tan 60° =
42
42 ⋅ tan 60° = x
72.8 ≈ x

Answer: The street lamp is approximately 72.8 feet away from the building.

Try this! A boat floating in clear water has dropped its anchor and floated 15 feet away from
the drop point. If the angle of depression from the boat to the anchor is 22°, how deep is the
lake?

Answer: 6.1 ft.

One right triangle was sufficient for finding the unknown measurement in the last two
examples. However, sometimes it is difficult or impossible to obtain a measurement of one
side of a right triangle because an obstacle is in the way. In this case, we may need to observe
the angle of elevation or depression from two vantage points as in the next example.

76
 1.5

Example: From a point A on the ground, the angle of elevation to the top of a radio tower
measures 46.5°. After moving 44 feet away from the base of the tower to point B, the angle of
elevation to the top measures 32.4°. Estimate the height of the radio tower.

Solution: Let h represent the height of the tower and let x represent the distance from the base
of the tower to point A. In this case, we will make use of the two right triangles illustrated in
the figure below.

Applying the tangent function to both right triangles, we obtain two equations with two
unknowns, h and x.

h h
=tan 32.4° = and tan 46.5°
44 + x x

Since we are solving for the height h, we choose to solve one of the equations for x and
substitute this result into the other equation.

h
tan 46.5° =
x
x tan 46.5° =h
h
x=
tan 46.5°

77
Chapter 1

Now substituting,

h h
=
tan 32.4° ⇒ =
tan 32.4°
44 + x 44 +
h
tan 46.5°

Now solve for h,

 h 
tan 32.5°  44 + = h
 tan 46.5° 
h tan 32.5°
44 tan 32.5° + =h
tan 46.5°
h tan 32.5°
44 tan 32.5° = h −
tan 46.5°

At this point, factor out the h on the right side and then divide,

 tan 32.5° 
44 tan 32.5=
° h 1 − 
 tan 46.5° 
44 tan 32.4°
=h
 tan 32.4° 
1 − 
 tan 46.5° 
70.2 ≈ h

Answer: The height of the tower is approximately 70.2 feet.

As you can see, the algebra was quite daunting in the previous example. To be successful in
Trigonometry, it is important that you have a firm grasp of the rules of algebra too. You can
use all of the tools available to us when solving problems, and the more tools you have, the
better.

Try this! Alex looks at the top of the Eiffel Tower from one location on the ground, and
measures the angle of elevation to the top to be 84.6°. To get a better view, she backs away
100 feet and measures the angle of elevation to the top to be about 79.3°. Estimate the height
of the Eiffel tower.

Answer: 1,059.1 ft.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

78
 1.5

Objective: Introduce bearing and solve navigation problems.

In this section, we define bearing in terms of an acute angle formed with the north-south line.
Bearing in this context consists of a direction N or S, a degree measure, and another direction
W or E, such as N60°W, or S40°E The first character indicates whether to start from the ray
pointing north (N) or the ray pointing south (S). The degree measure tells how far to travel in
the direction of the second character west (W) or east (E). Some examples follow,

Note that bearing is measured from the north-south line.

Example: A ship travelled 24 miles from port in the direction of N43.5°E before it dropped
anchor. How far north and how far east did the ship travel?

Solution: Let x represent the distance traveled east and let y represent the distance traveled
north. Use the sketch to setup sine and cosine ratios of 43.5° and then solve.

79
Chapter 1

x y
sin 43.5° = cos 43.5° =
24 24
24 ⋅ sin 43.5° = x 24 ⋅ cos 43.5° = y
16.5 ≈ x 17.4 ≈ y

Answer: The ship traveled 16.5 miles east and 17.4 miles north.

Example: A hiker traveled 10 miles in the direction of S25°W before turning and continuing
another 3 miles in the direction of N65°W. How far and on what bearing must he head in order
to get back to the starting point?

Solution: First draw a ray to indicate a distance of 10 miles in the direction of S25°W. Next,
draw a ray to indicate 3 miles from that point in the direction of N65°W as follows.

The second angle pictured with vertex C is 25° because it is an alternate interior angle with the
angle given in the first direction. Since 25° and 65° are complementary angles, the hiker turned
exactly 90° at point C. Let x represent the distance from the current position to the starting
point. And let θ represent the angle of the resulting triangle that shares a vertex with the starting
point.

80
 1.5

The diagram depicts a right triangle that can be solved using trigonometry. First use the
Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing hypotenuse.

x=
2
52 + 102
x 2 = 125
x=
± 25 ⋅ 5
=x 5 5 ≈ 11.2 miles

Next, use the tangent function to determine θ.

5
tan θ =
10
1
tan θ =
2
1
θ tan −1   ≈ 26.6°
=
2

To determine the direction back to the starting point, we need to determine the angle α that the
returning ray makes with the N-S line.

Notice that the angle α and θ + 25° are alternate interior angles. That is,

α =θ + 25°
= 26.6° + 25°
= 51.6°

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Chapter 1

Therefore, the direction to the starting point is N51.6°E.

Answer: The hiker must walk approximately 11.2 miles in the direction of N51.6°E to get
back to his starting point.

Try this! From port a ship traveled 12 kilometers in the direction of N32°W and then turned
and traveled 8 kilometers in the direction of S58°W. What distance and direction from port is
the ship currently located?

Answer: 14.4 km on bearing N65.7°W

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Key Takeaways ***** ***** *****

• Using a strategy can help you solve applications. Understand the problem, devise and
carry out a plan, and always look back over your solution to see if it makes sense and
what you can learn from it.
• The angles of elevation and depression are measured from the horizontal to an object.
These angles are often used with right triangle trigonometry to find unknown
measurements.
• Sometimes more than one triangle is involved in a solution. In this case, more involved
algebraic techniques will be required.
• Bearing is a direction using an acute angle formed with the north-south line. For
example, N60°W. The first character indicates whether to start from the ray pointing
north (N) or the ray pointing south (S). The degree measure tells how far to travel in
the direction of the second character west (W) or east (E).

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

82
 1.5

Section Exercises

Part A
Solve the following problem involving right triangles. Include a labeled sketch to help
you understand the problem.

1. Find the altitude of the triangle. extend the ramp?

7. A steep road going down a

mountain makes an angle of 4.8°
with the horizontal. If the road is
2. Find the altitude of the triangle. 8.5 miles long, how high is the
mountain rounded to the nearest
hundred feet?

8. Three guy wires are needed to

support a 7-foot pole that is to be
3. Find the exact area of an equilateral perpendicular to the ground. If each
triangle with sides measuring 10 wire is to be staked into the ground
centimeters. at a 45° angle, how much wire do
we need? Wire is only sold in 1-foot
4. Develop a formula for the area of an increments.
equilateral triangle in terms of the
sides measuring x units. 9. Assuming the earth is a sphere with
average radius of about 4,000 miles,
5. John wants to clean his second story find the radius of the parallel r with
windows and plans to buy a ladder latitude φ= 32° N as pictured.
that will reach at least 20 feet high.
Round to the nearest hundred.
If he leans the ladder against the
house so that the base of the ladder
makes a 65.5° angle with the
ground, how long of a ladder should
he buy?

6. A loading ramp extends from the

back of a moving van to the ground
1.2 meters below. If the ramp
makes a 25° angle with the ground
when fully extended, how long is
the ramp? How much clearance is
needed behind the van to fully

83
Chapter 1

10. Assuming the earth is a sphere with 14. Find angle θ that the diagonal
average radius of about 4,000 miles, makes with the base of a rectangular
derive a formula for the radius of prism where the base measures 7
the parallel r with latitude φ . Look centimeters by 4 centimeters and
up the latitude of your location and the height is 2 centimeters.
determine the radius of the parallel
at your particular location. 15. A staircase is 12 feet high and 16.5
feet at the base. Determine the angle
11. Find the angle θ that the diagonal of from its base to the top.
the cube forms with its base. When
determining the measure of this 16. A roof’s pitch, the rise and run, is at
angle, does the size of the cube a 10:12 ratio. Find the angle of the
matter? Explain. roof from the horizontal rafters.
Round to the nearest tenth of a
degree.

17. Find the altitude of a cone with slant

height 20 centimeters, if the side of
the cone makes an angle of 70° with
12. Develop a formula for the angle θ the base of the cone.
that the diagonal of the cube forms
with its base.

13. Find the angle θ that the diagonal

makes with the base of a rectangular
prism where the base measures 5
units by 3 units and the height is 4
units.

18. The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as Khufu's Pyramid, is the square pyramid
pictured below. Its original height was approximately 147 meters and each side of the
base measured 230 meters.

84
 1.5

Approximate the slant height x and the angle the side makes with the base θ.

Use right triangles to find the missing distance.

19. In order to estimate the distance 21. In order to measure the width of a
across a lake, a surveyor walks from river, a base line AC is measured
point Q to point P and measures the along one bank 70.5 meters long.
distance to be 120 yards. She then Another point B is located on the
sets up equipment and measures opposite bank such that ACB forms
angle QPR to be 42.2°. a right angle. The angle BAC is
Approximately the width of the lake found to be 35.3°. What is the
rounded to the nearest yard. width of the river?

22. A 322.4 meter long zip line takes

riders across a canyon from point C
to point B. A second zip line is to
be added that will take riders across
a larger canyon from point C to
point A. To properly construct the
zip line, the exact distance across
20. Two boys stand at points A and B on
the canyon is needed. If angle CAB
opposite sides of a 3.4 mile wide
measures 12.87°. How wide is the
lake. If the angle at point A is 49.7°,
canyon?
how long of a walk does each boy
have home? Round to the nearest
tenth of a mile.

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Chapter 1

23. Two people 40 meters apart observe 25. A web-cam has a lens with a 30°
an island landmark at 45° and 55° angle. What is the horizontal field
as pictured below. Estimate the of view x at a distance of 10 feet?
distance x between the shore and the Round to the nearest tenth of a foot.
landmark. Round to the nearest
meter.

26. For the web-cam that has a lens

with a 30° angle, develop a formula
24. The diagonal of a computer screen for the horizontal field of view at
measures 23 inches and makes an any distance d units. Use the
angle of 30° with the base. formula to determine the horizontal
Approximate the length of the base field of view at 20 feet.
and width to the nearest inch.

Part B
Solve the following angle of elevation and angle of depression problems.

27. The angle of elevation from the 29. An observer stands at the edge of a
ground to the top of a tree is 78°. If sinkhole and looks to the bottom. If
the angle was measured from a the angle of depression to the
point 30 feet from the tree, estimate bottom of the hole is 82°, and the
the height of the tree to the nearest hole is 5 meters wide, how deep is
foot. the hole?

28. If the angle of elevation to the top 30. At a point on the ground 190 feet
of a 250-foot tree is 85°, how far away from the base of a tower, the
away from the tree was the angle angle of elevation to the top was
measured? found to be 62° 45’ 36’’. Find the
height of the tower to the nearest
foot.

86
 1.5

31. Estimate the length of a shadow cast

by a 10 meter building when the
angle of elevation to the sun is
48.5°.

32. Develop a formula for the height of

any tower given the angle of
elevation θ measured to the top x
units away.

33. A hot air balloon is tethered with 33 36. The average distance from the Earth
meters of rope as pictured. If the to the moon is about x = 238,855
angle of depression to the tether is miles. From a point on Earth, it is
37.5°, determine the height of the found that an angle θ = 31'
hot air balloon. subtends the the visible edges of the
moon. Use this information to
estimate its diameter.

34. From the top of a hill 120 feet above

the level of the sea, the angle of
37. Determine the height of a brick wall
depression to a boat on the shore
if a 6-foot tall man standing 12 feet
was found to be 28° 20’. What is
away determines the top has an
the line-of-sight distance from the
angle of elevation of 30° as
top of the hill to the boat?
pictured. Round to the nearest foot.
35. A satellite measures 78.3° between
the line directly to the ground at
point B and the line tangent to the
Earth at point A (that is, A = 90°).
How far above the Earth at point B
is the satellite? (Use r ≈ 4,000 miles
as an approximation of the radius of
the Earth. Illustration not drawn to
scale.)

87
Chapter 1

38. Develop a formula that can be used 43. From a point A 150 meters away
to find the height h of a wall if a 6- from the base of a building, the
foot man standing x units away angle of elevation to the top of the
determines the angle of elevation θ building is measured to be 56°.
to the top of the object. From the same location, the angle
of elevation to the top of the
39. A beacon on a ship is known to be building’s antenna is 62°.
12.2 meters above the water line. Determine the height of the
An observer on the shore, whose building and the height of the
instrument is 1.5 meters above the antenna rounded to the nearest
water line, finds the angle of meter.
elevation to the beacon to be 5°.
Estimate the distance from the
observer to the ship.

40. From the top of a 100-foot

observation tower, a distant
mountain peak is measured to have
an angle of elevation of 15°. If the
mountain is known to be 4,800 feet
high, approximate the distance, in
miles, the observation tower is from 44. A student standing at point A on the
the mountain. ground uses his smart phone to
measure the angle of elevation to
41. From a 100-foot seaside cliff, a the top of a building to be 56°.
fishing boat is spotted with a laser After moving 120 feet further away
range finder and is found to be 268 from the base of the building to
feet away in direct line of sight. point B, he measures the angle of
Determine the angle of depression elevation to the top as 38°. Estimate
to the fishing boat. the height of the building to the
nearest foot.
42. A sign on a steep mountain road
warns of a 6% downgrade. What is
the corresponding angle of
depression?

88
 1.5

45. From the roof of an adjacent 48. Develop a formula for the height of
building 140 meters away, the top a building with a standard 10-meter
of a skyscraper is sighted to have an antenna mounted on top given an
angle of elevation of 52° and its angle of elevation to the bottom α
base is sighted to have an angle of and the top β of the antenna from
depression of 40° as pictured. How any point on the ground.
tall is the skyscraper? Round to the
nearest ten meters. 49. From the base of a 100-foot
observation tower, a distant
mountain peak is measured to have
an angle of elevation of 26°. From
the top of the tower, the angle of
elevation to the mountain peak is
measured to be 25°. How tall is the
mountain? Round off to the nearest
hundred.

50. Develop a formula for the height of

a distant object given the angle of
46. At a point 30 meters away from the elevation measurements from the
its base on the ground, the angles of bottom α and the top β of a 100-foot
elevation to the top and bottom of a tower.
hot air balloon measure 45° and 34°
respectively. Approximate the 51. From the top of an observation
length x of the hot air balloon. tower 525 feet above sea level, two
ships are observed directly ahead
and in line at angles of depression
8° and 12°. How far apart are the
ships?

52. Develop a simple formula for use in

the observation tower above. Use α
and β to represent the measured
angles of depression.

53. Two observers on level ground

47. From a point on the ground, the
position themselves 50 meters apart
angle of elevation measured to the
so that an obelisk is due north of
base of a 10-meter antenna is 63.4°.
position A and due west of position
From the same point, the angle of
B. The angle of elevation to the top
elevation measured to the top of the
of the obelisk at position A and B is
antenna is 68.2°. Find the height of
measured to be 29.9° and 37.5°
the building.
respectively. Use this information

89
Chapter 1

to estimate the height of the obelisk. 54. Derive a formula the height of the
obelisk in the previous problem.

Part C
Solve the following problems involving bearing.

55. A ship traveled 15 kilometers on a 59. From home, Joe walked 3 miles due
bearing of N50°W and then east and the turned 90° and walked
dropped anchor. How far north and another 4 miles due north.
how far west did the ship travel? Determine the distance and
direction of the shortest path home.
56. A plane flew 200 miles on a bearing
of S20°W before landing. How far 60. From camp, a hiker walked 2.5
south and how far west did the miles due west and then turned and
plane fly? walked another 1.8 miles due south.
Determine the distance and
57. A hiker walked 6.5 kilometers in direction of the shortest path back to
the direction of S78°E before camp.
making camp. How far south and
how far east did the hiker walk? 61. A ship leaves the marina and sails
on a bearing N42°E for 12 miles.
58. A hot air balloon traveled 30 miles Then it turns and sails 10 more
on a bearing of N62°E before miles in the direction S48°E. How
touching down. How far north and far did the ship sail and what is its
how far south did the hot air balloon bearing from the marina?
travel?

90
 1.5

62. A jet skier traveled 2 miles on a 66. Two observers 2 kilometers apart
bearing S75°W and then turned and along a straight dirt road spot a
traveled 1 mile on a bearing of grizzly bear at the same time. The
S15°E before breaking down. How first observer spots the bear on a
far and on what bearing should a bearing S22°E, while the second
rescue boat travel? observer spots the bear on a bearing
S68°W. How close is each observer
63. A group of hikers leave camp and to the bear?
head through a forest on a bearing
S31°W. They continue in this 67. A ship leaves the marina on a
direction for 3 kilometers and then bearing of N15°E and travels for 6
turn in the direction N59°W. After miles. A that point, an observer in
4 kilometers they stop and check a lighthouse located some distance
their position. How far and in what due north of the marina spots the
direction is the camp? ship at bearing S75°E. How far is
the ship from the lighthouse?
64. From camp a dune buggy traveled 2
kilometers into the desert on a
68. Chris’s next door neighbor Tom
bearing of S65°E. After turning and
wants to cut down a very large pine
traveling another 6 kilometers on a
tree, and wants to tackle the task on
bearing of N25°E the dune buggy
his own by cutting at the base. He
broke down. How far and in what
asks Chris to figure out how tall the
direction from camp should a
tree is so that he can predict how far
rescue team head?
the tips will land from the base.
How can she use Trigonometry to
65. Two observers 24 miles apart along
do this?
a straight road stop to watch the
space shuttle take off. The observer
at point A sees the shuttle on a
bearing N47°E, while the observer
at point B sees the shuttle on a
bearing N43°W. How far is each
observer from the shuttle?

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Chapter 1

Answers to Exercises

Part A

1. 3.2 10. r = 4, 000 cos φ 19. 109 yds.

2. 1.7 11. 35.3°; no 20. 2.2 mi; 2.6 mi
3. 25 3 cm2  1  21. 49.9 m
12. θ = tan −1   22. 1,447 m
x2 3  2
4. A = units2 23. 24 meters
4 13. 34.4°
24. length: 19.9 in.;
5. 22 ft. 14. 13.9°
width: 11.5 in.
6. 2.8 m; 2.6 m 15. 36°
25. 5.4 feet
7. 3,800 ft. 16. 39.8°
=
26. x 2d tan15° ;
8. Approximately 30 17. 18.8 cm
10.7 feet
feet. 18. 187 m; 52.0°
9. 3,400 miles

Part B

27. 141 ft. 39. 122.3 m 49. 2,300 feet

28. 22 ft. 40. 3.3 miles 100 tan α
50. h =
29. 36 m 41. 21.9° tan α − tan β
30. 369 ft. 42. 3.4° 51. 1,266 ft.
31. 8.8 m 43. Building: 222 m;  1 1 
32. h = x tan θ antenna: 60 m =
52. d 525  − 
 tan α tan β 
33. 20.1 m 44. 198 ft.
34. 252.8 ft. 45. 300 meters 53. 23 m
35. 84.9 mi. 46. 9.8 m d
36. 2,164 miles 47. 40 meters 54. h =
cot 2 α + cot 2 β
37. 13 feet 10 tan α
48. h =
38. h= 6 + x tan θ tan β − tan α

Part C

55. North: 7.7 km; west: 9.2 km 63. 5 km; N84.1°E

56. South: 187.9 mi.; west: 68.4 mi. 64. 6.3 km on bearing N43.4°E
57. South: 1.4 km; east: 6.4 km 65. Observer at A: 17.6 mi.;
58. North: 14.1 mi.; east: 26.5 mi. observer at B: 16.4 mi.
59. 5 miles in direction S36.9°W 66. 1st observer: 0.7 km;
60. 3.1 miles in direction N54.2°E 2nd observer: 1.9 km
61. 15.6 mi; N81.8°E 67. 1.6 mi.
62. 2.2 mi on bearing S48.4°W 68. Discussion

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Trigonometry
Chapter 1 – Fundamentals of Right Triangle Trigonometry
Sample Exam Questions

1. Change 38° 36 ' 18'' to decimal degrees.

2. At the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter games, Sage Kotsenburg landed a trick never done
before called the “1620 Holy Crail” to win the first ever snowboarding slopestyle
Olympic gold medal. How many rotations is 1620°?

Find the measure of each unknown angle.

3. 4.

5. Parking spaces are painted at a 63° from a center dividing line. Determine the
measure of exterior angle θ.

6. Lines l and m are parallel.

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Chapter 1

Find each unknown.

7. Find the two equal angles of an 9. In triangle ABC, b = 6.2 cm, c =
isosceles triangle if the third angle 14.8 cm, find side a.
measures 124°.
10. A computer monitor with diagonal
8. Find x in the following figure. measurement 25 inches is 5 inches
wider than it is high. What are the
dimensions of the screen?

Given right triangle ABC where C is the right angle, find each of the following. Give
exact values.

11. Find the six trigonometric 12. Find the remaining trigonometric
functions for angle A if a = 7 3 m, 5
functions for angle B if cos B = .
b = 7 m, and c = 14 m. 13

Find each exact value.

13. The longer leg of a 30°-60°-90° 14. sin 30° − cos 60°
triangle if the hypotenuse leg is
16 ft.

Use the cofunction theorem to answer the following.

15. Write the function in terms of is 16. Solve for θ:
cofunction: csc β tan ( 3θ +=
4° ) cot ( 5θ + 6° )

Use your calculator to evaluate each of the following. Use the textbook rounding
conventions.
17. cos 46.5° 19. Find angle A of triangle ABC given
a = 4.6 ft. and c = 8.2 ft.
18. csc −1 ( 5.24 )
20. Find side a of triangle ABC given
B = 12.5° and b = 2.5 cm

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 SE1

Solve.
21. Find the altitude of a cone with slant 23. At a point on the ground 152 meters
height 24 inches, if the sides of the away from the base of a radio tower,
cone make an angle of 55° the base. the angle of elevation to the top of
the tower was measured at to be 32°
15’. Find the height of the tower to
the nearest meter.

24. A kayaker left the marina and

rowed 3.4 miles on a bearing
22. A 12 foot ladder leans up against a N75°W and then turned and rowed
house and forms an angle 75° with 2.6 miles on a bearing of N15°E
the ground. How far from the house before deciding to head back. How
will the base of the ladder extend? far away and what is his bearing
from the marina at the point when
he stopped?

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Chapter 1

Answers to Sample Exam Questions

1. 38.605°
2. 4.5 rotations
3. 60°; 120°
4. 155°; 155°
5. 117°
6. α = 136°; β = 67°; θ = 69°
7. 28°; 28°
8. 4
9. 13.4 cm
10. 15 in wide; 20 inches high
3 1 2 1
11. sin A = , cos A = , tan A = 3 , csc A = , sec A = 2 , cot A =
2 2 3 3
12 12 13 13 5
12. sin B = , tan B = , csc B = , sec B = , cot A =
13 5 12 5 12
13. 8 3 ft.
14. 0
15. sec ( 90° − β )
16. 10°
17. 0.6884
18. 11.0°
19. 34.1°
20. 11.3 cm
21. 19.7 in
22. 3.1 ft.
23. 96 m
24. 4.3 mi; N37.6°W

96