Introduction to Trig Ratios
The major functions of trigonometric ratios are sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant and cotangent.
Some specific angles are:
• 0° and 90°
• 45°
• 30° and 60°
Trigonometric Ratios of 0° and 90°
In ΔABC, right – angled at B, and ∠BAC = θ
So, from ΔABC, we have
Sin θ = BC / AC
Cos θ = AB / AC
Tan θ = BC / AB
Case I: ∠A is becoming small
If ∠A is made smaller and smaller in the ΔABC, till it becomes zero. As ∠A gets smaller and smaller, the length of the BC decreases. The point C gets closer to point B, and finally when A becomes very close to 0°, AC becomes almost the same as AB.
When ∠A is very close to 0°, BC gets very close to 0 and so the value of
Sin A = BC / AC is very close to 0.
Also, when A is very close to 0°, AC is same as AB and so the value of
Cos A = AB/AC is very close to 1.
From the above discussion, we have
Sin 0° = 0
Cosec 0° = 1 / Sin 0° = 1/0 = not defined
Cosec 0° = ∞
Cos 0° = 1
Sec 0° = 1 / Cos 0° = 1/1 = 1
Sec 0° = 1
Using Sin and Cos values, we can find Tan 0°
Tan 0° = Sin 0° / Cos 0° = 0
Tan 0° = 0
Also, Cot 0° = 1 / Tan 0° = 1/0 = not defined
Cot 0° = ∞
Case II: ∠A is becoming large
Now, let’s see when ∠A is made larger and larger in ΔABC till it becomes 90°. As ∠A gets larger and larger, ∠C gets smaller and smaller. So, the length of the side AB goes on decreasing. The point A gets closer to point B. Finally when ∠A is very close to 90°, ∠C becomes very close to 0° and the side AC almost coincides with side BC.
When ∠C is very close to 0°, A is very close to 90°, side AC is nearly the same as side BC.
So, Sin A is very close to 1.
From above discussion we get,
Sin 90° = 1
Cosec 90° = 1
Cos 90°= 0
Sec 90° = ∞
Tan 90°= ∞
Cot 90° = 0
In ΔABC, right angled at B, if one angle is 45, then the other angle by angle sum property of triangle will also be 45.
∠A = ∠C = 45°
So, BC = AB (Isosceles triangle property)
Let, AB = BC = ‘a’
Then by Pythagoras theorem, AC2 = AB2 + BC2
AC2 = a2 + a2 = 2a2
AC = a√2.
Using formulas for trigonometric ratios:
Sin 45° = Side opposite to angle 45° = a/a√2 = 1/√2
Hypotenuse
Cos 45° = Side adjacent to angle 45° = a/a√2 = 1/√2
Hypotenuse
Tan 45° = Side opposite to angle 45° = a/a = 1
Side adjacent to angle 45°
Also, Cosec 45° = √2, Sec 45° = √2, Cot 45° = 1
Trigonometric Ratios of 30° and 60°
Let ΔABC, be an equilateral triangle. So, ∠A = ∠B = ∠C = 60°
Now, ΔABD ≅ ΔACD (by ASA)
Therefore, BD = DC
∠BAD = ∠CAD (by CPCT)
Consider, ΔABD
A = 30, B = 60, D = 90
Let AB = x
So, BD = x/2
And we will find the length of AD by Pythagoras theorem.
AB2 = AD2 + BD2
AB2 – BD2 = AD2
x2 – x2/4 = AD2
AD2 = 3x2/4
AD = x√3/2
Using formulas for trigonometric ratios:
Sin 30° = Side opposite to angle 30° =x/2 / x = 1/2
Hypotenuse
Cos 30° = Side adjacent to angle 30° = x√3/2 / x = √3/2
Hypotenuse
Tan 30° = Side opposite to angle 30° = x/2 / x√3/2 = 1/√3
Side adjacent to angle 30°
Also, Cosec 30° = 2, Sec 30° = 2/√3, Cot 30° = √3
Similarly,
Sin 60° = √3/2
Cosec 60° = 2/√3
Cos 60° = ½
Sec 60° 2
Tan 60° = √3
Cot 60° = 1/√3
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