Lesson Exchange: Trig Functions to Find Sides of Triangle (Senior, Mathematics)

Special right triangles give special information. Individuals learn how to find trigonometric ratios in all quadrants. This involves using special right triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem.

Your learners will appreciate this handy resource when they are working with various trigonometry problems. The most common trigonometric identities and laws are all typed on one page.

What do all right triangles have in common? Young mathematicians investigate the trigonometric ratios in relation to right triangles. Their investigations lead to a hypothesis they use to determine unknown lengths in different triangles. 

Learners solve and graph 10 different problems that are the inverses of various trig functions. First, they determine which equation is equivalent to a given equation. Then, they find an angle of a right triangle, given its leg lengths....

Young mathematicians first learn the basics of proving trigonometric identities. They then practice this skill on several examples.

Calculators ... they are more efficient than tables. Using two 30-60 right triangles, the segment of a playlist on geometry shows that trigonometric ratios for an angle are the same independent of the size of the triangle. The video...

Finding trigonometric ratios is relatively easy; you just have to know where to look. The first installment of a 16-part video playlist shows how to find the sine, cosine, and tangent values for a given angle. It shows how to find the...

SOH, what is this thing called trigonometric ratios? A section of an extensive playlist on geometry identifies the adjacent and opposite sides in relationship of an angle. Using the identified sides, the video defines the sine, cosine,...

Build on students' knowledge about triangles with this introductory instructional activity on trigonometric ratios. After first exploring key terms in a scavenger hunt activity, students solve a series of guided and independent practice...

What happens when you don't have enough information to use the Pythagorean Theorem? Time for some trig! The second lesson in a series of four introduces the definition of sine, teaches how to find the sine ratio of a right triangle, and...