Trigonometry

How to solve

The 30-60-90 and 45-45-90 triangles give every special value: memorize the first quadrant and the boundary angles.

Steps

  1. 45-45-90 sides 1 : 1 : √2 give the 45° values.
  2. 30-60-90 sides 1 : √3 : 2 give the 30° and 60° values.
  3. tan = sin/cos; rationalize denominators.

Example

Exact value of tan(60°)?

  1. sin 60° = √3/2 and cos 60° = 1/2.
  2. tan 60° = (√3/2)/(1/2) = √3.

Answer: sqrt(3)

How to type answers

  • Use sqrt(n) for radicals, like sqrt(3)/2
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