Chapter 5

Trigonometric Ratios

Sine, cosine and tangent in a right-angled triangle (SOH-CAH-TOA) — with an interactive exercise.

Trigonometric ratios connect the angles and sides of a right-angled triangle.

The three ratios

$\sin\theta = \dfrac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}}$ · $\cos\theta = \dfrac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}}$ · $\tan\theta = \dfrac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}$

For a triangle with opposite 3, adjacent 4 and hypotenuse 5: $\sin\theta = \tfrac{3}{5} = 0.6$ and $\tan\theta = \tfrac{3}{4} = 0.75$.

Remember

  • SOH-CAH-TOA: Sin=O/H, Cos=A/H, Tan=O/A.
  • The hypotenuse is the longest side.

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