Trigonometry – Problems with Right-Angled Triangles

Scheme of work: GCSE Foundation: Year 11: Term 2: Trigonometry – Problems with Right-Angled Triangles

Express a multiplicative relationship between two quantities
understand and use proportion as equality of ratios
know the formulae for: Pythagorasâ€™ theorem, a² + b² = c²
apply angle facts, triangle congruence, similarity and properties of quadrilaterals to conjecture and derive results about angles and sides, including Pythagorasâ€™ Theorem and the fact that the
base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal, and use known results to obtain simple proofs

know the trigonometric ratios, Sin x = Opp/Hyp, Cos x = Adj/Hyp, Tan x = Opp/Adj.
apply them to find angles and lengths in right-angled triangles and, where possible, general triangles in two dimensional figures.
know the exact values of Sin x and Cos Sin x for x = 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°; know the exact value of Tan x for 0°, 30°, 45° and 60°.

Sin, Cos and Tan are trigonometric functions that find lengths and angles in right-angled triangles.
The hypotenuse is opposite the right angle; the opposite refers to the side opposite the angle in question, and the adjacent side runs adjacent to the angle.
The inverse operations of sin, cos and tan are pronounced arcos, arcsin and arctan.

Students often have difficulty knowing which trigonometric ratio to apply. Encourage them to label the sides to identify the correct ratio clearly.
Use SOHCAHTOA as a memory aid as students often forget the trigonometric ratios.
When using trigonometric ratios to calculate angles students often forget to use the inverse functions.
Students often try to apply right-angled formulae to non-right-angled triangles.