During trigonometry I learned how to find a missing angle using sin, cos or tan and the side lengths given. In the example that I’ve inserted, I used sin to figure out angle x. In order to find an angle in a right angle triangle you must have 2 out of the 3 side lengths. To determine what trig function to use you start out by labeling each side as opposite (opposite side of the angle you are trying to find), the hypotenuse (the side across from the right angle/the longest side of the triangle, and the adjacent (the side left over / the same side as the angle). Since I was only given the opp and hyp I would use sin (Soh Cah Toa helps me remember). To calculate the final answer you would punch in ” ” on your calculator.

In the beginning I had challenges on what way to use the trig functions ( sin or ) and where to put the given information in word problems. By the end of the chapter I completed enough review to fully understand what to do.