Solving trig equations
You use sin when you have two of these measurements= a angle, the hypotenuse length, or the opposite side length. SOH stands for Sin, Opposite, Hypotenuse. In the equation we are looking for the angle or x so the equation is Sin x = 3/10. Since we need to figure out x we use the button on our calculator that says sin-1 then times it by 3/10 to get our answer of x.
You use cos when you have two of these measurements= a angle, the adjacent side length, or the hypotenuse side length. CAH stands for Cos, Adjacent, Hypotenuse. In the equation we are looking for the angle or x so the equation is Cos x = 12/19. Since we need to figure out x we use the button on our calculator that says cos-1 then times it by 12/19 to get our answer of x.
You use Tan when you have two of these measurements= a angle, the adjacent side length, or the opposite side length. TOA stands for Tan, Opposite, Adjacent. In the equation we are looking for the angle or x so the equation is Tan x = 6/9. Since we need to figure out x we use the button on our calculator that says Tan-1 then times it by 6/9 to get our answer of x.
Leave a Reply