We learned about the different parts of Trigonometry today. There are three formulae for working out the missing length/angle of a right-angle triangle.
On a right-angle triangle there are three sides that can be one of three:
- the hypotenuse, which is the longest side, and opposite the right-angle.
- the opposite, which is opposite the angle provided, or what you're trying to work out.
- the adjacent is the side next to the angle which isn't 90 degrees.
The simple way to remember all of the formulas is the word SohCahToa. If you break the word into three groups, you'll already have the way to work a question out.
The first is Soh, which means Sine(x) = opposite/hypotenuse. That is the method used to work out the missing sides. To find an angle, the formula would be Sine(-1)(opposite/hypotenuse).
This is used in a lot of different ways. For example, it's used in games to calculate the distance of a character to the roof of a building of a platform they need to jump to.
Another way to solve a triangle is the Pythagorean Theorem. the Pythagorean Theorem is a simple formula:
to work out the answer is simple, as all you need to do is find the square root of C.
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