Math Is Fun Forum

n872yt3r

Member

Registered: 2013-01-21

Posts: 392

Sine Cosine Tangents

I finally learned how to do sines, cosines, and tangents of triangles. (Seriously, if you found out my age, you might be surprised ) I'm showing this for the younger ones out there.

A sine is the opposite side of the triangle divided by the hypotenuse. S=O/H. If you put this on a function grapher, like the one on Math Is Fun, or the CAS on GeoGebra, it makes a wave pattern.

A cosine is the adjacent side divided by the hypotenuse. C=A/H. If you put this on a function grapher, it also makes a wave pattern.

A tangent is the opposite side divided by the adjacent. T=O/A. On a circle, tangents are lines that touch the circle once, then go off... if you have two, it's like dumplings and chopsticks.

You can remember S=O/H, C=A/H, and T=O/A by thinking SOHCAHTOA. (so-cuh-to-uh)

Since I still can't upload pictures or links, I would appreciate posting a right angle with the corners labeled A, B, and C, the adjacent, hypotenuse, and opposite labeled, adjacent is A and C, opposite B and C, and hypotenuse A and B.

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- n872yt3r
Math Is Fun Rocks!
By the power of the exponent, I square and cube you!

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,621

Re: Sine Cosine Tangents

hi n872yt3r

Or point people to the excellent MIF pages, such as

http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/sohcahtoa.html

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

Mathegocart

Member

Registered: 2012-04-29

Posts: 2,226

Re: Sine Cosine Tangents

yeah.I know sine,

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The integral of hope is reality.
May bobbym have a wonderful time in the pearly gates of heaven.
He will be sorely missed.

anonimnystefy

Real Member

From: Harlan's World

Registered: 2011-05-23

Posts: 16,049

Re: Sine Cosine Tangents

Hi n872yt3r

And how old are you, if I may ask?

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“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Sine Cosine Tangents

I would guess he is 9. And congratulations on learning about trigonometry.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.