Sine, cosine and tangent: what they are, what they are for and formulas

Sine, cosine and tangent are widely used in everyday school life and being aware of them is essential

To understand trigonometrythe mathematical study of triangles can represent a great challenge, even for adults who have a lot of knowledge on the subject. Although the calculations and formulas may seem like ‘alphabet soup’, with some effort it is possible to understand and advance the subject.

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To understand the matter, you need to understand the basics and how the entire system works. Trigonometry is the study of calculating the angles and sides of triangles. THE right triangle It is made up of three sides with an angle equal to 90º. In it, each part has a name:

• Hypotenuse (a): the longest side is the one “in front” of the right angle.
• In front of Cateto (c): just as the name suggests, it is opposite the longest side.
• Adjacent leg (b): next to a certain angle and forms the acute.

Together they form the Pythagorean theorem: a2 = b2 + c2. The sum of the angles of any triangle is 180º.

Although most people only have contact with trigonometry during basic education, at school this calculation is widely used by professionals and institutions. For example, on the portal of NASA, the national agency of the United States Aeronautics and Space Administration, it is explained that the study is used in the development of aircraft and propulsion. Now we can move on to the next step.

Sine, cosine and tangent: what are they and what are they for?

Sine, cosine and tangent are the three ratios of trigonometry. They are used to calculate the sides of a right triangle, and as you perform the calculations, formulas are created.

Formulas

The first relationship, identified between the opposite side of a right triangle and the hypotenuse, is called breast. The equivalent formula is: sin x = c / a.

The second reason, identified between the adjacent cathetus and the hypotenuse, is called cosine. The formula is equivalent to: cos x = b/a.

The third motif, identified between the opposite and adjacent sides, is called tangent. The formula is equivalent to: tg x = c/b.

Source: Terra

Rose

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