C HAPTER

10

Introduction to
trigonometry

10.1 Conversion of angles between

sexagesimal measure (i.e.
degrees, minutes and seconds)
and decimal degrees
Exercises 10.1
1

Express the following angles in sexagesimal measure (i.e. in degrees, minutes and seconds):
a 26.874
b 263.437
c 82.109

Express the following angles in decimal degrees correct to 3 decimal places:

a 4921'52"
b 8046'21"
c 16817'34"

10.2 The tangent ratio: construction

and definition
Exercises 10.2
1

58

Construct a large right-angled triangle. Mark an acute angle in this triangle.

a By measuring the appropriate sides and evaluating a ratio, determine the value of the
tangent of this angle as accurately as possible.
b Measure the angle using a protractor and use your calculator to determine the value of
the tangent of this angle.
c Calculate the approximate percentage error in the value you obtained by
measurement.

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

10.3 The tangent ratio: finding the

length of a side of a rightangled triangle
Exercises 10.3
1

In each of the following triangles, find the length of the side marked with a pronumeral:
a

b
x
6.24 m
72

For each of the following triangles, find the length of the side marked by a pronumeral,
correct to 3 significant figures:
a

3.83 m
5327'

284 mm
t

3352'

10.4 The tangent ratio: evaluating an

angle
Exercises 10.4
1

Find the acute angles that have the following values for their tangents (i) in decimal degrees
correct to 4 significant figures, (ii) in degrees and minutes:
a 3.1468
b 23.56
c 2.3347
d 0.008 312

Find the angles marked by pronumerals in the following triangles. Record answers both in
decimal degrees and in degrees and minutes.
a

b
2.13 m

12 mm
5 mm

1.48 m
w

13 mm
Chapter 10 Introduction to Trigonometry

59

a
b
c
d

In
PQR: Q
90, P
2348' and r
35.7 mm; evaluate p.

In
LNK: N
90, l
0.681 km and k
0.528 km; evaluate K.
In
LTM: M
90, T
6313', and t
234 mm; evaluate l.
In
DPT: T
90, D
3831' and d
86.3 mm; evaluate p.

10.5 The sine and cosine ratios

Exercises 10.5
1

c
A

f
C
d

In the triangles above, the sides have lengths, a, b, c, d, e and f metres. It can be seen that
f
tan F
. In the same way, write down the following ratios:
d
a sin A
b cos D
c tan B
d cos F
e sin D
2

Evaluate the pronumerals in the following figures:

a

100 mm
x

x
2m
1.648 m

53.26 mm

Use your calculator for these exercises.

a In
KTW: K
90, T
5143' and k
42.6 mm; evaluate w.
b In
ABE: B
90, a
514 m and e
732 m; evaluate A.

A circle has radius 38.4 mm. Find the angle

subtended at the centre by a chord 51.8 mm long.

Given that ABC
90, BCD
116 and

BC
40 mm:
a Find the measure of OCT.
b Express TC in terms of r, the radius of the
circle.
c Find the measure of r, using the fact that
OK  TC
BC.

A
D

B
60

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

Remember : The tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius drawn to the point of contact.

ABC is an isosceles triangle in which

AB
AC
80.00 mm and
ABC
ACB
50.00.
The incentre is I (the point where the
bisectors of the angles intersect). The
orthocentre is O (the point where the
perpendicular bisectors of the three sides
intersect).

T
I

By symmetry it can be seen that points

C
B
M
A, I and O are colinear and the line AIO
passes through M, the midpoint of BC. Find, correct to 4 significant figures, the distance
that separates the incentre and the orthocentre.
Hint: Use ABM to find BM and AM.
Use IBM to find IM.
Use ATO to find AO.
Note: In Exercises 7.3, question 2 of the text (p. 111) you constructed this figure and measured the
distance IO correct to 2 significant figures.

10.6 Applications
Exercises 10.6
1

The top of a 40 wedge is rounded off by a radius

of 15 mm. Calculate the dimension x.

The angle subtended by a tower at a point

50 m from its base is 3827'. Find the
height of the tower.

Chapter 10 Introduction to Trigonometry

61

Find the measure of BCD.

Eight holes are to be drilled, equally spaced on a

circle of diameter 240 mm. Calculate the distance
between two adjacent holes, centre to centre.

240 mm

A guy wire stretches from a point on the ground 21.5 m from the base of an antenna to the
top of the antenna. The wire makes an angle of 53.7 with the ground. Find the length of
the wire.

6
I

Z
XL XC

This impedance triangle shows the relationship between:

R, the resistance of the circuit;
XL, the inductive reactance;
XC, the capacitative reactance;
Z, the impedance of the circuit;
, the angle by which the current input lags the applied AC voltage, V.
a
b
c
d
e

Given that R
524 , XL
113  and XC
87 , evaluate .

Given that Z
83.6  and 
14.8, evaluate R.
Given that R
2.20 k, XC
1.50 k and 
63.0, evaluate XL.
Given that 
26.3, Z
115  and XL
68.0 , evaluate XC.
Given that R
685  and 
36.2, evaluate Z, and hence the current produced by an
V
applied voltage of 12 V use I
  .
Z

62

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

10.7 How to find a trigonometrical

ratio from one already given
Exercises 10.7
1

In the following exercises, find the required trigonometrical ratio by using Pythagoras
theorem. Do not use a calculator or tables.
12
a Given that sin A
1
3 , evaluate tan A.
b Given that tan P
2.4, evaluate cos P.

a
b

3
4

Given that tan Q
m, express sin Q in terms of m.

Given that sin A
x, express tan A in terms of x.

Given that sin A
0.4128, evaluate cos A.

0.6314
a Given that sin A
, evaluate tan A.
0.9520
1
1
b Given that 
0.2517, evaluate .
tan 
cos 

10.8 Compass directions; angles

of elevation and depression
Exercises 10.8
1

On a ship that is sailing due south at a speed of 7.50 km/h, the navigator observed that the
bearing of a light on the shore was S3826'E. He also observed that the ship was due west
of the light 144 min later. How far was the ship from the light when the second observation
was made?

From the top of a cliff 125 m above sea level, two boats were observed on the water both on
the same bearing from the observer, and their angles of depression were measured as being
2735' and 5328'. What was the distance that separated the two boats?

Chapter 10 Introduction to Trigonometry

63