Strand/Topic: Grade: 10 Lesson: (45 mins)

Trigonometry (Math Academic) Real Word Problems & Acute Triangles

Overall Expectations:
By the end of the lesson, students will:
Solve problems involving right triangles, using the primary trigonometric
ratios and the Pythagorean theorem;
Solve problems involving acute triangles, using the sine law and the
cosine law
Specific Expectations:
By the end of this lesson, students will:
Determine the measures of sides and angles in acute triangles, using the
sine law and the cosine law
Solve problems involving the measures of sides and angles in acute
triangles.
Learning Goals
By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:
Provide reasoning for using the Sine Law or the Cosine Law when solving problems with acute triangles
Apply the Sine and Cosine Laws when solving for unknowns of right and acute triangles.
Develop pictorial representations to solve word problems.
Questions to Ask Accommodations/ Materials
Modifications
(content/process/product)
Part 1: Minds On

Four Corners:
4 signs will be posted at each corner of the classroom: Sine Law, Is the triangle right As the students are given Board
Cosine Law, Pythagorean Theorem, and Trig Ratio. or acute? Why? their question, keep in mind
The teacher will have a question prepared for each corner. how the groups will turn out. Scientific
How do you know calculator
you should use the Formula Sheet
As the students are coming into class they will get one of the 4 Sine Law or the Handout
questions. The task will be to solve the problem that has been Cosine Law? After each student explains
given to them. While the students are working on their solutions, their solution, the teacher PEDs
the teacher will put each question on the board such that all Did anybody solve may go over it in greater
students can see it clearly. Or the questions will be up on the the question detail if students are
Part 2: Action
Up to this point, the students have solved for either unknown What is the Scientific
angles or side length for problems like those that were in the difference between Students can model certain calculators
minds on activity. The lesson will focus on applying the sine law, an angle of problems using GeoGebra or
cosine law, Pythagorean Theorem and trig ratios to word depression and Triangle Solver. PEDs
angle of elevation?
problems. Students will remain in their groups.
Visual aids and physical Handout
How do you know manipulative can be used to
Each member of the group will have a designated role, that way to use the Sine Law help clarify concepts. Chart Paper
everybody is included and engaged on the task. Their will be a or the Cosine Law?
leader, a recorder, a coordinator, and calculator. Step by step breakdown of
Did you solve it how to approach questions.
Two groups will have same question and the other two will have differently then the This is where students will
a different one. Provide the groups with a couple of minutes to other group? have an opportunity to ask
answer the question. Once all groups are finished have the questions and make
groups with the same questions swap their work and compare. Is your diagram clarifications.
different then
Repeat it with a new set of questions.
theirs? Why? Does One-on-one instructions for
it matter? students that require
As the students are working in their groups, the teacher will be additional supports.
 Questions to Ask Accommodations / Materials
Differentiation
Part 3: Consolidate Debrief (content/process/product)
The focus will be on the last question that the students worked
on in the Action activity. Find out if any of the groups came up Can we divide the Board
with a solution. If so have them start off the solution. As the triangle into two right
group does this, observe the rest of the class. Address angle triangles? Calculator
questions that arise from students, and ask students questions
Recall the area of a
that way they are focused. If no group wants to come up to triangle and our trig Textbook
explain their ideas then come together as a class to solve the ratios.
problem.
Can we eliminate one of
The exit ticket will be for each group to hand in a copy of their our unknowns? Look at
solutions for the questions they were asked to answer. The the Sine Law.
teacher will then make copies of each groups work such that
each student has a copy of the solutions and questions.

Homework will be on the board and students are expected to

Assessment Tools (diagnostic/formative/summative)
All group work will be collected at the end of class to formally assess the students strengths and weaknesses with respect to the learning
goals for the lesson. The group work will also act as their exit ticket for the day. The group work will not be graded, however, there will be
feedback provided for the students.

Prior Knowledge
In order to complete this lesson, students should be able to:
Use trigonometric ratios to determine missing side lengths and angle measures
Use the sine and cosine law, and the Pythagorean theorem for finding unknown side lengths and angle measures
Remember properties of interior angles of a triangle and angles formed by parallel lines
Draw and label right angle and acute triangles with the provided information.
Next Steps
This lesson marks the conclusion of the unit. Based on the group work collected and the questions that the class will have next class will
determine whether the students need more practice with real world problems. Otherwise, the next step will be to do a review of the whole
unit, which consists of primary trig ratios, Pythagorean theorem, Sine Law and Cosine Law.