Mrs. Brenda Overholt
Math Department
Franklin County High School
700 Tanyard Road
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
Choose a 
Trigonometry Function
in a Right Triangle
 
The web pages of this lesson are a review and practice of the introductory lesson you've had on using trigonometry to solve for unknowns in a right triangle.  This review and practice will help you choose the correct trigonometry function and use it properly in a trig equation to solve for unknowns in a right triangle. 
  • First you'll choose "where to stand" in the right triangle based on the angles you are given. 
  • Second, you'll chose the function based on the two sides you want to have involved in your math problem: 
    • a side you know and a side you need to know
    • or if you are looking for an angle, you'll have two sides you know
  • Third, put the results of the above choices into the formula for a trig equation. 
Complete the following sections IN ORDER to increase your trig skills (just scroll on down or click REVIEW): 
  • review
  • examples
  • practice in choosing where to stand
  • practice in choosing the correct trig function
  • put it all together: practice in choosing the trig equation
If you are using Internet Explorer, you should be hearing a midi file automatically.  Netscape users will need to click here.  Do you know the title of the movie that gave us this music and how it relates to trigonometry?  Think back to the introduction to trig you've heard.
 
REVIEW
Instructions for all pages: Read the examples, but be sure to click on any  symbols you see!  On some pages, you'll need to answer multiple choice questions also.
   The trigonometry you are using is for right triangles only.  You have your choice of two memory devices to help you with the trig ratios: 
 

What does OHAHOA mean?

How does SOHCAHTOA sound?
 

You also must know the where the opposite and adjacent legs and the hypotenuse are located.  Here's a reminder: 
If you move to the other acute angle, then the opposite and adjacent switch places, but the hypotenuse stays across from the right angle.  See what happens when you move to the other acute angle.


Next: Examples
[ tutorial | examples | standing choice | function choice | equation ]
brenda.overholt@frco.k12.va.us
August, 2004