Question

Help with Trigonometry?

So, I'm getting ready to do the Geometry EOC in about two weeks, and am studying my brain off.

I get the whole Sine, Cosine, Tan, etc. But, the problem is i dont know how to actually memorize them. for example the adjacent side, and the opposite side on a triangle. Is the adjacent side always the smallest leg on a triangle?

If anyone can help me with the general topic of Trigo please do. Thanks everyone!

Answer 1

technically, yes

Answer 2

I see. How bout if im trying to find the degree of one of the triangles angles, and they give me the length of two legs and the degree of one angle? for example:

Answer 3

How could i know what to divide?

Answer 4

. adjacent, just means, is attached to the ANGLE in question, 2 legs EMANATE from the angle given, one of those legs, usually the shorter if any, is the ADJACENT, the other would be the hypotenuse, but yes, they're both EMANATING from the angle, thus both are adjacent, so, once you pick one as adjacent, the other becomes hypotenuse :)

Answer 5

and the opposite, is of course, the leg that is NOT adjacent or coming out of the angle itself, or the side that's facing off the angle per se :)

Answer 6

I see, how bout if instead of just using those i had to the law of cosines?

Answer 7

for the formulas of COSINE, or SINE, either one, they're not concerned with hypotenuse per se, they just deal with 3 sides, 2 are adjacent to the angle, and another one facing it off

Answer 8

Thanks! I have a better understanding now, i'll go write a few problems of my own now

Answer 9

yw