Year 10 Trigonometry

Trigonometry

A branch of mathematics, part of which deals with the calculation of the sides and angles of triangles.

Trigonometric (trig.) ratios

A collective name for different ratios of the side lengths of right-angled triangles

Bearing

An angle used to measure the direction of a line from north.

Hypotenuse

The longest side in a right-angled triangle.

Opposite side (to a given angle)

The side opposite the given angle

Adjacent side (to a given angle)

The side that is next to the angle

Angle of depression

When looking down, the angle between the line of sight and the horizontal.

Angle of elevation

When looking up, the angle between the line of sight and the horizontal.

Cosine ratio (of an angle θ)

adjacent side over hypotenuse

Tangent ratio (of an angle θ)

opposite side over adjacent side

Sine ratio (of an angle θ)

opposite side over hypotenuse