Right Triangle Trigonometry
Using Right Triangles to Evaluate Trigonometric Functions
In earlier sections, we used a unit circle to define the trigonometric functions. In this section, we will extend those definitions so that we can apply them to right triangles. The value of the sine or cosine function of [latex]t[/latex] is its value at [latex]t[/latex] radians. First, we need to create our right triangle. Figure 1 shows a point on a unit circle of radius 1. If we drop a vertical line segment from the point [latex]\left(x,y\right)\\[/latex] to the x-axis, we have a right triangle whose vertical side has length [latex]y[/latex] and whose horizontal side has length [latex]x[/latex]. We can use this right triangle to redefine sine, cosine, and the other trigonometric functions as ratios of the sides of a right triangle.
[latex]\cos \text{ }t=\frac{x}{1}=x\\[/latex]
Likewise, we know
[latex]\sin \text{ }t=\frac{y}{1}=y\\[/latex]
These ratios still apply to the sides of a right triangle when no unit circle is involved and when the triangle is not in standard position and is not being graphed using [latex]\left(x,y\right)\\[/latex] coordinates. To be able to use these ratios freely, we will give the sides more general names: Instead of [latex]x[/latex], we will call the side between the given angle and the right angle the adjacent side to angle [latex]t[/latex]. (Adjacent means "next to.") Instead of [latex]y[/latex], we will call the side most distant from the given angle the opposite side from angle [latex]\text{}t[/latex]. And instead of [latex]1[/latex], we will call the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle the hypotenuse. These sides are labeled in Figure 2.

Figure 2. The sides of a right triangle in relation to angle [latex]t[/latex].
Understanding Right Triangle Relationships
Given a right triangle with an acute angle of [latex]t[/latex],[latex]\begin{array}{l}\sin \left(t\right)=\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\hfill \\ \cos \left(t\right)=\frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\hfill \\ \tan \left(t\right)=\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}\hfill \end{array}\\[/latex]
A common mnemonic for remembering these relationships is SohCahToa, formed from the first letters of "Sine is opposite over hypotenuse, Cosine is adjacent over hypotenuse, Tangent is opposite over adjacent."
How To: Given the side lengths of a right triangle and one of the acute angles, find the sine, cosine, and tangent of that angle.
- Find the sine as the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse.
- Find the cosine as the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse.
- Find the tangent is the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side.
Example 1: Evaluating a Trigonometric Function of a Right Triangle
Given the triangle shown in Figure 3, find the value of [latex]\cos \alpha \\[/latex].
Solution
The side adjacent to the angle is 15, and the hypotenuse of the triangle is 17, so:[latex]\begin{array}{l}\cos \left(\alpha \right)=\frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\hfill \\ =\frac{15}{17}\hfill \end{array}\\[/latex]
Try It 1
Given the triangle shown in Figure 4, find the value of [latex]\text{sin}t[/latex].
Relating Angles and Their Functions
When working with right triangles, the same rules apply regardless of the orientation of the triangle. In fact, we can evaluate the six trigonometric functions of either of the two acute angles in the triangle in Figure 5. The side opposite one acute angle is the side adjacent to the other acute angle, and vice versa.
How To: Given the side lengths of a right triangle, evaluate the six trigonometric functions of one of the acute angles.
- If needed, draw the right triangle and label the angle provided.
- Identify the angle, the adjacent side, the side opposite the angle, and the hypotenuse of the right triangle.
- Find the required function:
- sine as the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse
- cosine as the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse
- tangent as the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side
- secant as the ratio of the hypotenuse to the adjacent side
- cosecant as the ratio of the hypotenuse to the opposite side
- cotangent as the ratio of the adjacent side to the opposite side
Example 2: Evaluating Trigonometric Functions of Angles Not in Standard Position
Using the triangle shown in Figure 6, evaluate [latex]\sin \alpha \\[/latex], [latex]\cos \alpha \\[/latex], [latex]\tan \alpha \\[/latex], [latex]\sec \alpha\\ [/latex], [latex]\csc \alpha [/latex], and [latex]\cot \alpha\\ [/latex].
Solution
[latex]\begin{array}{l}\sin \alpha =\frac{\text{opposite }\alpha }{\text{hypotenuse}}=\frac{4}{5}\hfill \\ \cos \alpha =\frac{\text{adjacent to }\alpha }{\text{hypotenuse}}=\frac{3}{5}\hfill \\ \tan \alpha =\frac{\text{opposite }\alpha }{\text{adjacent to }\alpha }=\frac{4}{3}\hfill \\ \sec \alpha =\frac{\text{hypotenuse}}{\text{adjacent to }\alpha }=\frac{5}{3}\hfill \\ \csc \alpha =\frac{\text{hypotenuse}}{\text{opposite }\alpha }=\frac{5}{4}\hfill \\ \cot \alpha =\frac{\text{adjacent to }\alpha }{\text{opposite }\alpha }=\frac{3}{4}\hfill \end{array}\\[/latex]
Try It 2
Using the triangle shown in Figure 7, evaluate [latex]\sin \text{ }t\\[/latex], [latex]\cos \text{ }t\\[/latex], [latex]\tan \text{ }t\\[/latex], [latex]\sec \text{ }t\\[/latex], [latex]\csc \text{ }t\\[/latex], and [latex]\cot \text{ }t\\[/latex].
Finding Trigonometric Functions of Special Angles Using Side Lengths
We have already discussed the trigonometric functions as they relate to the special angles on the unit circle. Now, we can use those relationships to evaluate triangles that contain those special angles. We do this because when we evaluate the special angles in trigonometric functions, they have relatively friendly values, values that contain either no or just one square root in the ratio. Therefore, these are the angles often used in math and science problems. We will use multiples of [latex]30^\circ [/latex], [latex]60^\circ [/latex], and [latex]45^\circ \\[/latex], however, remember that when dealing with right triangles, we are limited to angles between [latex]0^\circ \text{ and 90^\circ }\text{.}\\[/latex] Suppose we have a [latex]30^\circ ,60^\circ ,90^\circ \\[/latex] triangle, which can also be described as a [latex]\frac{\pi }{6},\text{ } \frac{\pi }{3},\frac{\pi }{2}\\[/latex] triangle. The sides have lengths in the relation [latex]s,\sqrt{3}s,2s\\[/latex]. The sides of a [latex]45^\circ ,45^\circ ,90^\circ [/latex] triangle, which can also be described as a [latex]\frac{\pi }{4},\frac{\pi }{4},\frac{\pi }{2}\\[/latex] triangle, have lengths in the relation [latex]s,s,\sqrt{2}s\\[/latex]. These relations are shown in Figure 8.
How To: Given trigonometric functions of a special angle, evaluate using side lengths.
- Use the side lengths shown in Figure 8 for the special angle you wish to evaluate.
- Use the ratio of side lengths appropriate to the function you wish to evaluate.
Example 3: Evaluating Trigonometric Functions of Special Angles Using Side Lengths
Find the exact value of the trigonometric functions of [latex]\frac{\pi }{3}\\[/latex], using side lengths.Solution
[latex]\begin{array}{l}\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)=\frac{\text{opp}}{\text{hyp}}=\frac{\sqrt{3}s}{2s}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\hfill \\ \cos \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)=\frac{\text{adj}}{\text{hyp}}=\frac{s}{2s}=\frac{1}{2}\hfill \\ \tan \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)=\frac{\text{opp}}{\text{adj}}=\frac{\sqrt{3}s}{s}=\sqrt{3}\hfill \\ \sec \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)=\frac{\text{hyp}}{\text{adj}}=\frac{2s}{s}=2\hfill \\ \csc \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)=\frac{\text{hyp}}{\text{opp}}=\frac{2s}{\sqrt{3}s}=\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}=\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\hfill \\ \cot \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)=\frac{\text{adj}}{\text{opp}}=\frac{s}{\sqrt{3}s}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\hfill \end{array}\\[/latex]
Try It 3
Find the exact value of the trigonometric functions of [latex]\frac{\pi }{4}\\[/latex], using side lengths. SolutionUsing Equal Cofunction of Complements
If we look more closely at the relationship between the sine and cosine of the special angles relative to the unit circle, we will notice a pattern. In a right triangle with angles of [latex]\frac{\pi }{6}[/latex] and [latex]\frac{\pi }{3}[/latex], we see that the sine of [latex]\frac{\pi }{3}[/latex], namely [latex]\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}[/latex], is also the cosine of [latex]\frac{\pi }{6}[/latex], while the sine of [latex]\frac{\pi }{6}[/latex], namely [latex]\frac{1}{2}[/latex], is also the cosine of [latex]\frac{\pi }{3}[/latex].
[latex]\begin{array}{l}\begin{array}{l}\hfill \\ \sin \frac{\pi }{3}=\cos \frac{\pi }{6}=\frac{\sqrt{3}s}{2s}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\hfill \end{array}\hfill \\ \sin \frac{\pi }{6}=\cos \frac{\pi }{3}=\frac{s}{2s}=\frac{1}{2}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
This result should not be surprising because, as we see from Figure 9, the side opposite the angle of [latex]\frac{\pi }{3}[/latex] is also the side adjacent to [latex]\frac{\pi }{6}[/latex], so [latex]\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)[/latex] and [latex]\cos \left(\frac{\pi }{6}\right)[/latex] are exactly the same ratio of the same two sides, [latex]\sqrt{3}s[/latex] and [latex]2s[/latex]. Similarly, [latex]\cos \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)[/latex] and [latex]\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{6}\right)[/latex] are also the same ratio using the same two sides, [latex]s[/latex] and [latex]2s[/latex].
The interrelationship between the sines and cosines of [latex]\frac{\pi }{6}[/latex] and [latex]\frac{\pi }{3}[/latex] also holds for the two acute angles in any right triangle, since in every case, the ratio of the same two sides would constitute the sine of one angle and the cosine of the other. Since the three angles of a triangle add to [latex]\pi [/latex], and the right angle is [latex]\frac{\pi }{2}[/latex], the remaining two angles must also add up to [latex]\frac{\pi }{2}[/latex]. That means that a right triangle can be formed with any two angles that add to [latex]\frac{\pi }{2}[/latex] —in other words, any two complementary angles. So we may state a cofunction identity: If any two angles are complementary, the sine of one is the cosine of the other, and vice versa. This identity is illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 9. The sine of [latex]\frac{\pi }{3}[/latex] equals the cosine of [latex]\frac{\pi }{6}[/latex] and vice versa.

Figure 10. Cofunction identity of sine and cosine of complementary angles
Using this identity, we can state without calculating, for instance, that the sine of [latex]\frac{\pi }{12}[/latex] equals the cosine of [latex]\frac{5\pi }{12}[/latex], and that the sine of [latex]\frac{5\pi }{12}[/latex] equals the cosine of [latex]\frac{\pi }{12}[/latex]. We can also state that if, for a certain angle [latex]t[/latex], [latex]\cos \text{ }t=\frac{5}{13}[/latex], then [latex]\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)=\frac{5}{13}[/latex] as well.A General Note: Cofunction Identities
The cofunction identities in radians are listed in the table below.[latex]\cos t=\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)[/latex] | [latex]\sin t=\cos \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)[/latex] |
[latex]\tan t=\cot \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)[/latex] | [latex]\cot t=\tan \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)[/latex] |
[latex]\sec t=\csc \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)[/latex] | [latex]\csc t=\sec \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)[/latex] |
How To: Given the sine and cosine of an angle, find the sine or cosine of its complement.
- To find the sine of the complementary angle, find the cosine of the original angle.
- To find the cosine of the complementary angle, find the sine of the original angle.
Example 4: Using Cofunction Identities
If [latex]\sin t=\frac{5}{12}[/latex], find [latex]\left(\cos \frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)[/latex].Solution
According to the cofunction identities for sine and cosine,[latex]\sin t=\cos \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)[/latex].
So
[latex]\cos \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)=\frac{5}{12}[/latex].
Try It 4
If [latex]\csc \left(\frac{\pi }{6}\right)=2[/latex], find [latex]\sec \left(\frac{\pi }{3}\right)[/latex]. SolutionUsing Trigonometric Functions
In previous examples, we evaluated the sine and cosine in triangles where we knew all three sides. But the real power of right-triangle trigonometry emerges when we look at triangles in which we know an angle but do not know all the sides.How To: Given a right triangle, the length of one side, and the measure of one acute angle, find the remaining sides.
- For each side, select the trigonometric function that has the unknown side as either the numerator or the denominator. The known side will in turn be the denominator or the numerator.
- Write an equation setting the function value of the known angle equal to the ratio of the corresponding sides.
- Using the value of the trigonometric function and the known side length, solve for the missing side length.
Example 5: Finding Missing Side Lengths Using Trigonometric Ratios
Find the unknown sides of the triangle in Figure 11.
Solution
We know the angle and the opposite side, so we can use the tangent to find the adjacent side.[latex]\tan \left(30^\circ \right)=\frac{7}{a}[/latex]
We rearrange to solve for [latex]a[/latex].
[latex]\begin{array}{l}a=\frac{7}{\tan \left(30^\circ \right)}\hfill \\ =12.1\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
We can use the sine to find the hypotenuse.
[latex]\sin \left(30^\circ \right)=\frac{7}{c}[/latex]
Again, we rearrange to solve for [latex]c[/latex].
[latex]\begin{array}{l}c=\frac{7}{\sin \left(30^\circ \right)}\hfill \\ =14\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
Try It 5
A right triangle has one angle of [latex]\frac{\pi }{3}[/latex] and a hypotenuse of 20. Find the unknown sides and angle of the triangle. Solution
How To: Given a tall object, measure its height indirectly.
- Make a sketch of the problem situation to keep track of known and unknown information.
- Lay out a measured distance from the base of the object to a point where the top of the object is clearly visible.
- At the other end of the measured distance, look up to the top of the object. Measure the angle the line of sight makes with the horizontal.
- Write an equation relating the unknown height, the measured distance, and the tangent of the angle of the line of sight.
- Solve the equation for the unknown height.
Example 6: Measuring a Distance Indirectly
To find the height of a tree, a person walks to a point 30 feet from the base of the tree. She measures an angle of [latex]57^\circ [/latex] between a line of sight to the top of the tree and the ground, as shown in Figure 13. Find the height of the tree.
Solution
We know that the angle of elevation is [latex]57^\circ [/latex] and the adjacent side is 30 ft long. The opposite side is the unknown height. The trigonometric function relating the side opposite to an angle and the side adjacent to the angle is the tangent. So we will state our information in terms of the tangent of [latex]57^\circ [/latex], letting [latex]h[/latex] be the unknown height.[latex]\begin{array}{ll}\tan \theta =\frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}\hfill & \hfill \\ \text{tan}\left(57^\circ \right)=\frac{h}{30}\hfill & \text{Solve for }h.\hfill \\ h=30\tan \left(57^\circ \right)\hfill & \text{Multiply}.\hfill \\ h\approx 46.2\hfill & \text{Use a calculator}.\hfill \end{array}[/latex]
The tree is approximately 46 feet tall.
Try It 6
How long a ladder is needed to reach a windowsill 50 feet above the ground if the ladder rests against the building making an angle of [latex]\frac{5\pi }{12}[/latex] with the ground? Round to the nearest foot. SolutionKey Equations
Cofunction Identities | [latex]\begin{array}{l}\begin{array}{l}\\ \cos t=\sin \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)\end{array}\hfill \\ \sin t=\cos \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)\hfill \\ \tan t=\cot \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)\hfill \\ \cot t=\tan \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)\hfill \\ \sec t=\csc \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)\hfill \\ \csc t=\sec \left(\frac{\pi }{2}-t\right)\hfill \end{array}[/latex] |
Key Concepts
- We can define trigonometric functions as ratios of the side lengths of a right triangle.
- The same side lengths can be used to evaluate the trigonometric functions of either acute angle in a right triangle.
- We can evaluate the trigonometric functions of special angles, knowing the side lengths of the triangles in which they occur.
- Any two complementary angles could be the two acute angles of a right triangle.
- If two angles are complementary, the cofunction identities state that the sine of one equals the cosine of the other and vice versa.
- We can use trigonometric functions of an angle to find unknown side lengths.
- Select the trigonometric function representing the ratio of the unknown side to the known side.
- Right-triangle trigonometry permits the measurement of inaccessible heights and distances.
- The unknown height or distance can be found by creating a right triangle in which the unknown height or distance is one of the sides, and another side and angle are known.
Glossary
- adjacent side
- in a right triangle, the side between a given angle and the right angle
- angle of depression
- the angle between the horizontal and the line from the object to the observer’s eye, assuming the object is positioned lower than the observer
- angle of elevation
- the angle between the horizontal and the line from the object to the observer’s eye, assuming the object is positioned higher than the observer
- opposite side
- in a right triangle, the side most distant from a given angle
- hypotenuse
- the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle
Section Exercises
1. For the given right triangle, label the adjacent side, opposite side, and hypotenuse for the indicated angle.














Licenses & Attributions
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- Introduction to Trigonometric Functions Using Triangles. Authored by: Mathispower4u. License: All Rights Reserved. License terms: Standard YouTube License.
- Cofunction Identities. Authored by: Mathispower4u. License: All Rights Reserved. License terms: Standard YouTube License.
- Example: Determine the Length of a Side of a Right Triangle Using a Trig Equation. Authored by: Mathispower4u. License: All Rights Reserved. License terms: Standard YouTube License.
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- Precalculus. Provided by: OpenStax Authored by: OpenStax College. Located at: https://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:1/Preface. License: CC BY: Attribution.