5.1: Right Triangle Trigonometry
- Page ID
- 1107
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A right triangle is defined as having one angle precisely equal to 90o (a right angle).
Trigonometric Identities
H is the Hypotenuse, always being opposite the right angle. Relative to angle x, O is the Opposite and A is the Adjacent.
“Arc” functions such as “arcsin”, “arccos”, and “arctan” are the complements of normal trigonometric functions. These functions return an angle for a ratio input. For example, if the tangent of 45o is equal to 1, then the “arctangent” (arctan) of 1 is 45o. “Arc” functions are useful for finding angles in a right triangle if the side lengths are known.