Trigonometry: What Is Trigonometry?

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What is trigonometry? Well trigonometry, according to the Oxford Dictionary ‘the branch of mathematics dealing with the relations of the sides and angles of triangles and with the relevant functions of any angles.’ Here is a simplified definition of my own: Trigonometry is a division of mathematics involving the study of the relativity of angles and sides of triangles. The word trigonometry originated from the Latin word: trigonometria. Trigonometric ratios are something you would hope to never use, but this term I was forced to find the height of a given eucalyptus tree. No instructions were given for this task other than the fact that I was not allowed physically measure the tree itself. The tools I was given were a large protractor and a measuring tape. I immediately sat down and thought why we were given the specific tools. I soon came up with a theory knowing that If I can find an angle that lines up with the top of the tree (θ) and the adjacent side (length …show more content…

Tangent, Sine and Cosine are the three ratios of trigonometry. SOHCAHTOA is the acronym commonly used to remember these three basic ratios of trigonometry. What these ratios mean; Tangent = Opposite/Adjacent Sine = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cosine =Adjacent/Hypotenuse In the case of using trigonometry to work out the height of the eucalyptus tree, we only need to use the tangent ratio in our formula because we have length of adjacent and we need to find the opposite length and the tangent ratio is opposite/hypotenuse. The formula itself is; Tan(θ) x adjacent = opposite. So using this formula but with the data we collected from our first attempt, this is what it would look like; Tan(60°) x 23m = 39m. As you can tell this answer collected from our first attempt is very well incorrect, but at the time, our group did not know this. Comprehending the formula. **t.b.c.** So now that we have the desired answer and know what the formula is, we just need to know what it means and why it works. So

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