Please see diagram:
A right triangle has 3 main trigonometric ratios. These ratios are the relationships between different sides of the triangle, how large one side is compared to the other side. If you have every angle, in degrees, of a triangle, then you can figure out the relation between the lengths of the three sides. Additionally, you can figure out the value of the angles, given the sides of the triangle.
In the diagram, we are interested in the trigonometric ratios with respect to angle a.
You see in the diagram that sine, cosine, and tangeant are described as their ratios: (one way to remember: SohCahToa
sine = opposite / hypotenuse
cosine = adjacent / hypotenuse
tangeant = opposite / adjacent.
cosecant, secant, and cotangents are just the reciprocals of these ratios:
cosecant = 1 / sin
secant = 1 / cosine
cotangeant = 1 / tangeant
A right triangle has 3 main trigonometric ratios. These ratios are the relationships between different sides of the triangle, how large one side is compared to the other side. If you have every angle, in degrees, of a triangle, then you can figure out the relation between the lengths of the three sides. Additionally, you can figure out the value of the angles, given the sides of the triangle.
In the diagram, we are interested in the trigonometric ratios with respect to angle a.
You see in the diagram that sine, cosine, and tangeant are described as their ratios: (one way to remember: SohCahToa
sine = opposite / hypotenuse
cosine = adjacent / hypotenuse
tangeant = opposite / adjacent.
cosecant, secant, and cotangents are just the reciprocals of these ratios:
cosecant = 1 / sin
secant = 1 / cosine
cotangeant = 1 / tangeant