SUMMARY
The relationship between sine, cosine, and tangent is fundamentally defined through the ratios of the sides of a right triangle. Specifically, sine (\sin(\theta)) is the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse, cosine (\cos(\theta)) is the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse, and tangent (\tan(\theta)) is the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side. This can be expressed mathematically as \tan(\theta) = \frac{\sin(\theta)}{\cos(\theta)}. Additionally, the tangent function is undefined when cosine equals zero, highlighting critical points in the graphs of these functions.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of right triangle properties
- Familiarity with trigonometric functions: sine, cosine, and tangent
- Basic knowledge of the unit circle
- Graphing skills for trigonometric functions
NEXT STEPS
- Study the unit circle and its relationship to trigonometric functions
- Explore the properties of trigonometric graphs, including period and amplitude
- Learn about the implications of division by zero in trigonometric functions
- Investigate the SOH CAH TOA mnemonic for remembering trigonometric ratios
USEFUL FOR
Students studying trigonometry, educators teaching trigonometric concepts, and anyone seeking to understand the foundational relationships between sine, cosine, and tangent functions.