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Physicss Physics A Level Physics Home Revision hut
Pythagoras and 
trigonometry (right angled triangles)
Use these rules to work out sine, cosine and tangent in trigonometry
Random trigonometry
From subtangent
random-trig-20050726.zip randtrig.swf h b a In this triangle h is the hypotenuse 
a and b are the other two sides
a2 + b2 = h2     if a = 3 and b = 4
 then  a2 = 9  and b2 = 16  
so  a2  +  b2  = 9  +16  = 25.
Then  h2 = 25  so  h is  √25  = 5
 you  can rearrange the equation to find
any of the sides if you know the other
two  a2 =  h2  -  b2  and  b2  = h2 – a2
h b a
A
B In this triangle h is the hypotenuse
a is the side opposite angle A and b is
 the side opposite angle B
Sin A = a/h  if a = 3 and h=6
Sin A = 3/6 =0.5
Angle A = 30
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You can rearrange all the equations
eg sin B =  b/h
b = sin B x h
And
h = b/sin B
cos A = b/h
and tan A = a/b
You can rearrange these in same way as you did
with sine

With trigonometry you can find angles in right angled
triangles if you know two sides and sides if you
know an angle and a side. All you have to do
Is choose the correct equation
You can also use combinations of pythagoras
And trigonometry
Try a test