Unit 9 Right Triangles and Trigonometry

9-3 Pythagorean Theorem

Pythagorean Theorem – If a triangle is a right triangle, then the sum of the squares of the legs is equal to
the square of the hypotenuse.
Converse to the Pythagorean Theorem - If the sum of the squares of two sides of a triangle is equal to the
square of the third side, then the triangle is a right triangle.
Obtuse Triangle Theorem - If the square of the longest side of a triangle is larger than the sum of the
squares of the shorter sides, the triangle is an obtuse triangle.
*The obtuse angle lies opposite the largest side.
Acute Triangle Theorem - If the square of the longest side of a triangle is smaller than the sum of the
squares of the shorter sides, the triangle is an acute triangle.
*All interior angles are acute.

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Developmental Proofs of Pythagorean Theorem and Pythagorean Theorem Converse

Given: ∆𝐵𝐶𝐴, ∠𝐵𝐶𝐴 is a right angle

Prove: a2 + b2 = c 2
A

C B

̅̅̅̅ is the longest side, c 2 = a2 + b2

Given: ∆𝐿𝑁𝑀, 𝐿𝑀
Prove: ∆𝐿𝑁𝑀 is a right triangle
M

b c

N a L

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Developmental Proofs of Acute and Obtuse Triangle Theorems

Given: In ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶, 𝑐 2 < 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2

Prove: ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 is an acute triangle

c b

B a C

Given: In ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶, 𝑐 2 > 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2

Prove: ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 is an obtuse triangle
A
c
b
B
a C

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 9-4 Special Right Triangles

The 45°-45°-90° Triangle

45 °
𝑯𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 = √𝟐 × 𝒍𝒆𝒈

If a leg is 13, then the hypotenuse is __________

If a leg is 5, then the hypotenuse is __________
If a leg is ½ , then the hypotenuse is __________ 45 °

So for a 45°-45°-90° triangle, the ratio of a leg to the hypotenuse is ___________

So what is the ratio of all three sides of a 45°-45°-90° triangle? leg : leg : hypotenuse = ________________

Ex. 1) Ex. 2) y

y
7
x
192
45 45
x

Ex. 3) y

x
13
45

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The 30°-60°-90° Triangle

𝑯𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 = 𝟐 × 𝒍𝒆𝒈
𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑳𝒆𝒈 = √𝟑 × 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒈

So for a 30°-60°-90° triangle, the ratio of the short leg to the hypotenuse is _________.
For a 30°-60°-90° triangle, the ratio of the short leg to the long leg is ____________.
So what is the ratio of all three sides of a 30°-60°-90° triangle?

short leg : long leg : hypotenuse = _______ OR short leg : hypotenuse : long leg = ________

Ex. 4) Ex. 5)
60 60
x 32
5 x

y y

Ex. 6)

x
y

30
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 9-5 The Trigonometric Ratios
Tangent (tan) ratio – The tangent of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the
opposite side to the length of the adjacent side in relation to the angle.
Sine (sin) ratio – the sin of an angle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side of the angle to the
hypotenuse of the right triangle.
Cosine (cos) ratio – the cos of an angle is the ratio of the length of the adjacent side of the angle to the
hypotenuse of the right triangle.

 P:  Q:
 Opposite leg to  P:  Opposite leg to  Q:

 Adjacent leg to  P:  Adjacent leg to  Q:

 Hypotenuse:  Hypotenuse:

Trigonometric Ratio Abbreviation Definition

opposite leg to P O
Sine of  P Sin P  
hypotenuse H

adjacent leg to P A
Cosine of  P Cos P  
hypotenuse H

opposite leg to P O
Tangent of  P Tan P  
adjacent leg to P A

Ex 1: Given the following right triangle, write the trig ratios in fraction and decimal form. (Make sure your
calculator is in degree mode and then round to four decimal places)

Sin D = Sin E =

Cos D = Cos E =

Tan D = Tan E =

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Ex 2: Find the following trig values using the calculator.

Sin 38° = Sin 52° =

Cos 38° = Cos 52° =

Tan 38° = Tan 52° =

Ex 3: Find the value of x. Ex 4: Find the value of x.

Ex 5: Find the values of x and y. Ex 6: Find the values of x and y.

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Ex 7.

Inverse Trig Functions

Find the value of x.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

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Practice Problems

Ex 1: Ex 2:

11
xo
16

Ex 3: Ex 4:

34

xo
19

Ex 5: Ex 6:

31
x

34o

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 9-6 Angles of Elevation and Depression
Angle of Elevation – The angle formed by the horizon and an object if the horizon is below the object.
Angle of Depression - The angle formed by the horizon and an object if the horizon is above the object.

Angle of Elevation –
Ex 1: A person 6 feet tall is standing 800 m away from the base of the Chrysler building in New York. The angle of
elevation to look up to the top of the building is 21°. How tall is the building?

Ex 2: A ramp is 120 ft long and rises vertically 15 ft. Find the angle of elevation of the ramp.

Ex 3: A mission control observer, 4.5 km from the launch pad, observes a space shuttle ascending. The angle of elevation
from the observer to the shuttle is 38°. How far is the shuttle from the observer?

Angle of Depression –
Ex 4: From the top of a lighthouse, an observer notices a boat and finds the angle of depression to be 12°. If the boat
is 900 ft from the bottom of the lighthouse, what is the height of the lighthouse?

Ex 5: The angle of depression of a car from a hot air balloon basket is 40°. The balloon is directly over a water
tower that is 5 km from the car. Find the direct distance from the balloon to the car.

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 9-7 Vectors
Vector – a quantity with both magnitude (length) and direction (slope) ⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝐴𝐵
⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑ 2 2
Magnitude of a Vector - the magnitude of |𝐴𝐵 | = √𝐴 + 𝐵 (Pythagorean with vector values)
If the vector is a set of two points, use the distance formula
Vector Notation - <A,B> is the graphed change from initial point A to terminal point B
Direction of a vector - The angle created by the vector and a horizontal line.
Equal Vectors – Vectors with equal magnitude and direction
Vector Sum - The sum of two vectors is the sum of their component parts. Written in vector form.

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