Applications

of Right Angle
Trigonometry
Trigonometry Unit

10th Grade Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry

Ms. Maddela
Objectives and CA Content Standards

§ SWBAT apply concepts of trigonometric ratios and

inverse functions to modeling scenarios to solve for
missing angles or sides
§ CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSG.SRT.C.8
Use trigonometric ratios and the Pythagorean Theorem to solve right triangles in
applied problems.*
§ CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSF.TF.B.7
(+) Use inverse functions to solve trigonometric equations that arise in modeling
contexts; evaluate the solutions using technology, and interpret them in terms of
the context.*
 Think!
Have you ever looked
at a building and
wondered how tall it
is? How would you
figure this out? What
information do you
need?
 Review-Sides and Angles

Parts of a right SOH CAH TOA

triangle: SIN:
!""!#$%&
()"!%&*+#&
OPPOSITE

,-.,/&*%
COS:
()"!%&*+#&

θ TAN:
!""!#$%&
,-.,/&*%
ADJACENT
 Review-Pythagorean Theorem

Parts of a right
triangle:
1 1 1
𝑐 =𝑎 +𝑏
a = side

b = side
 NOW YOU TRY

§Find sin θ of the following right triangle.

28 CM θ
 NOW YOU TRY (answer)

§Find sin θ of the following right triangle.

θ 𝑂𝑃𝑃𝑂𝑆𝐼𝑇𝐸
sin θ =
𝐻𝑌𝑃𝑂𝑇𝐸𝑁𝑈𝑆𝐸
28 CM

Adjacent Hypotenuse
𝟒𝟓
=
𝟓𝟑

Opposite: 281 + 𝑏 1 = 531 -> 𝑏 = 45

Review- Angle of Depression or
Elevation
Review-Inverse Functions
§ 𝐬𝐢𝐧N𝟏 θ : solves for the angle given the opposite and hypotenuse
side lengths
§ 𝐜𝐨𝐬 N𝟏 θ : solves for the angle given the adjacent and hypotenuse
side lengths
§ 𝐭𝐚𝐧N𝟏 θ: solves for the angle given the opposite and adjacent
side lengths.

§ TIP: Make sure your calculator is in degree mode

 NOW YOU TRY

§Find the angle of elevation for this right

triangle

60 feet
 NOW YOU TRY (answer)

§Find the angle of elevation for this right

triangle cos 𝜃 =
𝐴𝐷𝐽𝐴𝐶𝐸𝑁𝑇
Hypotenuse 𝐻𝑌𝑃𝑂𝑇𝐸𝑁𝑈𝑆𝐸

[\
=
[]
Angle of
N] [\
elevation=θ cos ≅ 10.39°
[]
Adjacent 60 feet
 Order for solving a right angle
trigonometric word problem
STEP 3: STEP 4:
Label the Use SOH CAH
STEP 1: STEP 2:
side or TOA and/or
Read the Label all
angle inverse
problem known
you’re functions to
and draw a sides and solve for the
looking for
picture angles desired side
and note
or angle
the units
 Example Problem
Gia is 5.5 feet tall and is looking down from the
top of the Empire State Building, which is 1,250
feet tall. If she’s looking down at the ground at
a 52° angle, how far away from the Empire
State Building is she looking? (Round your
answer to the nearest foot)
Step 1: Read the problem and draw a
picture

*Note, drawing is not

necessarily to scale.
 Step 2: Label all known sides and
angles
5.5 ft.

38°
1,250 ft
 Step 3: Label the side/angle you’re
looking for and note the unit

𝒙 ft.
5.5 ft.

38°
1,250 ft

𝒙 ft.
 Step 4: Use SOH CAH TOA and/or inverse
functions to solve for the desired side or angle

𝒙 ft.
5.5 ft.

38°
1,250 ft

𝒙 ft.
 Step 4: Use SOH CAH TOA and/or inverse
functions to solve for the desired side or angle
Angle: 38°
𝒙 ft. Total height: 1255.5 ft. (Opposite of angle)
Length: 𝒙 ft. (Adjacent to angle)
5.5 ft.

38°
]1bb.b
TOA: tan 38° =

1255.5 ft.
d
1,250 ft.

]1bb.b
𝑥=
fgh ij°

𝑥 ≅ 1607 ft.
𝒙 ft.
 NOW YOU TRY
Kieran set the end of a kite string on the
ground and secured it with a rock to keep it
still. If the kite is 29 feet long when fully
extended and is 14 feet above the ground,
what angle is the kite being flown at?
(Round your answer to the nearest tenth of
a degree).
 NOW YOU TRY (answer)

Show work on the guided notes.

Answer: 28.9°
Reflection Question

Where else can you apply right

angle trigonometry in real life?
Come up with 3 examples.