TRIGONOMETRY

AND
LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

INTRODUCTION
Mathematics- Science of structure, order, and
relation that has evolved from counting,
measuring and describing the shapes of
objects.
Branches
of
Mathematics:
Arithmetic,
Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Trigonometry,...
Trigonometry: branch of mathematics dealing
with calculations related to sides and angles
of triangles.

HISTORY OF TRIGONOMETRY
Based on ratio of sides of a triangle, pyramid
slopes were calculated by Egyptian (but no
concept of angles)
Greek Mathematician tabulated corresponding
values of arc, chords for a series of angles.
Concepts of sine and cosine were introduced
by Indian Mathematicians
Islamic Mathematician developed concepts of
tangent and cotangent
Germans defined trigonometric functions as
ratios instead of length of lines
Swiss Mathematician used abbreviations for
sin, cos and tan, showed how trigonometric

Concept Map

INTRODUCTION TO TRIGONOMETRY
Right angled

Trigonometric ratios

Sin x = opp/hyp
Cos x = adj/hypSOH CAH
Tan x = opp/adjTOA

Pythagorean Theorem

For any triangle

Law of
Sine

Law of Cosine

Trigonometric identities
sec x = 1 /
cos x
cosec x =
1/ sin x
Tan x = sin x / cos
tan
x x
Cot x = cos x / sin
x

cot x = 1/

sin (-x) =

- sin x
cos (-x) =

Radian
2 radians = 360 degrees
Common angles

=r
sector = r^2

arc length
area of
where is in

LEARNING DIFFICULTIES AND

ADRESSING THEM
Failure to understand and sketch
trigonometric functions
Students draw graphs too straight
and lack concavity

Graphing trigonometric functions

using unit circle and understand
concavity
Teaching aids: drawings, animated
images

F()

/2

3/2

/2

Y = cos
x

x
3/2

Teaching Aids: Calculator, graph paper

 In using compound angle identities.

Misconceptions:
cos (A+B) = cos A + Cos B
tan (A+B) = tan A + tan B
sign error when expanding
cos(A B)= cosA cosB sinA sinB

Counter example
1. To show Cos (A + B) Cos A + Cos B
Let A = 40, B = 60
Cos 40= 0.766
Cos 60= 0.5
Cos 40 + Cos 60=1.266
Cos (40+ 60)= Cos 100= -0.174
Cos (A + B) Cos A + Cos B
Cosine of an angle is never more than
1

Deriving the formula may be more useful to

understand and avoiding sign error when
expanding
Consider a circle with
unit radius, using
trigonometric ratios,
Coordinates:
P=( cos A , sin A)
Q= (cos B, sin B)
So,
PQ^2= (cos B-cos A)^2 + (sin B-sinA)^2
On simplifying:
PQ^2= 2 - 2(cos A cos B + sin A sin B)

But using cosine rule in POQ

PQ^2= 1^2 + 1^2 - 2( cos A - B)
PQ^2= 2 - 2( cos A - B)
Comparing the two results we have,
Cos (A B) = Cos A Cos B + Sin A Sin B

Help students memorise if expressed in

words
Cos(A-B)= Cosine of the difference is
product of
cosines plus product of
sines
Cos (A+B)= Cosine of the sum is the
product of the
cosines minus product of

 Incorrect values of special angles

Cos 60 and Sin 60 were given
incorrect
values by some candidates

45-45-90 degree

30-60-90
degree

Sin 45 =
1/2

Sin 30 =
1/2

Sin 60 =
3/2

Cos 45 =
1/2

Cos 30 =
3/2

Cos 60 = 1/2

Tan 45 = 1

Tan 60 = 3
Tan 30 =
1/3

30

45

60

Sin

Cos

/ by 2

30

45

60

Sin

1/2

3/2

Cos

3/2

1/2

Tan

1/3

Tan = Sin / Cos

 Evaluating
trig
functions
complementary angles

of

Failure to realise tan(90o - x) = tan

x

Tan x = A/B

sin (90-x) = cos x

Cos (90-x) = sin x

Tan (90- x) =
B/A
Tan (90-x)= 1/
tan x
Tan (90-x)=
cot x

sec (90 x) = cosec

x
Cosec (90-x)= sec x

 Finding solutions to trig function of

negative values
Students rejected tan x= -1 as
having no solutions

Important conclusion from graph

- y = tan x +
So, tan x = -1 has solutions

Outline the steps

Tan x = k
1. Find basic angle x for tan x = | k |
2. Find quadrants in which x lies
considering sign of k
3. Determine corresponding angles for
those quadrants

Graphical representation after

remembering steps

Conclusion
For effective teaching
Use concrete objects to help students
understanding of concepts, learn by doing
Instead of memorisation, have logical
understanding, for e.g. work through
derivations
Starting from basics, using prior knowledge
Incorporate technology, interact with tools