Finding Missing Sides and Angles in Right Triangles

Front

What is a right triangle?

Back

A right triangle is a triangle that has one angle measuring 90 degrees.

Front

What is the Pythagorean theorem?

Back

The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (c) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (a and b): c² = a² + b².

Front

How do you find the length of a missing side in a right triangle?

Back

Use the Pythagorean theorem: if you know the lengths of two sides, you can find the third side.

Front

What is the sine function in relation to a right triangle?

Back

The sine of an angle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse.

Front

What is the cosine function in relation to a right triangle?

Back

The cosine of an angle is the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the hypotenuse.

Front

What is the tangent function in relation to a right triangle?

Back

The tangent of an angle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side.

Front

How do you find an angle in a right triangle using trigonometric ratios?

Back

Use the inverse trigonometric functions: sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, or tan⁻¹, depending on the known sides.

Front

What is the sum of the angles in any triangle?

Back

The sum of the angles in any triangle is always 180 degrees.

Front

If one angle in a right triangle is 30 degrees, what is the measure of the other non-right angle?

Back

The other non-right angle must be 60 degrees, since 30 + 60 + 90 = 180.

Front

What is the relationship between the angles and sides in a right triangle?

Back

The larger the angle, the longer the opposite side; the smaller the angle, the shorter the opposite side.