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): a² + b² = c².

Front

What is the sine function?

Back

The sine function (sin) is a trigonometric function defined as the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle.

Front

What is the cosine function?

Back

The cosine function (cos) is a trigonometric function defined as the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle.

Front

What is the tangent function?

Back

The tangent function (tan) is a trigonometric function defined as the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the adjacent side in a right triangle.

Front

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

Back

You can use the Pythagorean theorem or trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine, tangent) depending on the information given.

Front

What is the formula for sine in a right triangle?

Back

sin(θ) = opposite/hypotenuse.

Front

What is the formula for cosine in a right triangle?

Back

cos(θ) = adjacent/hypotenuse.

Front

What is the formula for tangent in a right triangle?

Back

tan(θ) = opposite/adjacent.

Front

If one angle in a right triangle is 45 degrees, what are the measures of the other angles?

Back

The other angles are 45 degrees and 90 degrees.