Trig formulas

Here you will learn about trig formulas, or trigonometry formulas, including the three trigonometric functions; the sine function, Sin, the cosine function, Cos, and the tangent function, Tan.

You will also look at the inverse trigonometric functions, the sine rule, cosine rule, and the trigonometric formula for the area of a triangle.

Students will first learn about trig formulas as part of trigonometric functions in high school.

What are trig formulas?

Trig formulas, or trigonometry formulas, are formulas that are used to represent relationships between the parts of a triangle including the side lengths, angles and the area.

To solve problems using trig formulas, you need to be able to use the information provided to deduce which trigonometric formula you need to use.

What are trig formulas?

Trigonometry formulas for right-angled triangles

Basic trigonometry focuses on the right-angled triangle.

The three trigonometric functions you use are sine (sin), cosine (cos) and tangent (tan). These three functions relate an angle to two sides of a right-angled triangle, giving us the three trigonometric ratios.

The letter x represents a value, hence, f(x) is a function of the value x.

The symbol \theta represents the angle.

The letter O represents the opposite side to the angle \theta.

The letter A represents the adjacent side to the angle \theta.

The letter H represents the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle (which is always the side of the triangle facing the right-angle). Also known as the longest side of the triangle.

Step-by-step guide: SOHCAHTOA

Inverse trigonometric functions

When you know two of the three sides of a right angled triangle and you want to find a missing angle, you need to use inverse trigonometric functions. The three inverse trigonometric functions are:

Step-by-step guide: Trig functions

Trigonometric formulas in non-right angled triangles

You can use trigonometry in all types of triangles including scalene, equilateral and isosceles.

Sine rule

The sine rule (sometimes called the law of sines) is the relationship between the sine of an angle, and the side opposite that angle.

More specifically the ratio of the sine of an angle and the opposing side to that angle is the same for all three angles / sides. As a formula, this is written as

\cfrac{a}{\sin{A}}=\cfrac{b}{\sin{B}}=\cfrac{c}{\sin{C}}

Where a, \, b, and c are the three sides of a triangle, and A, \, B, and C are the angles that face their opposing side (see the diagram below).

Notice that the upper case letters denote the angles, and the lower case letters denote the side lengths where a is opposite A, \, b is opposite B, and c is opposite C.

The equation above shows how all three side lengths, divided by the sine of the angle facing that side, are the same value. You only need to work with a pair of letters, giving us the working formula for the law of sines.

\cfrac{a}{\sin{A}}=\cfrac{b}{\sin{B}}

You can use the sine rule to find:

• a missing side using this arrangement of the formula.
  
  \cfrac{a}{\sin{A}}=\cfrac{b}{\sin{B}}
  By rearranging the formula to make the unknown side a the subject, you have
  
  a=\cfrac{b\sin{A}}{\sin{B}}

• a missing angle using this arrangement of the formula.
  
  \cfrac{\sin{A}}{a}=\cfrac{\sin{B}}{b}
  By rearranging the formula to make the unknown angle A the subject, you have
  
  A=\sin^{-1}\left(\cfrac{a\sin{B}}{b}\right)

Step-by-step guide: Law of sines

For example,

Below is a non-right angled triangle. You can use the law of sines to find the length AB.

Cosine rule

The cosine rule (sometimes called the law of cosines ) is the relationship between the cosine of an angle, and all three sides of the triangle.

As a formula, this is written as

a^{2}=b^{2}+c^{2}-2bc\cos(A)

Where a, \, b, and c are the three sides of a triangle, and A is the angle between the two sides of b and c (see the diagram below).

Notice that the upper case A is an angle, and the lower case letters are the side lengths where a is opposite A, and b and c are the two sides that surround the angle A.

You need to use the cosine rule when you don’t know one of the four values of a, \, b, \, c, or A.

You can use the cosine rule to find

• a missing side by using this arrangement of the formula,
  
  a^{2}=b^{2}+c^{2}-2bc\cos(A)

• a missing angle by using this arrangement of the formula,
  
  A=\cos^{-1}\left(\cfrac{b^{2}+c^{2}-a^{2}}{2bc}\right)

Step-by-step guide: Law of cosines

For example,

Below is a non-right angled triangle. You can use the law of cosine to find the length BC.

Area of a triangle

You can calculate the area of any triangle if you need to know two sides and the included angle between those two sides. The formula is

A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, ab\sin(C)

Where C is the angle between the two sides of a and b (see the diagram below).

You can also find a missing angle knowing the area of the triangle and by rearranging the formula to find the angle C.

C=\sin^{-1}\left(\cfrac{2A}{ab}\right)

You can find a missing side length knowing the area of the triangle and rearranging the formula to find a missing side length a.

a=\cfrac{2A}{b\sin(C)}

For example,

You can find the area of the triangle below using the trigonometric formula for the area of any triangle.

Choosing the correct trigonometric formula

In order to determine which trigonometric formula you need to use, the flow chart below can help you decide.

Remembering that, to find the area of any triangle, you can use the sine rule for area.

Common Core State Standards

How does this relate to high school math?

• High School – Functions – Trigonometric Functions (HSF.TF.A.3)
  Use special triangles to determine geometrically the values of sine, cosine, tangent for \pi/3, \, \pi/4 and \pi/6, and use the unit circle to express the values of sine, cosine, and tangent for x, \, \pi+x, and 2\pi-x in terms of their values for x, where x is any real number.

How to solve problems using trigonometry formulas

In order to solve problems using trigonometry formulas:

1. Determine which trigonometry formula is needed to answer the question.
2. Label each side and angle appropriately.
3. Substitute known values into the formula.
4. Solve for the unknown value.

Trigonometry formulas examples

Example 1: SOHCAHTOA (missing side)

Calculate the length of the side labeled x. Write your answer correctly to the nearest hundredth.

1. Determine which trigonometry formula is needed to answer the question.

Using the flowchart,

This means that you need to use either of the three trig ratios of sine, cosine or tangent. You can work out which one in the next step.

2Label each side and angle appropriately.

From the angle of 20^{\circ},

• the side opposite the angle O=10 \, cm,
• the hypotenuse H=x \, cm,
• the adjacent side has no value and so is not used.

As you know the opposite side and you want to find the hypotenuse, the trigonometric ratio that you have to use is \sin(\theta)=\cfrac{O}{H}.

Here, you used the abbreviation SOHCAHTOA, where SOH is the sine ratio S, of the opposite O, and the hypotenuse H.

3Substitute known values into the formula.

As O=10, \, H=x, and \theta=20, substituting these values into the formula \sin(\theta)=\cfrac{O}{H}, you have

4Solve for the unknown value.

Multiplying both sides by x gives us

Dividing both sides by \sin(20) gives us

This means that the length x=29.24\text{ cm (nearest hundredth)}

Example 2: SOHCAHTOA (missing angle)

Determine the size of the missing angle, marked \theta in the triangle below. Write your answer correctly to the nearest hundredth.

Determine which trigonometry formula is needed to answer the question.

Using the flowchart,

This means that you need to use either of the three trig ratios of sine, cosine or tangent. You can work out which one in the next step.

Label each side and angle appropriately.

From the angle of \theta,

• the side adjacent to the angle A=2 \, m,
• the hypotenuse H=2.8 \, m,
• the opposite side has no value and so is not used.
  
  

As you know the adjacent side and the hypotenuse, the trigonometric ratio that you have to use is \cos(\theta)=\cfrac{A}{H}.

However, as you need to find the missing angle, you need to use the inverse trigonometric formula \theta=\cos^{-1}\left(\cfrac{A}{H}\right).

Here, you used the abbreviation SOHCAHTOA, where CAH is the cosine ratio C, of the adjacent A, and the hypotenuse H.

Example 3: SOHCAHTOA

Determine the missing length x of the right-angled triangle below. Write your answer to the nearest hundredth.

Determine which trigonometry formula is needed to answer the question.

Using the flowchart,

This means that you need to use either of the three trig ratios of sine, cosine or tangent. You can work out which one in the next step.

Label each side and angle appropriately.

From the angle of 15^{\circ},

• the side adjacent to the angle A=7 \, cm,
• the opposite side to the angle O=x \, cm,
• the hypotenuse has no value and so is not used.
  
  

As you know the opposite side and the adjacent side, the trigonometric ratio that you have to use is \tan(\theta)=\cfrac{O}{A}.

Here, you used the abbreviation SOHCAHTOA, where TOA is the tangent ratio T, of the opposite O, and the adjacent A.

Example 4: cosine rule

Determine the length of the side labeled x for the triangle below. Write your answer correctly to the nearest hundredth.

Determine which trigonometry formula is needed to answer the question.

Using the flowchart,

For this question, you can only use the cosine rule (the law of cosines), a^{2}=b^{2}+c^{2}-2bc\cos(A).

Label each side and angle appropriately.

From the angle at A of 27^{\circ},

• the side b next to the angle A is b=15 \, cm,
• the side c next to the angle A is c=10 \, cm,
• the side a opposite the angle A is a=x \, cm,
• the angles at B and C have no values and so they are not used.
  
  

Example 5: sine rule

Determine the size of the missing angle \theta. Write your answer to the nearest hundredth.

Determine which trigonometry formula is needed to answer the question.

Using the flowchart,

For this question, you can only use the sine rule (the law of sines), \cfrac{a}{\sin{A}}=\cfrac{b}{\sin{B}}=\cfrac{c}{\sin{C}}.

Label each side and angle appropriately.

From the angle at A of \theta,

• the side a opposite the angle A is a=6.5 \, mm,
• the side b next to the angle A is b=7 \, mm,
• the angle at B=52^{\circ},
• the angle at C and the length of side c have no values and so they are not used.
  
  

Example 6: area using trigonometry formulae

Calculate the area of the triangle below. Write your answer correctly to the nearest hundredth.

Label each side and angle appropriately.

From the angle at C of 39^{\circ},

• the side a next to the angle C is a=5 \, cm,
• the side b next to the angle C is b=7 \, cm,
• the angles at B and C and the length of side c have no values and so they are not used.
  
  

Teaching tips for trig formulas

• Make sure students understand the fundamental trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine, tangent) and their relationships in right-angled triangles before diving into formulas.

• Use graphing calculators or software to demonstrate how trigonometry functions work. Interactive apps and online graphing tools can make learning more dynamic.

• Show how key formulas like the Pythagorean identity (expressing the Pythagorean theorem in terms of trigonometric functions), angle sum and difference formulas, and double-angle formulas are derived. Understanding these derivations helps students see the connections between the formulas.

• Periodically review trigonometric identities and formulas with quick quizzes, group activities, or games. This helps reinforce the concepts and ensures that students retain the information.

Easy mistakes to make

• Labeling a triangle incorrectly
  For example, this triangle has been incorrectly labeled with the side c next to the angle rather than opposite it.
  
  

• Using the incorrect trigonometric function
  If the triangle is incorrectly labeled, it can lead to the use of the incorrect standard or inverse trigonometric functions and formulae.

• Rounding the decimal too early
  Always use as many decimal places as possible throughout the calculation, then round the final solution.

• Using the sine rule instead of the cosine rule
  In order to use the sine rule, you need to have pairs of opposite angles and sides.

• Not using the included angle
  For the cosine rule and the area of a triangle using A=\cfrac{1}{2} \, ab\sin(C), the angle is included between the two sides. Using any other angle will result in an incorrect solution.

• Using \textbf{A}=\textbf{b} \times \textbf{h} \div \bf{2}
  If the vertical height of a triangle is not available then you cannot calculate the area by halving the base times the height.

• Using the inverse trig function instead, inducing a mathematical error
  If the inverse trig function is used instead of the standard trig function, the calculator may return a math error as the solution does not exist.

• Trigonometry can only be used in right-angled triangles
  The use of trigonometry does not have to be limited to a right-angled triangle where all angles are acute angles. You can also use the law of cosines, the law of sines, and the area of a triangle using the sine rule on triangles that are not right-angled.

Related trigonometry lessons

• Trigonometry
• How to find the exact value of a trig function
• Sin cos tan
• Trig formula for area of a triangle
• Trig identities
• Trig table

The next lessons are

• Circle math
• Sectors arcs and segments
• Circle theorems

Still stuck?

At Third Space Learning, we specialize in helping teachers and school leaders to provide personalized math support for more of their students through high-quality, online one-on-one math tutoring delivered by subject experts.

Each week, our tutors support thousands of students who are at risk of not meeting their grade-level expectations, and help accelerate their progress and boost their confidence.

Find out how we can help your students achieve success with our math tutoring programs.