Complementary Angles
Concept
Complementary angles are angles that add up to 90 . In this course, we shall
look at how complementary angles are derived and make it easier for you to learn
about them in class. For complementary angles, the trigonometry function changes
when it is simplified.
Sine Cosine
Tangent Cotangent
Secant Cosecant
This means that the sine function will change to a cosine function. Tangent and
secant functions will change accordingly as seen above. The purpose of the
complementary angles equation is to reduce it to a trigonometry function with only
? in it. Let's take sine as an example.
1) Like supplementary angles, we look at the quadrant at which lies in .
It's in the 3rd quadrant
2) By looking at the ‘ASTC' diagram (check it at trig ratio ) , we determine the sign
(+ve or –ve ) for that particular trigonometry function at that angle. In this case,
it's negative.
3) Thus we would be able to deduce sine = - cosine by switching to its
corresponding trigonometry function and adding the negative sign.
Other complementary angles can be found in this manner. As such , if you fail to
memorise them in exams, you can choose to derive it on the spot. However, we
have also put up a list of complementary angles for your convenience.
List of Complementary Angles
sine = cosine
sine = cosine
sine = - cosine
sine = - cosine
secant = cosecant
secant = -cosecant
secant = - cosecant
secant = cosecant
tangent = cotangent
tangent = - cotangent
tangent = cotangent
tangent = - cotangent
Remember that these formulas would also hold for cosine ,cotangent and
cosecant. Replace the above complementary angle formulas with their respective
related trigonometry functions and you would get the complementary angles for
those terms.
For instance , cotangent = tangent .
Special Right Triangles
A triangle with one right angle is called a right triangle. The side opposite
the right angle is called the hypotenuse of the triangle. The other two
sides are called legs. The other two angles have no special name, but
they are always complementary. Do you see why? The total angle sum of
a triangle is 180 degrees, and the right angle is 90 degrees, so the other
two must sum to 90 degrees.
Figure %: A right triangle
The triangle above has side c as its hypotenuse, sides a and b as its legs, and angle C
as its right angle. Angles A and B are complementary.
There are two types of right triangles that every mathematician should
know very well. One is the right triangle formed when an altitude is drawn
from a vertex of an equilateral triangle, forming two congruent right
triangles. The angles of the triangle will be 30, 60, and 90 degrees, giving
the triangle its name: 30-60-90 triangle. The ratio of side lengths in such
triangles is always the same: if the leg opposite the 30 degree angle is of
length x , the leg opposite the 60 degree angle will be of x , and the
hypotenuse across from the right angle will be 2x . Here is a 30-60-90
triangle pictured below.
Figure %: A 30-60-90 triangle
The other common right triangle results from the pair of triangles created
when a diagonal divides a square into two triangles. Each of these
triangles is congruent, and has angles of measures 45, 45, and 90
degrees. If the legs opposite the 45 degree angles are of length x , the
hypotenuse has a length of x . This ratio holds true for all 45-45-90
triangles. 45-45-90 triangles are also often called isosceles right triangles.
Figure %: A 45-45-90 triangle
One last characteristic to note is that the legs of a right triangle are also
altitudes of the triangle. Therefore, the area of a right triangle is one-half
the product of the lengths of its legs.
The 30 60 90 Special Right Triangle
The picture below illustrates the general formula for the 30 60 90 Triangle.
General Formula
Specific Examples
45 45 90 Special Right Triangle
Some Sepcific Examples
Special right triangle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"90-45-45 triangle" redirects here. For the drawing tool, see 90-45-45 set square.
"30-60-90 triangle" redirects here. For the drawing tool, see 30-60-90 set square.
Position of some special triangles in an Euler diagramof types of triangles, using the definition that
isosceles triangles have at least two equal sides, i.e. equilateral triangles are isosceles.
A special right triangle is a right triangle with some regular feature that makes calculations on
the triangle easier, or for which simple formulas exist. For example, a right triangle may have angles that form
simple relationships, such as 45°–45°–90°. This is called an "angle-based" right triangle. A "side-based" right
triangle is one in which the lengths of the sides form ratios of whole numbers, such as 3 : 4 : 5, or of other special
numbers such as the golden ratio. Knowing the relationships of the angles or ratios of sides of these special right
triangles allows one to quickly calculate various lengths in geometric problems without resorting to more
advanced methods.
