LOOKING AT TRIGONOMETRY A
COMMON SENSE APPROACH
Let's take a common sense approach looking at right angle triangles
and how trigonometry is used. Every book you learned from probably
dealt with terms like side adjacent, side opposite, etc. etc...
Well I am going to use easy terms like longer leg, larger angle and
so on. Sorry you will still have to know what the hypotenuse is.
Remember that it is the longest side of a right angle triangle.
and how trigonometry is used. Every book you learned from probably
dealt with terms like side adjacent, side opposite, etc. etc...
Well I am going to use easy terms like longer leg, larger angle and
so on. Sorry you will still have to know what the hypotenuse is.
Remember that it is the longest side of a right angle triangle.
NOTICE THESE THINGS: The term larger angle means larger than the
smaller not larger than the 90 degree angle. The 90 degree angle is
always the largest angle of the three. The larger angle and the
smaller angle added together always equal 90 degrees. The Legs
(Shorter and Longer) are always next to the 90 degree angle. The
Hypotenuse is on the opposite side of the 90 degree angle and next
to the smaller and larger angle. Notice how the shorter leg is
opposite the smaller angle (Makes sense doesn't it?), and the longer
leg is opposite the larger angle. One more thing, if the smaller or
the larger angle is equal to 45 degrees then we cannot call them
larger or smaller because they will be the same size. We will have
an isosceles right angle triangle. No wonder the tangent of 45
degrees is equal to one (the legs will be a one to one ratio to each
other).
smaller not larger than the 90 degree angle. The 90 degree angle is
always the largest angle of the three. The larger angle and the
smaller angle added together always equal 90 degrees. The Legs
(Shorter and Longer) are always next to the 90 degree angle. The
Hypotenuse is on the opposite side of the 90 degree angle and next
to the smaller and larger angle. Notice how the shorter leg is
opposite the smaller angle (Makes sense doesn't it?), and the longer
leg is opposite the larger angle. One more thing, if the smaller or
the larger angle is equal to 45 degrees then we cannot call them
larger or smaller because they will be the same size. We will have
an isosceles right angle triangle. No wonder the tangent of 45
degrees is equal to one (the legs will be a one to one ratio to each
other).
No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted, or stored, in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without
the prior written permission of SheetMetalWorkBook.com
Sixth Edition Reformatted for Internet
©2012 SheetMetalWorkBook.com
