Functions of a Right Triangle

From the right triangle shown below,

the trigonometric functions of angle θ are defined as follows:

sinθ=oppositesidehypotenuse=acsin⁡θ=oppositesidehypotenuse=ac
cosθ=adjacentsidehypotenuse=bccos⁡θ=adjacentsidehypotenuse=bc
tanθ=oppositesideadjacentside=abtan⁡θ=oppositesideadjacentside=ab
cscθ=hypotenuseoppositeside=cacsc⁡θ=hypotenuseoppositeside=ca
secθ=hypotenuseadjacentside=cbsec⁡θ=hypotenuseadjacentside=cb
cotθ=adjacentsideoppositeside=bacot⁡θ=adjacentsideoppositeside=ba

The above relationships can be written into acronym soh-cah-toa-cho-sha-cao.

1. soh = sine of theta is equal to opposite side over the hypotenuse.
2. cah = cosine of theta is equal to adjacent side over the hypotenuse.
3. toa = tangent of theta is equal to opposite side over the adjacent side.
4. cho = cosecant of theta is equal to hypotenuse over the opposite side.
5. sha = secant of theta is equal to hypotenuse over the adjacent side.
6. cao = cotangent of theta is equal to adjacent side over the opposite side.
See how these relationships were used to derive the Pythagorean identities.