Contents
Introduction
1 Geometrical Foundations 1
The nature of geometry. Plane surfaces. Angles and
their measurement. Geometrical theorems; lines
and triangles. Quadrilaterals. The circle. Solid
geometry. Angles of elevation and depression.
2. Using your Calculator 28
Arithmetic and algebraic calculators. Rounding or
truncating calculators. Differing calculator displays.
Using your calculator for simple calculations. The
clear keys. Handling minus signs and negative
numbers. Calculations involving brackets. Using the
memory. Using other mathematical functions.
Functions and their inverses. Changing degrees to
degrees, minutes and seconds. Changing degrees to
radians. Finding trigonometrical functions. Finding
inverse trigonometrical functions.
3 The Trigonometrical Ratios 39
The tangent. Changes of tangents in the first
quadrant. Tables of tangents. Uses of tangents. The
sine and cosine. Changes of sines and cosines in the
first quadrant. Uses of sines and cosines. The
cosecant, secant and cotangent. Using your
calculator for other trigonometrical ratios. Graphs
of trigonometrical ratios. Uses of other
trigonometrical ratios. Solution of right-angled
triangles. Slope and gradient. Projections.vi Contents
4 Relations between the Trigonometrical Ratios
tan 9 = 2 8
cos 8
tan? 6 + 1 = sec’ 6
cot? @ + 1 = cosec’ 6
5 Ratios of Angles in the Second Quadrant
Positive and negative lines
Direction of rotation of angle
The sign convention for the hypotenuse
To find the ratio of angles in the second quadrant
from the tables
To find an angle when a ratio 1s given
The inverse notation
Graphs of the sine, cosine and tangent between 0°
and 360°
6 Trigonometrical Ratios of Compound Angles
sin (A + B) = sin Acos B + cos A sin B, ete
sin (A — B) = sin Acos B — cos A sin B, etc
tan (A + B) and tan (A — B) Multiple and sub-
multiple formulae Product formulae
7 Relations between the Sides and Angles of a Triangle
The sine rule The cosine rule The half-angle
sin? 6 + cos" 6 = 1
formulae Formula for sin 4 in terms of the sides
A
Formula for cos 7 in terms of the sides
Formula for tan $ 1n terms of the sides
Formula for sin A in terms of the sides
tan BSE = PZ co 4 a= bcos C + ccosB
8 The Solution of Triangles
Case I Three sides known Case II Two sides and
contained angle known Case III Two angles and a
side known Case IV The ambiguous case The
area of a triangle
9 Practical problems involving the Solution of
Triangles
Deteriaina'ion of the height of a disiant object
72
75
87
100
114
12710
i
12
Contents vu
Distance of an inaccessible object Distance
between two visible but inaccessible objects
Triangulation Worked examples
Circular Measure 141
Ratio of circumference of a circle to its diameter
The radian To find the circular measure of an
angle The length of an arc
Trigonometrical Ratios of Angles of any Magnitude 147
Angles in the 3rd and 4th quadrants
Variations in the sine between 0° and 360°
Variations in the cosine between 0° and 360°
Variations in the tangent between 0° and 360°
Ratios of angles greater than 360°
Ratios of (— 6)
Ratios of @ and (180° + 6)
Ratios of @ and (360° — @)
Angles with given trigonometnrical ratios
Trigonometrical Equations 164
Types of equations
The form a cos 8 — b sin @ =c
Summary of Trigonometrical Formulae 171
Tables 174
Answers 186Introduction
Two major difficulties present themselves when a book of this kind
is planned.
In the first place those who use it may desire to apply it in a
variety of ways and will be concerned with widely different
problems to which trigonometry supplies the solution.
In the second instance the previous mathematical training of its
readers will vary considerably.
To the first of these difficulties there can be but one solution.
The book can do no more than include those parts which are
fundamental and common to the needs of all who require
trigonometry to solve their problems. To attempt to deal with the
technical applications of the subject in so many different directions
would be impossible within the limits of a small volume.
Moreover, students of all kinds would find the book overloaded
by the inclusion of matter which, while useful to some, would be
unwanted by others.
Where it has been possible and desirable, the bearing of certain
sections of the subject upon technical problems has been indi-
cated, but, in general, the book aims at putting the student in a
position to apply to individual problems the principles, rules and
formulae which form the necessary basis for practical applications.
The second difficulty has been to decide what preliminary
mathematics should be included in the volume so that it may be
intelligible to those students whose previous mathematical equip-
ment is slight. The general aim of the volumes in the series is that,
as far as possible, they shall be self-contained. But in this volume
is obviously necessary to assume some previous mathematical
training. The study of trigonometry cannot be begun without a
knowledge of arithmetic, a certain amount of algebra, and some
acquaintance with the fundamentals of geometry.Introduction ix
It may safely be assumed that all who use this book will have a
sufficient knowledge of arithmetic. In algebra the student is
expected to have studied at least as much as is contained in the
volume in this series called Teach Yourself Algebra.
The use of an electronic calculator is essential and there can be
no progress in the application of trigonometry without having
access to a calculating aid. Accordingly chapter 2 is devoted to
using a calculator and unless you are reasonably proficient you
should not proceed with the rest of the book until you have
covered this work. Ideally a scientific calculator is required, but
since trigonometric tables are included at the end of the book, it
is in fact possible to cover the work using a simple four rule
calculator.
No explanation of graphs has been attempted in this volume. In
these days, however, when graphical illustrations enter so gene-
rally into our daily life, there can be few who are without some
knowledge of them, even if no study has been made of the
underlying mathematical principles. But, although graphs of
trigonometrical functions are included, they are not essential in
general to a working knowledge of the subject.
A certain amount of geometrical knowledge is necessary as a
foundation for the study of trigonometry, and possibly many who
use this book will have no previous acquaintance with geometry.
For them chapter | has been included. This chapter is in no sense
a course of geometry, or of geometrical reasoning, but merely a
brief descriptive account of geometrical terms and of certain
fundamental geometrical theorems which will make the succeed-
ing chapters more easily understood. It is not suggested that a
great deal of time should be spent on this part of the book, and
no exercises are included. It is desirable, however, that you make
yourself well acquainted with the subject-matter of it, so that you
are thoroughly familiar with the meanings of the terms employed
and acquire something of a working knowledge of the geometrical
theorems which are stated.
The real study of trigonometry begins with chapter 3, and from
that point until the end of chapter 9 there is very little that can be
omitted by any student. Perhaps the only exception is the ‘product
formulae’ in sections 86- 88. This section is necessary, however,
for the proof of the important formula of section 98, but a student
who is pressed for time and finds this part of the work
troublesome, may be content to assume the truth of it when
studying section 98. In chapter 9 you will reach what you mayx Introduction
consider the goal of elementary trigonometry, the ‘solution of the
triangle’ and its many applications, and there you may be content
to stop.
Chapters 10, 11 and 12 are not essential for all practical
applications of the subject, but some students, such as electrical
engineers and, of course, all who intend to proceed to more
advanced work, cannot afford to omit them. It may be noted that
previous to chapter 9 only angles which are not greater than 180°
have been considered, and these have been taken in two stages in
chapters 3 and S, so that the approach may be easier. Chapter 11
continues the work of these two chapters and generalises with a
treatment of angles of any magnitude.
The exercises throughout have been carefully graded and
selected in such a way as to provide the necessary amount of
manipulation. Most of them are straightforward and purposeful;
examples of academic interest or requiring special skill in
manipulation have, generally speaking, been excluded.
Trigonometry employs a comparatively large number of formu-
lae. The more important of these have been collected and printed
on pp. 171-173 in a convenient form for easy reference.