Application of Trigonometry

01
Height and Distance

Angle of Elevation
02
If O be the observer’s eye and OX be the horizontal line through O.
Properties of Triangles:-
t P
h Basic Rules of Triangle
f sig
eo
Lin In a triangle ABC, the angles are denoted by capital letters A, B and
C and the lengths of the sides opposite to these angles are denoted by
O X small letters a,b and c, respectively. Area and perimeter of a triangle
Horizontal line
are denoted by D and 2s respectively.
If the object P is at higher level than eye, then ∠POX is called the angle
of elevation. A

b
Angle of Depression c

If the object P is at lower level than O, then ∠POX is called the angle B C
of depression. a
Horizontal line a+b+c
O X Semi-perimeter of the trinalge is written as s =
q 2

Lin
eo
fs
igh
t P
03 04
Sine Rule and Cosine Formulae Trigonometrical Ratio of Half of The Angles of a Triganle

Sine Rule In any DABC, we have

The sides of a triangle (any type of triangle) are proportional A ( s − b)( s − c) B ( s − c)( s − a )
=
(i) sin = ,sin ,
to the sines of the angles opposite to them in triangle 2 bc 2 ac
a b c C ( s − a )( s − b)
ABC , = = sin =
sin A sin B sin C 2 ab
sin A sin B sin C
Note:- The above rule can also be written as = = A s( s − a) B s ( s − b) C s ( s − c)
a b c (ii)
= cos = ,cos = ,cos
2 bc 2 ac 2 ab
Cosine Formulae
A ( s − b)( s − c) B ( s − c)( s − a )
(iii)
= tan = , tan ,
In any 2 s( s − a) 2 s ( s − b)
b2 + c2 − a 2 c2 + a 2 − b2 a 2 + b2 − c2 C ( s − a )( s − b)
 ABC ,cos A
= = ,cos B = ,cos C tan =
2bc 2ac 2ab 2 s ( s − c)

Projection Formulae

In any DABC, a = b cos C + c cos B, b = c cos A + a cos C, c = a cos

B + b cos A
 06
Napier’s Analogy

In any triangle ABC,

05  B−C  b−c A
tan  = cot
Area of A Triangle  2  b+c 2
C − A c−a B
tan  = cot
If D be the area of a triangle ABC, then  2  c+a 2
 A− B  a −b C
1 1 1 tan  = cot
(i)=D bc sin A
= ca sin B
= ab sin C  2  a + b 2
2 2 2
1 a 2 sin B sin C 1 b 2 sin C sin A 1 c 2 sin A sin B
(ii)
= D = =
2 sin( B + C ) 2 sin(C + A) 2 sin( A + B )
(iii) =
D s ( s − a )( s − b)( s − c) (Heron’s formula)

Form above results, we obtain following values of sin A, sin B,

sin C,
07
(iv) 2D 2
sin A = = s ( s − a )( s − b)( s − c) Circumcircle of A Triangle
bc bc
2D 2
(v) sin B = = s ( s − a )( s − b)( s − c) a b c abc
ca ca =R = = =
2D 2 2sin A 2sin B 2sin C 4D
(vi) sin C = = s ( s − a )( s − b)( s − c)
ab ab a+b+c
Where D is area of triangle and s =
2
 08
Incircle of A Triangle

D
(i ) r =
S
 A B C 
(ii ) r =( s − a ) tan   , r =
( s − b) tan   and r =( s − c) tan  
2 2 2
 B C   A C   B   A
a sin   sin   b sin   sin   c sin   sin  
=(iii ) r =  2   2  ,r = 2   2  and r 2 2
 A B C 
cos   cos   cos  
2 2 2
 A B C 
(iv) r = 4 R sin   ⋅ sin   ⋅ sin  
2 2 2
 Questions

1. Looking from the top of a 20 m high building, the angle of elevation sin B cos C
of the top of a tower is 60° and the angle of depression of its bottom (a) (b)
sin C cos B
is 30°. What is the height of the tower?
cos B
(a) 50 m (b) 60 m (c) (d) None of these
(c) 70 m (d) 80 m cos C
sin B
2. The angle of elevation of the top of a flag post from a point 5 m away 7. In a DABC , cos A =, then the triangle is
2sin C
from its base is 75°. What is the approximate height of the flag post? (a) equilateral (b) isosceles
(a) 15 m (b) 17 m (b) right angled (d) None of these
(c) 19 m (d) 21 m
8. In DABC, if ∠A : ∠B : ∠C = 1 : 2 : 3, then what is BC : CA : AB ?
3. In a DABC, if sin A : sin C = sin (A – B) : sin (B – C), then
(a) a, b, c are in AP (b) a2, b2, c2 are in AP (a) 1 : 2 : 3 (b) 1: 3 : 2
(c) a , b , c are in GP
2 2 2
(d) None of the above (c) 2 : 3 :1 (d) 3 :1: 2

A C 1 9. The angles A, B, C of a triangle are in the ratio 2 : 5 : 5. What is the

4. In a DABC, if tan tan = , then a, b and c are in
2 2 2 value of tan B tan C?
(a) AP (b) GP
(c) HP (d) None of these (a) 4 + 3 (b) 4 + 2 3
(c) 7 + 4 3 (d) 3 + 3 3
5. If a DABC, (b – c) sin A + (c – a) sin B + (a – b) sin C is
(a) ab + bc + ca (b) a2 + b2 + c2
10. If A, B and C are angles of a triangle such that tan A = 1, tan B = 2,
(c) 0 (d) None ot these
then what is the value of tan C ?
(a) 0 (b) 1
b − c cos A
6. In a DABC , is equal to (c) 2 (d) 3
c − b cos A
 Answer Key

1. (d)

2. (c)

3. (b)

4. (d)

5. (c)

6. (b)

7. (b)

8. (b)

9. (c)

10. (c)