trigonometry

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Branch of mathematics that concerns finding lengths and angles in triangles. In a right-angled triangle the sides and angles are related by three trigonometric ratios: sine, cosine, and tangent. Trigonometry is used frequently in navigation, surveying, and simple harmonic motion in physics.

Using trigonometry, it is possible to calculate the lengths of the sides and the sizes of the angles of a right-angled triangle as long as one angle and the length of one side are known, or the lengths of two sides. The longest side, which is always opposite to the right angle, is called the hypotenuse. The other sides are named depending on their position relating to the angle that is to be found or used: the side opposite this angle is always termed opposite and that adjacent is the adjacent. So the following trigonometric ratios are used:

sine = opposite/hypotenuse

cosine = adjacent/hypotenuse

tangent = opposite/adjacent

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