Answer with step-by-step explanation:
Hi there! The Sine, Cosine, and Tangent functions have many different uses and there are various circumstances where you can use them. They are generally used for trigonometry.
Let's start with basic trigonometry for a right triangle. This is likely where these functions were introduced to you.
For any right triangle:
The sine of an angle is equal to its opposite side divided by the hypotenuse of the triangle (o/h).
The cosine of an angle is equal to its adjacent side divided by the hypotenuse of the triangle (a/h).
The tangent of an angle is equal to its opposite side divided by its adjacent side (o/a).
Any angle's "opposite" side is defined by the side the angle creates or is opposite to the opening of the angle. The adjacent side of an angle is defined by the side that touches/forms the angle that is not the hypotenuse. The hypotenuse is always defined as the longest side of a right triangle.
Oftentimes, students used the phrase "SOH-CAH-TOA" to remember this. The abbreviation simply stands for "Sin-Opposite-Hypotenuse || Cos-Adjacent-Hypotenuse || Tan-Opposite-Adjacent". Regardless of how you remember it, it is crucial to note that this only works for a right triangle.
These are just the basics, but you'll work with sine, cosine, and tangent as you learn about the Unit Circle, Law of Sines, Law of Cosines, sinusoidal functions, the graphs they make, and more.