Question

Soh cah toa...does anyone know this?

Answer 1

SOH: Sin(θ) = Opposite / Hypotenuse

CAH: Cos(θ) = Adjacent / Hypotenuse

TOA: Tan(θ) = Opposite / Adjacent

Explanation:

So how do we remember these three trig ratios and use them to solve for missing sides and angles?

First, we remember how the sides of a right triangle are labeled:

Opposite Leg

Adjacent Leg

Hypotenuse

The opposite leg is opposite one of the acute angles, the adjacent leg is next to the acute angle, and the hypotenuse is opposite the right angle, or as Math is Fun nicely states, it’s the long one.

opposite adjacent hypotenuse diagram

Right Triangle Diagram

Then we use the mnemonic device we talk about earlier: SOHCAHTOA!

So how do we remember these three trig ratios and use them to solve for missing sides and angles?

First, we remember how the sides of a right triangle are labeled:

Opposite Leg

Adjacent Leg

Hypotenuse

The opposite leg is opposite one of the acute angles, the adjacent leg is next to the acute angle, and the hypotenuse is opposite the right angle, or as Math is Fun nicely states, it’s the long one.

opposite adjacent hypotenuse diagram

Right Triangle Diagram

Then we use the mnemonic device we talk about earlier: SOHCAHTOA!