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Secondary 4 · Mathematics
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Using the Calculator

Before you start, make sure you know: The sexagesimal numeral system (Secondary Year 2 (first cycle))
Before you start, make sure you know: Approximation and rounding (Secondary Year 2 (first cycle))

An engineer at the Ministry of Public Works wants to know how much a 10 m long access ramp rises if it climbs 1 m in height. What angle does it make with the ground? With a ruler and a protractor it would not be very precise. With the calculator you get it in seconds, but only if you press the right keys and have it in the right mode. Come back to this question at the end of the page.

Direct ratios: sin, cos, tan

In a right triangle, for an acute angle $\alpha$:

$$\sin\alpha=\frac{\text{opposite leg}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\qquad \cos\alpha=\frac{\text{adjacent leg}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\qquad \tan\alpha=\frac{\text{opposite leg}}{\text{adjacent leg}}$$ Right triangle with angle alpha, the opposite leg, the adjacent leg, and the hypotenuse labeled. α adjacent leg opposite hypotenuse

Except for special angles ($30^\circ$, $45^\circ$, $60^\circ$), these values are not computed by hand: you use the calculator.

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Calculate, using your calculator and rounding to four decimal places, the value of the following direct trigonometric ratios: $\sin 34^\circ$, $\cos 78^\circ$, and…

Calculate, using your calculator and rounding to four decimal places, the value of the following direct trigonometric ratios: $\sin 34^\circ$, $\cos 78^\circ$, and $\tan 12^\circ$.

Solve
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Calculate the numerical value of the following trigonometric expression, rounding the final result to two decimal places:…

Calculate the numerical value of the following trigonometric expression, rounding the final result to two decimal places:

$E = \frac{\sin 35^\circ + \cos 55^\circ}{\tan 40^\circ}$

Solve

Degrees, minutes, and seconds

An angle such as $37^\circ42'15''$ has $37$ degrees, $42$ minutes, and $15$ seconds, with $1^\circ=60'$ and $1'=60''$ (the sexagesimal system). The calculator has a $\boxed{^\circ\,'\,''}$ key for entering these angles and for displaying a result in that format.

Typical sequence for $25^\circ30'$: $25\;\boxed{^\circ\,'\,''}\;30\;\boxed{^\circ\,'\,''}$ and then the ratio.

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Find the value of the following trigonometric ratios, expressing the result to three decimal places. Make sure you correctly enter degrees, minutes, and seconds into…

Find the value of the following trigonometric ratios, expressing the result to three decimal places. Make sure you correctly enter degrees, minutes, and seconds into your calculator: $\sin(45^\circ 12' 30'')$, $\cos(12^\circ 5')$, and $\tan(89^\circ 0' 10'')$.

Solve
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A surveyor measures an angle of inclination on a slope of $14^\circ 25'$. Calculate the tangent of this angle to four decimal places to find the gradient coefficient of…

A surveyor measures an angle of inclination on a slope of $14^\circ 25'$. Calculate the tangent of this angle to four decimal places to find the gradient coefficient of the land.

Solve

Inverse functions: from the value to the angle

If you know the ratio and are looking for the angle, you use the inverse function: $\sin^{-1}$, $\cos^{-1}$, or $\tan^{-1}$ (also called $\arcsin$, $\arccos$, $\arctan$). You get them with $\boxed{\text{SHIFT}}$ or $\boxed{\text{2ndF}}$ and the ratio key. The result comes out in decimals; with the $\boxed{^\circ\,'\,''}$ key you convert it to degrees, minutes, and seconds.

When the ratio is the cotangent

The calculator has no $\cot^{-1}$. Since $\cot\gamma=\dfrac{1}{\tan\gamma}$, if $\cot\gamma=k$ then $\tan\gamma=\dfrac{1}{k}$, and you use $\tan^{-1}$ with that value.

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Use the inverse calculator function to find the acute angle $\alpha$, expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds, given that $\sin \alpha = 0.456$.

Use the inverse calculator function to find the acute angle $\alpha$, expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds, given that $\sin \alpha = 0.456$.

Solve
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Determine the acute angle $\beta$ in degrees, minutes, and seconds, given that its tangent is $\tan \beta = 2.15$.

Determine the acute angle $\beta$ in degrees, minutes, and seconds, given that its tangent is $\tan \beta = 2.15$.

Solve
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On a warehouse loading ramp, the total length of the ramp is $15 \text{ m}$ and the vertical height it covers is $2.5 \text{ m}$. Calculate the angle of inclination of…

On a warehouse loading ramp, the total length of the ramp is $15 \text{ m}$ and the vertical height it covers is $2.5 \text{ m}$. Calculate the angle of inclination of the ramp with respect to the horizontal, expressing it in degrees and minutes.

Solve

Reciprocal ratios: sec, csc, and cot

Most scientific calculators do not have a key for them. You compute $\cos$, $\sin$, or $\tan$ and then press $\boxed{x^{-1}}$ (or $\boxed{1/x}$). For example, $\sec\alpha$ is $\boxed{\cos}\;\alpha\;\boxed{=}\;\boxed{x^{-1}}$.

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Calculate, rounding to three decimal places, the value of the reciprocal trigonometric ratios $\sec 55^\circ$, $\csc 20^\circ$, and $\cot 70^\circ$. Remember to use the…

Calculate, rounding to three decimal places, the value of the reciprocal trigonometric ratios $\sec 55^\circ$, $\csc 20^\circ$, and $\cot 70^\circ$. Remember to use the fundamental reciprocal identities on your calculator.

Solve
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Given that $\sec \alpha = 1.8$ and that $\alpha$ is an acute angle, use the calculator to find first the value of $\alpha$ in degrees, minutes, and seconds, and then…

Given that $\sec \alpha = 1.8$ and that $\alpha$ is an acute angle, use the calculator to find first the value of $\alpha$ in degrees, minutes, and seconds, and then calculate the value of $\sin \alpha$ rounded to three decimal places.

Solve
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In a mechanical pulley system, the tension $T$ (in Newtons) of a drive belt is given by the formula $T = 500 \times \csc(22^\circ 30')$. Calculate the value of tension…

In a mechanical pulley system, the tension $T$ (in Newtons) of a drive belt is given by the formula $T = 500 \times \csc(22^\circ 30')$. Calculate the value of tension $T$ rounding to two decimal places, detailing what equivalent operations you enter into the calculator to obtain the cosecant.

Solve

Degrees or radians

Angles can also be measured in radians: one full turn is $360^\circ$ or $2\pi$ radians. The calculator has a mode for each unit (DEG and RAD), and you have to switch it according to what the problem asks.

Circle with the equivalences 90 degrees equals pi over two radians and 360 degrees equals two pi radians. 90° = π/2 rad 180° = π rad 360° = 2π rad
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Express in radians the following angles given in degrees, using the value of $\pi$ on your calculator and rounding to three decimal places: $40^\circ$, $115^\circ$, and…

Express in radians the following angles given in degrees, using the value of $\pi$ on your calculator and rounding to three decimal places: $40^\circ$, $115^\circ$, and $250^\circ$.

Solve
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Calculate the value of $\sin(1,2)$ and $\cos(0,8)$ assuming that the angles are in radians. Express the result to four decimal places after correctly setting your…

Calculate the value of $\sin(1,2)$ and $\cos(0,8)$ assuming that the angles are in radians. Express the result to four decimal places after correctly setting your calculator mode.

Solve
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Calculate the value of the acute angle $\gamma$ in radians (rounding to three decimal places) if its cotangent is $\cot \gamma = 0.65$.

Calculate the value of the acute angle $\gamma$ in radians (rounding to three decimal places) if its cotangent is $\cot \gamma = 0.65$.

Solve

Problems with right triangles

To measure heights and distances that cannot be reached, we use angles of elevation (upward from the horizontal) and angles of depression (downward from the horizontal).

Vertical pole with its shadow on the ground and the angle of elevation of the sun measured at the end of the shadow. α height h shadow
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In an architectural project, a roof has a pitch of $28\%$. Given that the percentage pitch is equal to the tangent of the angle of inclination multiplied by $100$, use…

In an architectural project, a roof has a pitch of $28\%$. Given that the percentage pitch is equal to the tangent of the angle of inclination multiplied by $100$, use the calculator to find this angle in degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Solve
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A phone mast casts a shadow of $34.5 \text{ m}$ on horizontal ground when the sun is at an angle of elevation of $42^\circ 15'$. Calculate the height of the mast,…

A phone mast casts a shadow of $34.5 \text{ m}$ on horizontal ground when the sun is at an angle of elevation of $42^\circ 15'$. Calculate the height of the mast, rounding to one decimal place.

42° 15' 34.5 m h = ?
Solve
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An airplane is flying at a constant altitude of $10,500 \text{ m}$. The pilot observes two cities aligned in the same direction ahead of him. The nearer city is seen at…

An airplane is flying at a constant altitude of $10,500 \text{ m}$. The pilot observes two cities aligned in the same direction ahead of him. The nearer city is seen at an angle of depression of $34^\circ 12'$ and the further city at an angle of depression of $18^\circ 45'$. Calculate the exact distance between the two cities using the calculator, rounding to the nearest meter.

Airplane 10.500 m City A City B 34° 12' 18° 45' d = ?
Solve

Formulas, equations, and identities

The calculator is also useful for evaluating formulas from physics and engineering. Compute everything at once, without rounding before the end.

Equations with one ratio

Between $0^\circ$ and $360^\circ$, the equation $\sin x=k$ (with $0two solutions: the one the calculator gives, $x_1$, and $x_2=180^\circ-x_1$. The calculator only shows the first one.

Identities

Since $\sin^2\alpha+\cos^2\alpha=1$, if you know the cosine of an acute angle, its sine is $\sqrt{1-\cos^2\alpha}$. For example, if $\cos\alpha=0.8$: $\sin\alpha=\sqrt{1-0.64}=\sqrt{0.36}=0.6$, an exact result.

Absolute and relative error

If $V$ is the exact value and $A$ an approximation: absolute error $=|V-A|$, relative error $=\dfrac{|V-A|}{|V|}$ (multiplied by $100$ for the percentage).

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In an optical physics experiment, a ray of light passes from air into water. Snell's law states that $n_1 \times \sin \theta_1 = n_2 \times \sin \theta_2$. If the…

In an optical physics experiment, a ray of light passes from air into water. Snell's law states that $n_1 \times \sin \theta_1 = n_2 \times \sin \theta_2$. If the refractive index of air is $n_1 = 1$, that of water is $n_2 = 1.33$, and the angle of incidence is $\theta_1 = 52^\circ 30'$, calculate the angle of refraction $\theta_2$ in degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Solve
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A civil engineer designs a banked curve for a road. The physical formula relating the banking angle $\theta$, speed $v$ (in m/s), curve radius $R$ (in m), and gravity…

A civil engineer designs a banked curve for a road. The physical formula relating the banking angle $\theta$, speed $v$ (in m/s), curve radius $R$ (in m), and gravity $g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2$ is $\tan \theta = \frac{v^2}{R \times g}$. If a curve of radius $150 \text{ m}$ is designed for a maximum speed of $90 \text{ km/h}$, calculate the banking angle $\theta$ in degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Solve
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Solve the trigonometric equation $3 \sin x - 2 = 0$ using the calculator to find all possible values of the angle $x$ between $0^\circ$ and $360^\circ$. Express the…

Solve the trigonometric equation $3 \sin x - 2 = 0$ using the calculator to find all possible values of the angle $x$ between $0^\circ$ and $360^\circ$. Express the final results in degrees and minutes.

Solve

To check identities and work with arcs:

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Verify numerically the fundamental identity $\sin^2 \alpha + \cos^2 \alpha = 1$ for an angle $\alpha = 37^\circ 42' 15''$. Write down the intermediate values of sine and…

Verify numerically the fundamental identity $\sin^2 \alpha + \cos^2 \alpha = 1$ for an angle $\alpha = 37^\circ 42' 15''$. Write down the intermediate values of sine and cosine rounded to four decimal places before squaring and adding them.

Solve
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Evaluate the expression $K = \sin(\arccos 0.6)$ using your calculator. Next, prove algebraically using the fundamental trigonometric identities why the numerical result…

Evaluate the expression $K = \sin(\arccos 0.6)$ using your calculator. Next, prove algebraically using the fundamental trigonometric identities why the numerical result obtained is exact and rational.

Solve
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For very small angles, the value of sine is close to the value of the angle expressed in radians. Calculate the absolute error and relative error made when approximating…

For very small angles, the value of sine is close to the value of the angle expressed in radians. Calculate the absolute error and relative error made when approximating the value of $\sin 1^\circ$ by the value of $1^\circ$ converted into radians. Express the relative error as a percentage to two decimal places.

Solve
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A solar panel must be positioned to optimise light collection. The percentage of collection efficiency is given by the expression…

A solar panel must be positioned to optimise light collection. The percentage of collection efficiency is given by the expression $E = 100 \times \cos(\alpha - 38^\circ 15')$, where $\alpha$ is the angle of inclination of the panel. If due to roof constraints the panel is installed with an inclination of $\alpha = 45^\circ 20'$, use the calculator to determine its efficiency $E$ rounded to one decimal place.

Solve

Back to the beginning: the 10 m ramp that climbs 1 m makes an angle of $5^\circ44'$ with the ground, because $\sin^{-1}(0.1)\approx5^\circ44'$.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section