Special Angles in Trigonometry

Some angles in trigonometry are so common, they are known as special angles.  The values of trig functions of these specific angles can be represented by known ratios, and are good to commit to memory to help you work through problems faster. These angles can be remembered by examining two different special angle triangles. Specifically, the trig functions for angles of 0, 30, 45, 60, 90 degrees are the special ones.  (Please hit the Like button or +1 button at the end if you think this post helps you with special angles!)

Let's look at the first of the special angle triangles, and this will hopefully become clear. Take a right angle triangle with two 45 degree angles, and with sides of 1 unit length. By the Theorem of Pythagoras, the hypotenuse of this triangle is of length √2. This is what this triangle looks like:

So then, from these values and SOHCAHTOA, you can obtain the trig values for this special angle of 45 degrees. You can see that:

Sin(45) = 1/√2
Cos(45) = 1/√2
Tan(45) = 1

Don't worry if you can't remember these exact ratios... the simplest thing to remember is how to construct the special angle triangle... which is as easy as remembering a right angle triangle with a 45 degree angle and 2 sides of length 1... you can easily fill in the rest, and then work out the trig ratios yourself!

The second of the special angle triangles, which represents the rest of the special angles to remember, is slightly more complex, but still straightforward. Take a right angle triangle with angles of 30, 60, and 90 degrees. The simplest lengths of the sides of this triangle are 1, 2, √3 (with 2 being the longest side, the hypotenuse). This 30 60 90 triangle looks like this:

So then, using the these values, you can obtain the trig values for these special angles as well:

Sin(30) = 1/2
Cos(30) = √3/2
Tan(30) = 1/√3

Sin(60) = √3/2
Cos(60) = 1/2
Tan(60) = √3/1 = √3

Again, just remember how to construct the triangle, and the ratios are easy to come up with!

For 0 and 90 degrees, there isn't a simple triangle scheme to remember the values (although please feel free to correct me if I am wrong!). However, these aren't scary square root numbers or weird fractions:

Sin(0) = 0
Cos(0) = 1
Tan(0) = 0

Sin(90) = 1
Cos(90) = 0
Tan(90) = undefined

If you can familiarize yourself with all of these special angles, or at least understand how to derive them from the special angle triangles, then you will have a much easier time working on trigonometry questions.  Again, please remember to Like and/or +1 this post if it helped.  Thanks.

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