Make trigonometry as easy as 1-2-3
Believe it or not, trigonometry is easier than it looks! With the right help, you can breeze through your next trig class, test, or exam and be ready for your next math challenge. In Trigonometry For Dummies, you’ll learn to understand the basics of sines, cosines, and tangents, graph functions, solve tough formulas, and even discover how to use trig outside the classroom in some cool and interesting ways.
Ditch the confusing jargon and take a plain-English tour of one of the most useful disciplines in math. In this lifesaving guide, you’ll learn how to:
- Graph trig functions, including sine, cosine, tangent, and cotangent functions
- Understand inverse trig functions and solve trig equations
- Relate triangles to circular functions and get a handle on basic identities
So, whether you’re looking for an easy-to-use study guide, to boost your math grade, or get a refresher on some basic trig concepts after a long absence from studying, Trigonometry For Dummies is your ticket to understanding the mathematical mysteries of the triangle.
Mary Jane Sterling is the author of Algebra I For Dummies, Pre-Calculus Workbook For Dummies, Algebra II For Dummies, and oodles of other Dummies titles. She was a Professor of Mathematics at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, for more than 35 years, teaching algebra, business calculus, geometry, and finite mathematics.
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Started with Trigonometry 5
Chapter 1: Taking On Trig Technicalities 7
Chapter 2: Cooperating with Cartesian Coordinates 31
Chapter 3: Finding Degrees in Triangles and Planes 51
Chapter 4: Dishing Out the Pi: Radians 63
Chapter 5: Tackling Right Triangles 77
Part 2: Trigonometric Functions 89
Chapter 6: Describing Trig Functions 91
Chapter 7: Relating Triangles to Circular Functions 107
Chapter 8: Taking Trig Functions Global 123
Chapter 9: Applying Yourself to Trig Functions 139
Part 3: Identities 159
Chapter 10: Introducing Basic Identities 161
Chapter 11: Operating on Identities 177
Chapter 12: Proving Identities: The Basics 197
Chapter 13: Sleuthing Out Identity Solutions 213
Part 4: Equations and Applications 231
Chapter 14: Investigating Inverse Trig Functions 233
Chapter 15: Making Inverse Trig Work for You 241
Chapter 16: Solving Trig Equations 253
Chapter 17: Obeying the Laws and Applying Them 277
Part 5: The Graphs of Trig Functions 301
Chapter 18: Graphing Sine and Cosine 303
Chapter 19: Graphing Tangent and Cotangent 319
Chapter 20: Graphing Two More Trig Functions 327
Chapter 21: Topping Off Trig Graphs 339
Part 6: The Part of Tens 353
Chapter 22: Ten Basic Identities Plus Some Bonuses 355
Chapter 23: Ten Not-So-Basic Identities 361
Appendix: Graphs and Function Values 367
Index 373
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