13: Trigonometry
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
Trigonometry relates angles and lengths of triangles. Figure A.1 shows a right-angled triangle and conventions to label its corners, sides, and angles. In the following, we assume all triangles to have at least one right angle (90 degrees or π/2 ) as all planar triangles can be dissected into two right-angled triangles.

The sum of all angles in any triangle is 180 degrees or 2π, or
α+β+γ=180∘
If the triangle is right-angled, the relationship between edges a, b, and c, where c is the edge opposite of the right angle is
a2+b2=c2
The relationship between angles and edge lengths are captured by the trigonometric functions:
sinα=oppositehypothenuse=ac
cosα=adjacenthypothenuse=bc
tanα=oppositeadjacent=sinαcosα=ab
Here, the hypothenuse is the side of the triangle that is opposite to the right angle. The adjacent and opposite are relative to a specific angle. For example, in Figure 13.1, the adjacent of angle α is side b and the opposite of α is edge a.
Relations between a single angle and the edge lengths are captured by the law of cosines:
a2=b2+c2−2bccosα