Rule of thumb · MathematicsNº 74 / 96

SOH-CAH-TOA is one triangle, memorised three ways

Sine, cosine and tangent are just three different ratios of the same right triangle’s sides — knowing any one angle and any one side determines every other side and angle.

Why it works

The mnemonic exists because all of trigonometry’s practical use — heights, distances, angles you can’t directly measure — reduces to picking the right one of these three ratios for what you already know.

Do it exactly

Estimate with the rule, then check it against the calculator that models it properly.

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