
In this diagram OA is a radius of a unit circle. The hypotenuse of the large triangle is tangent to the circle at A.
Find the lengths $\cos(a)$, $\sin(a)$, $\tan(a)$, $\frac{1}{\cos(a)}$, $\frac{1}{\sin(a)}$ and $\frac{1}{\tan(a)}$ in the diagram.
Find the areas of all of the regions in the diagram.
Did you know ... ?
Whilst trigonometric functions are defined algebraically in more advanced applications, geometric images such as this one can give great insight into the relationships between the functions. They also impart a sense of the beauty and interconnectedness of mathematics, which inspires many students of mathematics.