To the students preparing for their upcoming maths examination either for school level examination or any entrance examination, having strong knowledge of Trigonometry is a must. Trigonometry is an important topic in your maths syllabus that not only consists of a lot of marks to clear your exams but also applies to various real-life situations ahead in your life.
Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics, which deals with relationships between the side, length and angle of triangles. Trigonometry originated from a Latin word in the 16th century, meaning Trianon as Triangle and metron as a measure. If you are struggling to understand the subject, believe it or not, we can help you overcome all your doubts and fears, so that you can have a better concept and would be able to solve all your problems regarding Trigonometry without any external help. So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Concept Building
To have a thorough knowledge of any subject, building a concept is a must. Some people may find it hard to understand, but if you build a habit of understanding the topic by going over the chapter either in your class or at home over and over again, it will be helpful to familiarise yourself with the topic and in concept development. You don’t need to get it right every time. spark tutoring Start slowly in case of any difficulties as the more you go through, the more connections you can make with the subject.
Planning and Managing Time
Plan a daily schedule for all your tasks and create a time table. Review all the problems from your daily notes and revise them daily. Seek help or discuss with your friends for a better understanding. Use your travel time to schools or coaching classes wisely.
Make a Daily Handbook/Notebook
Make a note of your daily questions on Trigonometry, and try to utilise the break efficiently. Carry a small handbook of formulas and equations of Trigonometry with you and go through it whenever you get free time. Also, allot time to other subjects and make sure you revise them too. Make sure to allow yourself some leisure time because a stress-free time is important for retention.
Setting Goals and Working towards It
Not every kid likes math, and not every question is easy. Certain topics are easy to grasp, but some topics would require extra effort. Whenever you are stuck, break these difficult topics into smaller parts and practise them one after one. You can also ask your friends, teachers, or even search online for a better understanding. Cuemath is a great site to help you with your all doubts with a detailed explanation about each topic. Scoring well in the class examination or mock tests is equally important as the final examination because these are stepping stones that allow you to prepare you for the big day. Start by setting up smaller goals and cover each topic gradually. Set a target score, and work towards getting more marks than the previous exam. Doing so can give you an idea of your weaknesses and strengths and improve on the sections where it is needed.
A Habit of Solving Numericals
Mathematics paper has numerical problems. While solving a problem, if you write the formulas wrong, the whole answer will be incorrect. Write down all the formulas on a piece of paper and stick it on to your bedroom wall. Memorise them regularly before going to school or right after coming home.
Practising Sample Papers
One of the most important ways to master Trigonometry is by going through the previous years’ and sample test papers. Sample papers allow you to have an idea of the paper pattern and marking scheme. Solving these will also familiarise you with the exam setting and will allow you to finish your paper within the allotted time. Solving sample papers will give you an idea of the important topics and their weightage and will also boost your confidence level.
Understanding Trigonometry
Trigonometry deals with studies of triangles and circles, and its functions are used to define properties of any angle, relationships in triangles, or graphs of recurring cycles. Building a picture in your head first, and then using your study patterns to find relations can help you understand the basics of Trigonometry more quickly. The best part about understanding Trigonometry is, all of its functions are interlinked with each other.
For example :
Example 1:
Defining a Triangle
A triangle has 3 sides and 3 angles. The sum of angles of any triangle is 180 degrees.
Few common Terms in Triangles are
- Acute: An angle of < 90 degrees
- Hypotenuse: The longest side of a right triangle
- Obtuse: angle > 90 degrees
Example 2: Unit Circle
A unit circle is a circle of unit radius 1. It allows you to calculate the cosine, sine, and tangent of any angle between 0 and 360 degrees. A unit circle allows you to scale and find relationships between values and functions.
Equation: The sine of 30 degrees is 0.50, so the opposite side of a 30-degree angle is one half the length of the hypotenuse
Example 3: Trigonometric Functions
To understand Trigonometry, there are basically 6 different central functions. These functions allow you to understand the relationship and properties of a triangle. These functions are :
- Sin (sine)
- Cos (cosine)
- Tan (tangent)
- Sec (secant)
- Csc (cosecant)
- Cot (cotangent)
The best tip to master Trigonometry is to learn how to convert Sin, Cos, Tan, Sec, etc., which can mostly be done using quotient and reciprocal identities. Expand any equation you can and apply appropriate formulas to simplify them. Learn and practise all terms or formulas and once done, move ahead to solve numericals. You can also practise equations by drawing angles and marking them by numbers.
Trigonometry in Real-Life Situations
Trigonometry has a lot of practical applications in the real world. Whether you want to measure how tall a building is or to find the distance between any two points, Trigonometry can solve it all. Some important fields where Trigonometry is applied are:
- Astronomy: Trigonometry in Astronomy helps in calculations of the distance between stars or planets from the earth. These techniques are also used by NASA in modern times when developing new space rockets or even launching a space shuttle.
- Architecture: People associated with designing and construction based industries also use Trigonometry to find the height of a building, loads and forces required in a structure, etc.
- Gaming Industries: Well, if you are into gaming, then this might shock as Trigonometry is widely used in developing a video game that you play whether in the process of development of your favourite character or the beautifully detailed environment. Everything you see in a game has Trigonometry involved in it.
Seeking Help
To master Trigonometry, you need to understand that the topic is vast. Trigonometry holds a lot of marks, and to pass your exam, you need to understand the basic concepts of Trigonometry. Every kid has a different level of liking towards a subject. A qualified and professional tutor will ensure that learning the subject maths becomes fun and not a brainer. We understand it is difficult for each student to understand everything that is being taught over the class and remember all. Hire a tutor who is willing to help you and understand your needs. A good tutor can identify a student’s level of understanding and helps in reducing the root cause of the problem.
Our teachers at Cuemath understand every single need of a student and make sure that the concept builds remains their 1st priority and also monitor their progress throughout the year. We only seek a tutor when we perform poorly in an exam. It is also equally important for the parents to monitor their children’s studying patterns and help them whenever needed. A good tutor puts his efforts to make the learning process more fun and engaging so that you can learn early.
Taking Care of Your Health
It is seen that students are under a lot of pressure during exams, which is not a good practice as an excess amount of stress can affect your memory, negatively. Eat healthy foods such as fruits, green leafy vegetables, etc. for adequate nutrition. Having a sound sleep for at least 6-8 hours a day is necessary for a healthy mind and living. Avoid listening to music or television during your study hours, as it will distract you from your goal. Avoid using social media platforms, as this is the most common distraction among the students currently. Take a 5-minute break if you are unable to concentrate and start again.
Conclusion
We hope our tips to master Trigonometry was helpful for you, as we have mentioned above some common mistakes a student makes while preparing for SAT or any other examination. Mathematics is a major subject, and to master it, you will need to develop a stronghold of the concept and a lot of hard work. Make a note of all the terms and formulas in Trigonometry, and try to memorise them whenever you have time. Solving previous years’ sample papers and question banks can also help you to know patterns of questions in Trigonometry. Know more about the topic through Cuemath, as they have personalised learning plans with detailed explanations for each topic with free trial classes for all students.
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