Chapter · Math

Trigonometry

The mathematics of triangles and circles. Starting from ratios of sides in a right triangle, trigonometry generalizes through the unit circle into the language of waves, oscillations, and rotations — the language in which physics describes everything that repeats.

Topics
Topic 1

Angles & Radians

Two ways to measure rotation. Degrees feel familiar; radians are what calculus prefers and why.

9 min read
Topic 2

Sine, Cosine & Tangent

Three ratios of the sides of a right triangle. SOH-CAH-TOA and what each function really measures.

11 min read
Topic 3

Law of Sines & Cosines

Solving triangles that aren't right-angled. The general extensions of the Pythagorean theorem.

11 min read
Topic 4

The Unit Circle

The single picture that organizes all of trigonometry. Coordinates of a point on a unit-radius circle, indexed by angle.

11 min read
Topic 5

Graphs of Trig Functions

Sine and cosine as periodic curves. Amplitude, period, phase, and the building blocks of every wave.

10 min read
Topic 6

Trigonometric Identities

The algebra of trig functions. Pythagorean, angle-sum, and double-angle identities — and where they come from.

11 min read
Topic 7

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

arcsin, arccos, arctan and friends. Why we restrict domains, principal values, and the composition trap.

13 min read
Topic 8

Trigonometric Equations

Solving sin x = k and harder. General solutions with +2πk, identity reduction, factoring, and extraneous roots from squaring.

13 min read
Topic 9

Polar Coordinates

Points as (r, θ) instead of (x, y). Conversion both ways, polar equations of circles and roses, and a teaser for complex numbers.

13 min read
Topic 10

Vectors in Two Dimensions

Arrows with magnitude and direction. Decompose into components with cos/sin, reassemble with Pythagoras and atan2, and add componentwise.

14 min read