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3.2 Trigonometry

This paper introduces trigonometry by breaking it into two sections:

Understanding trigonometric functions
Using trigonometry to solve problems in context.

It provides details of the knowledge students should have and some of the misconceptions they may hold. Examples are given to illustrate what these misconceptions may look like, how to address them, and support teachers in developing pedagogical and content knowledge.

Additional details
Year level(s)	Year 9, Year 10
Audience	Teacher, School Leader
Purpose	Content knowledge
Format	Downloadable resources
Keywords	trigonometry, ratio, sine, cosine, tangent
Curriculum alignment
Strand and focus	Space
Topics	Pythagoras and trigonometry
AC: Mathematics (V9.0) content descriptions	AC9M9SP02 Apply the enlargement transformation to shapes and objects using dynamic geometry software as appropriate; identify and explain aspects that remain the same and those that change AC9M9M03 Solve spatial problems, applying angle properties, scale, similarity, Pythagoras' theorem and trigonometry in right-angled triangles AC9M10M03 Solve practical problems applying Pythagoras' theorem and trigonometry of right-angled triangles, including problems involving direction and angles of elevation and depression
Numeracy progression	Understanding geometric properties (P7) Proportional thinking (P7) Understanding units of measurement (P10)
Copyright details
Organisation	NCETM
Copyright	© Crown Copyright. Free-for-education material.