Activity Overview
Students discover the trigonometric ratios through measuring the side lengths of similar triangles and calculating their ratios. The formal definitions of the sine, cosine, and tangent or an angle are presented and applied to find the missing side lengths.
Before the Activity
Download the attached PDF and look over the information on the first page. Download and distribute the attached TI-Nspire document (.tns file) and Student Worksheet for use during the activity. A TI-Nspire document containing expected student results is also available for download.
During the Activity
Discuss the material from the activity pages and worksheet with students as needed.
After the Activity
Encourage students to summarize what they have learned from completing the activity.