Re: Sin Cos Tan, why not Sin Sec Tan?

From: Cassandra Thompson (cass.harley_at_bigpond.com)
Date: 07/15/04 

Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 05:47:48 GMT

|-|erc wrote:

> "Cassandra Thompson" <cass.harley@bigpond.com> wrote
>
>>Sin@ = O/H
>>Cos@ = A/H
>
>
> These 2 are grouped together because they divide by the longest
> side on the triangle and are both <=1.
>
> But Tan is useful for the simplest of geometrical calculations
> so it became a 3some.
>
>
>>Tan@ = O/A
>
>
> Either Tan or Sin&Cos can be taught 1st, IMO.
>
> Herc
>
>
>
Thanks,

You have touched on what I was trying to say in a previous post (one
that was about the same time as yours).

Why is it important that the hypotonuse be the denomitator? Because the
answer will always be <=1. Because as far as I can tell that is the only
reason for choosing the sin/cos pair over the sec/csc pair.

I am guessing that there is a very good answer why this is better then
the result being >1, however I cannot yet see why.

Kind Regards,
Cassandra Thompson