GCSE · Maths
SOHCAHTOA
Also known as: right-angled trigonometry
What is sohcahtoa?
SOHCAHTOA is the mnemonic for the three right-angled trig ratios: Sine = Opposite / Hypotenuse, Cosine = Adjacent / Hypotenuse, Tangent = Opposite / Adjacent. Use it in any right-angled triangle to find an unknown side or angle when you know one side + one angle (other than the right angle). For non-right-angled triangles, use the sine rule or cosine rule instead.
Where it appears in exams
- Find the unknown side opposite a 30° angle when the hypotenuse is 10 cm.
- Find the angle when opposite = 5 cm, adjacent = 12 cm (tan⁻¹).
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