Trigonometry

TRIGONOMETRY is the only text on the market that is structured so professors can begin with either the unit circle approach or the right triangle approach. The different approaches lead to different applications: the unit circle approach is used in modeling harmonic motion and the right triangle approach is used in measuring distances (for example, measuring the distance to the sun or nearby stars depends on right triangle trigonometry).

The authors make use of the graphing calculator whenever appropriate. Subsections, examples, and exercises that deal with graphing devices are labeled with an icon so that those who prefer not to use the graphing calculator can easily skip this material. For those students that use a graphing calculator, they are given a better understanding of how the calculator can work as an aid in solving problems. For students who do not use a graphing calculator, the material is presented optionally.

Each chapter ends with a FOCUS ON MODELING section that illustrates modeling techniques as well as how trigonometry can be applied to model real-life situations. These sections, as well as others, are devoted to teaching students how to create their own mathematical models, rather than using prefabricated formulas.

Real-World Applications from engineering, physics, chemistry, business, biology, environmental studies, and other fields demonstrate how trigonometry is used to model real-life situations.