Trig Functions Are Just Triangle Ratios

Algebra students panic when they see sine, cosine, and tangent,

but here's the truth nobody tells you. These aren't scary calculus concepts. They're just ratios

in a right triangle. Sine is opposite over hypotenuse. Cosine is adjacent over hypotenuse.

Tangent is opposite over adjacent. That's it. Use SOH CAH TOA to remember.

For cotangent, just flip tangent upside down. So instead of opposite over adjacent,

it's adjacent over opposite. When you see these in an equation, treat them like

any other number. If sine of 30 degrees equals point five, plug in point five and solve.

Stop overthinking it. These functions are just shortcuts for triangle measurements