Chapter

Triangles

From Quantitative Problem Solving in Natural Resources by Peter Moore

Concepts

1. Imaginary Triangles

   "Triangles can help measure landscape features, organism dimensions, distances, heights, and locations even when the triangles cannot be directly seen in nature. Their power comes from consistent rela

2. Basic Properties

   "The interior angles of every triangle sum to 180 degrees, and in a right triangle one angle is 90 degrees. The side opposite the right angle is the longest side and is called the hypotenuse. The Pyth

3. Sine Cosine

   "For a chosen angle in a right triangle, sine is the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse, cosine is the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse, and tangent is the ratio of the opposite

4. Trigonometry Measure

   "A clinometer provides angles from the horizontal to the top and bottom of a tree, while the observer measures the horizontal distance to the tree. Each sight line forms a right triangle, so tangent c

5. Laws Sines

   "The law of sines applies to general triangles and relates each side to the sine of its opposite angle. It is especially useful when two angles and one side, or two sides and one angle, are known. The