What do we use this for- what comes after?

[Mag]

Hey there, im a Jr in HS (school year almost over!)

and we are doing Trig, but i was wondering what comes after, that uses it.

ya know, sin, cos, tan, - i know there is probably alot, but i want to know what i could possibly use it for, or perhaps more importantly build off of.

 

thanks

[Dave]

One of the more useful applications of trigonometry outside geometry is for evaluating integrals in calculus. Basically, integrating a function allows you to work out the area that lies under a line. But when you're trying to work out something like:

 

[math]\int \frac{1}{1+x^2} \, dx[/math]

 

it gets a bit hard You can, however, use a trigonometric identity to work this integral out: [imath]\tan^2(\theta) + 1 = \sec^2(\theta)[/imath].

 

Asides from this, there's many other applications of trig in other fields of mathematics. You just need to take a closer look

[Mag]

hm, thanks

 

We did some trig last year, in geometry, now we are in Pre-Calc, and getting more into it (well, more into it from last year).

[ydoaPs]

getting into? we were done in the first semester and have already taken our second semester finals. we have been out of school for a while now.

[Mag]

yeah, we started Pre Cacl Trig about a week ago.

and our last day of learning is June 3rd.

Then we have a week of half days, which are finals' days.

[ydoaPs]

i have a thread called "trig" that hassa every formula you will need for that portion of your class.

[Mag]

oh, nice.

i checked it out, looks good