Lesson 19 Trigonometric Functions

In the previous lesson, we have learned how to write code using various mathematical functions in Visual Basic 2015. In this lesson, we shall proceed to learn how to work with a group of mathematical functions that deal with angles and lengths of a triangle, they are the trigonometric functions. The three basic trigonometric functions are Sin, Cos, and Tan which stand for sine, cosine and tangent. We also deal with the inverse trigonometric functions Asin, Acos, and Atan respectively.

19.1 The Sin function

The Sin function returns the sine value of an angle. We need to convert the angle to radian as Visual Basic 2015 cannot deal with an angle in degree. The conversion is based on the following equation:

π radian= 180º

so 1º=π/180 radian

The issue is how to get the exact value of π? We can use π=3.14159 but it will not be accurate. To get the exact value of π, we use the arc sine function, i.e. is Asin.

Using the equation   sin(π/2)=1, so Asin(1)=π/2, therefore, π=2Asin(1)

The syntax of  the Sin function in Visual Basic 2015 is

Math.Sin(Angle in radian)

Example 19.1

In this example, we use pi to represent π and assign the value of π using the formula pi = 2*Math.Asin(1). We use the function Round to round the value of sine to four decimal places.

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim pi As Single
pi = 2*Math.Asin(1)
MsgBox("Sin 90 is" & Math.Round(Math.Sin(pi / 2), 4))
End Sub

The Output

19.2 The Cos function

In Visual Basic 2015, the Cos function returns the Cosine value of an angle. The syntax is

Math.Cos(Angle in radian)

Example 19.2

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim pi As Single
pi = 2*Math.Asin(1)
MsgBox("Cos 180 is " & Math.Round(Math.Cos(pi), 4))
End Sub

 The Output

19.3 The Tan function

In Visual Basic 2015, the Tan function returns the tangent value of an angle. The syntax is

Math.Tan(Angle in radian)

Example 19.3

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim pi As Single
pi = 2 * Math.Asin(1)
MsgBox("Tan 45 is " & Math.Round(Math.Tan(pi / 4)), 4)
End Sub

The Output

19.4 The Asin Function

The Asin function returns the value of arcsine (inverse sine ) and it represents the angle that corresponds to the sine value. For example, sin90º = 1,  so asin(1)=90º

In Visual Basic 2015, the value of arcsine is expressed in terms of radian. To convert the value to degree, we use the formula 1 radian=180º/π, where π=2Asin(1).

Example 19.4

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button7.Click
Dim pi As Single
pi = 2 * Math.Asin(1)
MsgBox("Asin(1)is " & Math.Round(Math.Asin(1) * 180 / pi), 4)
End Sub

The Output

19.5 The Acos Function

In Visual Basic 2015, the Acos function returns the value of arc cosine (inverse cosine ) and it represents the angle that corresponds to the cos value. For example, cos90º = 0,  so acos(0)=90º

Example 19.5

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button7.Click
Dim pi As Single
pi = 2 * Math.Asin(1)
MsgBox("Asin(1)is " & Math.Round(Math.Acos(1) * 180 / pi), 4)
End Sub

19.6 The Atan Function

In Visual Basic 2015, the Atan function returns the value of arc tangent (inverse tangent) and it represents the angle that corresponds to the tan value. For example, tan45º = 1,  so atan(1)=45º

Example 19.6

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button7.Click
Dim pi As Single
pi = 2 * Math.Asin(1)
MsgBox("Asin(1)is " & Math.Round(Math.Atan(1) * 180 / pi), 4)
End Sub

The Output

 19.7 Applications

Trigonometric functions can be used to solve various mathematical problems. Common examples are problems involving the sine rule, the cosine rule, trigonometric identities, trigonometric equations, the projectile equation and more.

Example 19.7 The Sine Rule

For example, in a triangle ABC, give angle  A=60 and angle B=30 respectively, length BC denoted by a=4  you can calculate length AC (denoted by b).

The formula is

a/sinA=b/sinB, so b=asinB/sinA

The Code

Private Sub Button8_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button8.Click
Dim pi As Single

Dim A As Single, B As Single, x As Single

pi = 2 * Math.Asin(1)
A = 60 * pi / 180
B = 40 * pi / 180
x = 4

MsgBox("AC= " & Math.Round((x * Math.Sin(A) / Math.Sin(B)), 4))

End Sub

The Output