Take our quiz to find out what your revision personality is! >>

Math

how do i know which to use between SOH, CAH, and TOA

Label your triangle with:
a - adjacent (side next to angle)
o - opposite (side opposite angle)
h - hypotenuse (side that is slanted)
See which values you have already, then you can use this to work out which to use.

Reply 2

*LifeHappens*

Original post by elsadasilva

how do i know which to use between SOH, CAH, and TOA

Let's say I have a triangle of angles 45 degrees and 32 degrees and a side of 10cm. If I am working out the adjacent side, and obviously the 10cm is the hypotenuse you use the a and the h, so it is CAH.
Basically, if you are only given one side, use that side and the side you are working out.
Likewise, if you are given two sides, use both those sides in the soh cah toa. I hope that helps, and if it's not clear, use the gcse maths tutor, they give excellent tips and go through all topics of maths!