Trigonometry Graphing Project

The purpose of this project is to give your students a deeper understanding of the use of trigonometry in analyzing various types of triangles. It will also provide them with an interesting and colorful way to display various triangles and their properties and dimensions in a single area so that they can see the difference in the type and shape of these triangles. The project requires the students to use the 3 basic trig functions (sine, cosine and tangent) and their inverses as well as the Law of Sines and Cosines to calculate the side lengths and angle measures. It has been classroom tested and my students really like the project. In addition to the laminated graph of the triangles, a companion calculation sheet that includes all side lengths and angle measures is required. Samples of the graphs and the calc sheets are provided. Finally a grading rubric is included to compile the final grade for the project. The project description paper is an MS Word file that can be modified by the teacher to suit their particular class application and desires.