Complete course · Ages 13–18

Master Geometry
& Trigonometry

Six units from basic angles to sine, cosine, and the unit circle — with interactive diagrams, full worked examples, and a 20-question graded exam.

6Units
30+Examples
5Diagrams
20Exam questions
Unit 01

Angles & lines

An angle is formed when two rays share a common endpoint called the vertex. Angles are measured in degrees (°). Understanding angles is the foundation of all geometry.

Acute angle
0° < θ < 90°

Less than a right angle. Sharp, like the tip of a pencil.

Right angle
θ = 90°

A perfect corner. Marked with a small square in diagrams.

Obtuse angle
90° < θ < 180°

Greater than a right angle but less than a straight line.

Straight angle
θ = 180°

A straight line. Two rays pointing in opposite directions.

Complementary
A + B = 90°

Two angles that together form a right angle.

Supplementary
A + B = 180°

Two angles that together form a straight line.

Angle relationships with parallel lines

When a transversal crosses two parallel lines, it creates special angle pairs. Knowing these saves enormous calculation time.

Alternate interior angles
Equal (∠3 = ∠6)

On opposite sides of the transversal, between the parallel lines. Always equal.

Corresponding angles
Equal (∠1 = ∠5)

Same position at each intersection. Always equal when lines are parallel.

Co-interior angles
∠3 + ∠5 = 180°

Same side of transversal, between parallel lines. Always supplementary.

Vertically opposite
Equal (∠1 = ∠3)

Formed by two intersecting lines. Always equal regardless of parallel lines.

Example 1 — Find the missing angle: supplementary pair, one angle = 67°
1
Supplementary angles sum to 180°: 67° + x = 180°
2
Subtract 67: x = 180° − 67° = 113°
Answer: x = 113°
Example 2 — Parallel lines: transversal creates angle of 48°. Find all 8 angles
1
The given angle and its vertically opposite angle are equal: 48°
2
Its supplementary partner: 180° − 48° = 132° (and its vertical = 132°)
3
Corresponding angles repeat this pattern at the second parallel line
Four angles of 48° and four of 132°
Example 3 — Interior angle of a polygon: find one interior angle of a regular hexagon
1
Sum of interior angles of n-sided polygon: (n−2) × 180°
2
Hexagon: n=6 → (6−2) × 180° = 720°
3
Each angle in regular hexagon: 720° ÷ 6 = 120°
Each interior angle = 120°
▶ Interactive — angle explorer

Drag the slider to explore angle types and their properties

45°
Acute angle — less than 90°
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Unit 02

Triangles

A triangle has three sides and three angles. The angles always sum to 180° — no matter the shape or size. This single rule unlocks almost every triangle problem.

Equilateral
3 equal sides, 3×60°

All sides equal, all angles 60°. Perfect symmetry.

Isosceles
2 equal sides, 2 equal angles

Base angles are always equal. Used constantly in proofs.

Scalene
All sides different

No equal sides, no equal angles. Most general case.

Right triangle
One angle = 90°

Foundation of trigonometry and Pythagoras. The most useful triangle type.

Pythagoras' theorem

In any right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of squares of the other two sides.

a² + b² = c² where c is the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle — always the longest side)
Example 1 — Find the hypotenuse: a = 3, b = 4
1
Apply formula: c² = 3² + 4² = 9 + 16 = 25
2
Square root: c = √25 = 5
The hypotenuse = 5. This is a 3-4-5 Pythagorean triple.
Example 2 — Find a missing leg: hypotenuse = 13, one leg = 5
1
Rearrange: a² = c² − b² = 13² − 5² = 169 − 25 = 144
2
Square root: a = √144 = 12
Missing leg = 12. Another triple: 5-12-13.
Example 3 — Is this a right triangle? Sides 7, 24, 25
1
Test: 7² + 24² = 49 + 576 = 625
2
Check: 25² = 625
Yes — 625 = 625. It is a right triangle (7-24-25 triple).

Triangle area and congruence

Area formula
A = ½ × base × height

Height must be perpendicular to the base, even if outside the triangle.

Congruence (SSS)
3 sides equal → identical

If all three sides match, triangles are congruent (same shape and size).

Congruence (SAS)
2 sides + included angle

Two sides and the angle between them determine the triangle uniquely.

Similarity (AA)
2 angles equal → similar

Same shape, different size. Ratios of corresponding sides are equal.

Example 4 — Area: base = 10 cm, height = 6 cm
1
Apply formula: A = ½ × 10 × 6
Area = 30 cm²
▶ Interactive — Pythagoras calculator

Enter any two sides of a right triangle to find the third

Enter values above
Unit 03

Shapes, area & perimeter

Every polygon has formulas for its perimeter (distance around) and area (space inside). Memorising the key ones — and understanding where they come from — is essential.

Rectangle
A = l × w   P = 2(l+w)

Length times width. Perimeter is twice the sum of both dimensions.

Square
A = s²   P = 4s

A rectangle with all sides equal. Area is side squared.

Triangle
A = ½bh   P = a+b+c

Half of base times perpendicular height. Perimeter is all three sides.

Parallelogram
A = base × height

Same formula as a rectangle but height is perpendicular, not the slant side.

Trapezoid
A = ½(a+b)×h

Average of the two parallel sides, multiplied by the height between them.

Regular polygon
Interior sum = (n−2)×180°

n is the number of sides. Divide by n for each interior angle.

Example 1 — Trapezoid area: parallel sides 8 and 12 cm, height 5 cm
1
Apply formula: A = ½ × (8 + 12) × 5
2
Simplify: A = ½ × 20 × 5 = 50 cm²
Area = 50 cm²
Example 2 — Interior angles of a regular pentagon
1
Sum = (5−2) × 180° = 540°
2
Each angle = 540° ÷ 5 = 108°
Each interior angle of a regular pentagon = 108°
Example 3 — Composite shape: rectangle 10×6 with triangle on top (base 10, height 4)
1
Rectangle area: 10 × 6 = 60 cm²
2
Triangle area: ½ × 10 × 4 = 20 cm²
Total area = 60 + 20 = 80 cm²
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Unit 04

Circles

A circle is the set of all points equidistant from a centre point. That distance is the radius (r). The diameter is twice the radius. All circle formulas flow from π (pi ≈ 3.14159…).

Circumference
C = 2πr = πd

The perimeter of a circle. Use 2πr when you know the radius, πd for diameter.

Area
A = πr²

Pi times radius squared. Radius must be squared — a common mistake is using diameter.

Arc length
L = (θ/360°) × 2πr

A fraction of the full circumference. θ is the central angle in degrees.

Sector area
A = (θ/360°) × πr²

A fraction of the full circle area. Think of it as a slice of pie.

Chord
Joins two points on circle

A diameter is the longest possible chord — passing through the centre.

Tangent
Touches circle at one point

Always perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact.

Example 1 — Circumference and area: radius = 7 cm
1
Circumference: C = 2π × 7 = 14π ≈ 43.98 cm
2
Area: A = π × 7² = 49π ≈ 153.94 cm²
C ≈ 43.98 cm, A ≈ 153.94 cm²
Example 2 — Arc length: radius 10 cm, central angle 72°
1
Fraction of circle: 72/360 = 1/5
2
Arc length: (1/5) × 2π × 10 = 4π ≈ 12.57 cm
Arc length ≈ 12.57 cm
Example 3 — Sector area: radius 6 cm, angle 120°
1
Fraction: 120/360 = 1/3
2
Sector area: (1/3) × π × 6² = 12π ≈ 37.70 cm²
Sector area ≈ 37.70 cm²
▶ Interactive — circle calculator
5 cm
90°
Unit 05

Trigonometry

Trigonometry connects angles to side lengths in right triangles. The three core ratios — sine, cosine, and tangent — work for any angle and are the foundation of all advanced mathematics.

SOH CAH TOA — the most important memory device in geometry:
Sin θ = Opposite/Hypotenuse  ·  Cos θ = Adjacent/Hypotenuse  ·  Tan θ = Opposite/Adjacent
sin θ (SOH)
sin θ = opp / hyp

Opposite side divided by hypotenuse. Ranges from −1 to 1.

cos θ (CAH)
cos θ = adj / hyp

Adjacent side divided by hypotenuse. Also ranges from −1 to 1.

tan θ (TOA)
tan θ = opp / adj

Opposite divided by adjacent. Equals sin/cos. Can be any value.

Inverse ratios
θ = sin⁻¹(opp/hyp)

Use inverse trig to find the angle when you know the side ratio.

Exact values — must memorise

Angle θsin θcos θtan θ
010
30°½√3/21/√3
45°√2/2√2/21
60°√3/2½√3
90°10undefined
Example 1 — Find side: right triangle, angle = 35°, hypotenuse = 12 cm. Find opposite.
1
We have angle and hypotenuse, want opposite → use sin
2
sin 35° = opp / 12
3
opp = 12 × sin 35° = 12 × 0.5736 ≈ 6.88 cm
Opposite side ≈ 6.88 cm
Example 2 — Find angle: opposite = 5, adjacent = 8. Find the angle.
1
Know opp and adj → use tan
2
tan θ = 5/8 = 0.625
3
θ = tan⁻¹(0.625) ≈ 32.0°
Angle θ ≈ 32.0°
Example 3 — Exact value: show that sin 45° = cos 45° = √2/2
1
Draw a right isosceles triangle with legs = 1
2
Hypotenuse by Pythagoras: c = √(1²+1²) = √2
3
sin 45° = 1/√2 = √2/2   cos 45° = 1/√2 = √2/2
Both equal √2/2 ≈ 0.7071
Example 4 — Sine rule: triangle with A=40°, B=75°, a=8 cm. Find b.
1
Sine rule: a/sin A = b/sin B
2
8/sin 40° = b/sin 75°
3
b = 8 × sin 75° / sin 40° = 8 × 0.9659 / 0.6428 ≈ 12.02 cm
b ≈ 12.02 cm
▶ Interactive — unit circle & trig values
30°
▶ Practice — trig calculations (round to 2 decimal places)
Unit 06

Geometric proofs & reasoning

A proof is a logical argument that shows a geometric statement is true. Every step must be justified by a theorem, definition, or previously proven fact.

Given → Prove structure
Statement | Reason

Every proof lists what is given, states what must be proved, then shows step-by-step reasoning.

Theorem
Proven general rule

A statement that has been proved and can now be used to justify other statements.

Postulate / Axiom
Accepted without proof

Foundational rules we accept as obviously true, like "a straight line is 180°".

Corollary
Follows directly from theorem

A result so close to a proved theorem that little extra work is needed.

Example 1 — Prove: base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal
G
Given: Triangle ABC with AB = AC
1
Draw the angle bisector from A to BC, meeting at M — by construction
2
In triangles ABM and ACM: AB = AC (given), AM = AM (common side), angle BAM = angle CAM (bisector)
3
By SAS congruence: triangle ABM ≅ triangle ACM
Therefore ∠ABC = ∠ACB (corresponding angles in congruent triangles)
Example 2 — Prove: the exterior angle of a triangle equals the sum of the two non-adjacent interior angles
G
Given: Triangle ABC, exterior angle d at vertex C
1
Interior angles: ∠A + ∠B + ∠C = 180° (angle sum of triangle)
2
Angles on a straight line: ∠C + d = 180°
3
From both equations: d = ∠A + ∠B
Exterior angle = sum of two remote interior angles ∎
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Final exam

20-question graded test

Answer all 20 questions then submit. You will see your score, grade, and a full explanation for every question.

0 / 20 answered
Geometry & Trigonometry — Complete Course 6 units · 30+ examples · 20 exam questions · Ages 13–18