Small Angle Approximations for Trig Functions
Basic approximations
Use the diagram to explain why
and .
Where is a line of length ?
Allowing that use pythagoras to derive .
Advanced reasoning
Explain why an enlargement of the line by scale factor appears as shown.
Use this to show .
What can you deduce about the value of as ?
Explain why an enlargement of the line by scale factor appears as shown.
Use this to show .
What can you deduce about the value of as ?