Research Article

SOLVING TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL?

ABSTRACT

Trigonometry is a subject taught at high school and university level. Since the basic trigonometric relations are first introduced in a right triangle, which is sufficiently studied in primary school, with an emphasis on the Pythagorean theorem, certain trigonometric problems can be solved by primary school students if they only know the definitions of the trigonometric functions in a right triangle as well as their values for characteristic acute angles (30°, 45° and 60°). We give a few examples of trigonometric equations that can be solved with basic knowledge of the trigonometric relations in a right triangle and using the geometric tools that the students in the upper grades of primary school already have. Everything is done in order to promote the creative teaching of mathematics, especially in the work with talented students, and to make the classes more interesting and fun. The objectives are to improve the math knowledge of the students, to develop their math skills and to motivate them to do independent research.

Keywords

trigonometry trigonometric identities trigonometric equations