Hi there, genius!

With less than a year to go for your 10th board examinations, there will be plenty of advice coming your way. Suggestions may sound like "You should work out a study timetable" or "If you aspire to be an engineer, you have to excel in mathematics", which are true to some extent! And while the world around you will try to make you understand the importance of scoring well in your 10th standard maths paper, you also ought to know that your knowledge of certain topics will ensure a smooth ride during your further studies. Trigonometry is one such topic that should not be treated as just another chapter from your 10th Maths Book. As increasingly tougher entrance examinations are becoming a gateway to prestigious colleges and dream jobs, it is essential that you master the fundamentals of mathematics. In short, you just cannot afford to take Trigonometry lightly!

The nature of trigonometry problems is such that you can easily identify them from your 10th standard maths question paper in one glance. If you have already gone through the paper, you will notice that trigonometry is scattered throughout the question sheet. Introduction to numerous new concepts, a never-ending list of Trigonometry Formulae and confusing Trigonometry Tables can dent your confidence big time. But the good news is that with the right approach and consistent practice you can turn this threat into an opportunity to score. So, how exactly do you tackle this?

Let's dive straight into it! Here is an outline table of contents for the Trigonometry chapter taken from Target Publication's Mathematics-Part 2 book of its 10th standard study material.

The chapter starts with a revision of the results taught in Standard 9th. Although you are not expected to remember their proofs, it is advisable that you go through them once. The cosec, sec and cot ratios are introduced thereafter, followed by a brush-up of trigonometric identities.

Based on this knowledge you are expected to solve all the trigonometry questions that occur in your paper. The questions can be broadly divided into:

  • Questions on standard angles
  • Proofs using trigonometric identities
  • Elimination of 'θ'
  • Application of trigonometry

The first type of question is basically an extension of your 9th-standard trigonometry problems. A few important questions in this section are:

To tackle proofs using trigonometric identities, you will have to approach the question with clarity in thinking. Always figure out the relations between ratios that will be needed in such proofs and make a mental note of the flow of the proof. A few important questions in this section are:

Once you have practised identities involving sin²θ, cos²θ and tan²θ, the problems on the elimination of θ, will become fairly simple. A few important problems in this section are:

The application of trigonometry is nothing but verbal questions on scenarios involving distances. An accurate diagrammatic representation of such problems is half the job done. It is essential that you are familiar with terms like 'angle of depression' and 'angle of elevation'. A few important questions in this section are:

Pro tips:

  • A chart of all the Trigonometry Formulae and identities in large and colourful fonts always proves to be handy. Paste these charts around your study table or on the walls of your bedroom and keep one copy around your SSC Maharashtra Board books. Glancing through these charts frequently will help you in perfecting them.
  • Tricks to remember Trigonometric formulae

The above ratios have key alphabets 'O H A H O A' when ordered vertically and can be remembered with the line ‘Old Harry And His Old Aunt’

  • You can practice these steps to arrive at trigonometry ratios for 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°

  • There may be a time when you get stuck halfway through questions involving proofs. In such cases it is ideal to leave the proof for a while, attempt other questions and then come back to it.
  • Students often commit silly mistakes in questions based on the application of trigonometry, especially in angles of elevation and depression. You should, therefore, recheck the angles before starting calculations.

Trigonometry is a kind of topic where there is no ambiguity in answers. You are bound to score, provided you make dedicated efforts. And we know you will! Just make sure you are well acquainted with the formulae and cover all the types of problems. You can arm the mathematician in you with these Maths books for SSC. Here's wishing you nothing but the best for your board exams!

We know you would be having a lot of questions lingering in your mind surrounding the board exam. The anxiety of pre-board worry is something we all have faced at some point in our life. Thus, to clear the worry and become your confidante in showing you a clear direction, we at Target Publications have brought some exotic study hacks. Do check out a few examples, as they not only make a good read but a fantastic guide too.

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