Trigonometric functions example) and another of the sides remains the same. If the hypotenuse is twice as long, so are the sides. It is these ratios that the trigonometric functions express. To define the trigonometric functions for the angle "A", start with any right triangle that contains the angle "A". The three sides of the triangle are named as follows: In ordinary Euclidean geometry, according to the triangle postulate, the inside angles of every triangle total 180° ( radians). Therefore, in a right-angled triangle, the two non-right angles total 90° ( radians), so each of these angles must be in the range
Triangle inequality angles satisfy: Therefore, and so, in particular, That means side opposite angle is shorter than side opposite the larger angle . But . Hence: A similar construction shows , establishing the theorem. An alternative proof (also based upon the triangle postulate) proceeds by considering three positions for point : (i) as depicted (which is to be proven), or (ii) coincident with (which would mean the isosceles triangle had two right angles as base angles plus the vertex angle , which would violate the triangle postulate), or lastly, (iii) interior to the right triangle between points and (in which case angle