Small Angle Approximations for Trig Functions

Topic:
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 ?