Math.Trig is a triangle-solving app with a difference, you can draw triangles directly onto your iPhone or iPad screen. Drag your finger across the screen to draw the triangle, release and instantly the triangle is redrawn to maximize on size. All the angle dimensions, side lengths, height and area of the triangle are clearly shown on the image. This is fun to do even if you're not interested in triangles, especially if you select random color mode!
There is also the option to enter dimensions manually, as well as to work in a choice of degrees, radians or gradients. Having the option for angles in radians to be in the form of π radians, has to be a first! This is extremely useful for students using "special triangles" to find exact trigonometric values as ratios.
You can save your results in the "file" tab, which also has some useful preloaded types of triangle, such as isosceles and scalene triangles.
Math.Trig also has an explanation tab, this all-important page shows you how the app solved the triangle. Clearly showing that with the information you input, simple trigonometry formulas determine the result. This is particularly useful when you're stuck on some homework, especially as you can email yourself the results!
All in all a good, fun to use app that will help you get to grips with triangle-solving.
Read more about Math.Trig with our screen by screen walkthrough.
This is a very clear, easy to use app, but is limited by its simplicity. Select from oblique, right (right-angled) and isosceles triangles, then enter the data you know with a good sized keypad. The calculated angles and sides are clearly marked on the triangle, there are also values for perimeter, area and triangle height. Unfortunately the triangle is not redrawn which could be confusing. For example, this screenshot shows a triangle where the shortest side and smallest angle are displayed as the longest side and largest angle! You can only change the number of decimal places of your calculated data in the oblique triangle tab, but you can use this for any type of triangle you want to calculate.
This is a basic app, suitable if you just want to calculate values and are not concerned how it is done or want to see what the triangle looks like.
This app is truly beautiful to use; the superb graphic interface of a mechanical "Triangle Device", makes entering triangle values a real joy. Use the corner dial to enter angles and slide the side rules to enter side lengths. The center dial allows you to add up to 2 decimal places. The latest update, lets you enter dimensions as fractions, however, this seems to be limited to intervals of a quarter. "Display" takes you to a less exciting but very clear, accurate drawing of your triangle, marking the angles and sides along with their dimensions. Scroll along to get the area, height, incircle and circumcircle values.
You can easily retrieve triangles that you have already drawn, through the history tab, which stores their diagram and relevant data with the date and time they were constructed. The help is helpful and specific to the triangle you are trying to draw and you can easily adjust the number of decimal places for your output values in the settings tab. Disappointingly, the latest update seems to have lost the option to change the number of decimal places you input values.
Trivice has been designed to be aesthetically pleasing, provides useful information but does lack an explanation on how the solution is found.
In the real world triangles are everywhere, in structures such as roof rafters, bridges, buildings like the Louvre Pyramid and even stealth fighter wings! All these have to be designed and the measurements accurately calculated by finding the dimensions of a triangle.
Triangulation is also used to locate the center of a point, your iPhone uses triangulation, to verify its position if GPS is not available!
If you want to know the math behind finding angles, sides and areas of a triangle, then take a look here. From Pythagoras' Theorem to the Laws of Sine, all you need to know to solve every triangle!
