3.5: Trigonometric Functions Reference Evans 6.

Consider a right-angled triangle with angle θ and side lengths x, y and h as

shown:

h
y

θ
x

The trigonometric functions sine, cosine and tangent of θ are defined as:
opposite y adjacent x
sin θ = = , cos θ = =
hypotenuse h hypotenuse h

opposite y sin θ
tan θ = = =
adjacent x cos θ

71
Reciprocal Trigonometric Functions

The reciprocal trigonometric functions secant, cosecant and cotangent are de-
fined as:

1
sec θ =
cos θ

1
cosec θ =
sin θ

1 cos θ
cot θ = or
tan θ sin θ

72
Example

13
5
θ
12

For the above right-angled triangle, find:

1. sin θ
2. cos θ
3. tan θ
4. sec θ
5. cosec θ
6. cot θ

You can now attempt Sheet 3 Q19

73
The Unit Circle

We can form right-angled triangles in a unit circle (circle of radius 1).

−
−→
If θ is the anticlockwise angle between the positive x-axis and the ray OP then for
all θ ∈ R:
y x y
sin θ = = y , cos θ = = x and tan θ =
1 1 x

y y y
1 1 1

y P(x,y)
1
θ x θ O x 1
x x x
O x 1 O 1 θ
negative θ
1 1 (clockwise)
y
y P(x,y)
P(x,y)

74
Signs of Trigonometric Functions

The signs of the trigonometric functions for different values of θ can be determined
by noting the signs of x and y in the unit circle:

y
1
2nd quadrant 1st quadrant
x negative x positive
y positive y y positive
1
x
x x 1

3rd quadrant y 4th quadrant

x negative x positive
y negative y negative

75
‘CAST’ Diagram
sin θ =
Since in the unit circle sin θ = y, cos θ = x and tan θ = cos y
θ x , we obtain the
following ‘CAST’ diagram as a shorthand for remembering signs of trigonometric
functions in different parts of the circle:

y
1
only SIN positive ALL sin, cos, tan positive

S A
x
1
T C
only TAN positive only COS positive

76
Degrees and Radians
In the unit circle, if we measure the length of the arc from A to B in an anticlock-
wise direction, we have another way of measuring angles.

1
B.
θ
.A
1

This length is called the radian measure of the angle θ and we can signify it by
the symbol θ c rather than θ o, but usually we don’t show units for radians.
77
Radians on the Unit Circle

Since the circumference of the unit circle is 2πr = 2π · 1 = 2π, a complete

angle around the whole circle is 2π radians. Hence if we divide the circle into four
quarters or quadrants we have radian measures as shown:

π
2

π 0, 2π

3π
2

78
Converting Between Degrees and Radians
π .
To convert from degrees to radians multiply by 180

To convert from radians to degrees multiply by 180

π .

Examples

Convert 360◦, 1◦, 90◦, 135◦ to radians.

Convert π, 1, π , 7π radians to degrees.

3 6

79
Two Important Triangles

The following triangles help us work out the exact values of sin, cos and tan of
certain special angles.

π π π
6 6 4
2 2 2
3 1

π3 π π
3 4
1 1 1

80
Exact Values using Triangles

Using the two important triangles on the previous slide and your knowledge of the
unit circle complete the table with exact values:

θ sin θ cos θ tan θ

0
π
6
π
4
π
3
π
2
π
3π
2

***Important to know these ratios, either the triangles or the table

81
Examples: Find the exact values of the following trig ratios:

� �
1. cos 5π
6

� �
2. sin 4π
3 Ask yourself:

• quadrant?
� �
3. tan 3π
4 • angle from x-axis?

• ± CAST?
� �
4. sin 11π
6 • value of ratio?

� �
5. tan −π
4

� �
6. cos −2π
3

82
Finding Angles

Here we need to work backwards considering both the value of the ratio and its
sign, as this determines the quadrants of the resultant angles.
Find all values of θ between 0 and 2π satisfying:

1. sin(θ) = 1
2

2. tan(θ) = 1

3. cos(θ) = − √1
2

83
Solving Trigonometric Equations

Solve the following trigonometric equations for x ∈ [0, 2π).

1. cos x + 1
2 =0

2. 2 sin2 x + sin x − 1 = 0

84
3. cos x + sin x = 0

4. 2 tan2 x − 6 = 0

You can now attempt Sheet 3 Q20-21

85
Sine and Cosine Graphs Reference Evans 6.2

Plotting the values of f (x) = sin x and g(x) = cos x for x ∈ R gives the
following graphs

f �x�
1

x
�2 Π �Π Π 2Π 3Π 4Π

�1
g�x�
1

x
�2 Π �Π Π 2Π 3Π 4Π

�1

86
Properties of Sine and Cosine Graphs

• The sine and cosine functions repeat themselves after an interval (or period) of
2π units. That is:

. . . sin(x − 2π) = sin x = sin(x + 2π) = sin(x + 4π) . . ., and

. . . cos(x − 4π) = cos(x − 2π) = cos x = cos(x + 2π) . . ., for all x ∈ R

These functions are therefore said to be periodic or cyclic, with period 2π.

• The maximum and minimum values of sin x and cos x are 1 and −1 respec-
tively. The graphs of f (x) = sin x and g(x) = cos x are therefore said to have
an amplitude of 1.

87
Graph of Tangent Function Reference Evans 6.6

sin x is defined for x ∈ R such that cos x �= 0.

The function h(x) = tan x = cos x

Plotting h(x) = tan x over its domain x ∈ R\{(2k + 1) π2 | k ∈ Z} gives the

following graph

88
Properties of Tan Graph

• The tangent function h(x) = tan x is undefined at x = {(2k + 1) π2 | k ∈ Z}

(this is where cos x = 0).

The graph has vertical asymptotes at these x-values, which are usually indicated
by dotted or dashed vertical lines.

• The tangent function repeats itself after an interval of π units. That is:
π
tan θ = tan(θ + π), for all θ ∈ R\{(2k + 1) | k ∈ Z}
2
This function therefore has period π.

89
Dilations of Trig Graphs Reference Evans 6.2, 6.3 & 6.6

Sketch the following graphs - the standard sin or cos graph is shown - state the
period and amplitude of the transformed graph in each case. � �
Note: a dilation in the x direction (e.g. y = cos bx) changes the period to b2π

and one in the y direction (e.g. y = a sin x) changes the amplitude (to a)
 

1.
 
y = sin 2x 2. y = 3 cos
� x�
3. y = −52 sin x 4. y = cos 2x

90
Translations of Trigonometric Graphs

Sketch the following graphs on the axes below –adding or subtracting a value to
the trig function will translate the graph up or down, while adding or subtracting a
value to the x term will translate the graph to the left or right respectively.

1. y = tan(x − π4 )

91
2. y = sin(x) + 3

3. y = cos(x + π)

92
Multiple Transformations
Sketch the following sequence of graphs on the same set of axes. � �
y1 = sin x y2 = −2 sin x y3 = −2 sin 3x π
y4 = −2 sin 3x − 2

You can now attempt Sheet 3 Q22-23

93
 DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
MAST10012 Introduction to Mathematics Semester 1, 2011

REVISION - TRIGONOMETRY

A: Finding trig ratios in the Unit Circle

1. Identify the quadrant that the angle is in: Q2 Q1

• Q1 has angles from 0 → π2

• Q2 has angles from π2 → π
• Q3 has angles from π → 3π2
3π
• Q4 has angles from 2 → 2π

This is just the first revolution of the unit circle

We can of course find bigger angles by moving Q3 Q4
around the circle more than once or negative
angles by going in the opposite direction

2. Decide if the ratio you need to find (usually sin, cos or tan)
is positive or negative in the quadrant you found in step 1
(most students use CAST to remember the signs)

3. Use the special triangles to find 

6
the ratio required 
2 4 2
3
(remember SOH-CAH-TOA) 1
√
3 √1  
e.g. sin π6 = 12 , cos π6 = 2
, tan π6 = 3 3 4

1 1

4. For angles that give points on the x or y axes we use the basic definitions:

• cos θ is the x coordinate

• sin θ is the y coordinate
sin θ
• tan θ =
cos θ

Therefore we can find values like:

(sin 3π
2
) −1
cos π = −1 or sin − π2 = −1 or tan 3π
2
= 3π = = undefined
(cos 2 ) 0

It may help to look at the unit circle above to see these points (and remember that
− π2 and 3π
2
are just different names for the same point on the circle.

1
PRACTICE EXERCISE A
1. Find the values of the following trig ratios - the steps mentioned on the previous
page have been spelt out for the first few questions (then you are on your own to do
the rest by following the same process):
(a) sin 5π
4

5π 5π
i. 4
is in Q . . . . . . (as 4
= π + π4 )

ii. In Q . . . . . . sin is . . . . . . (+ or –) 


iii. From triangle 2 we know that sin π4 = . . . . . .

=⇒ sin 5π
4
=

(b) cos 11π

6

11π 11π
i. 6
is in Q . . . . . . (as 6
= 2π − π6 )

ii. In Q . . . . . . cos is . . . . . . (+ or –) 


iii. From triangle 1 we know that cos π6 = . . . . . .

=⇒ cos 11π
6
=

(c) tan 8π
3

8π 8π
i. 3
is in Q . . . . . . (as 3
= 3π − π3
= π − π3 ) 

ii. In Q . . . . . . tan is . . . . . . (+ or –)

iii. From triangle 1 we know that tan π3 = . . . . . .

=⇒ tan 8π
3
=

(d) cos 5π

i. 5π is on the . . . . . . axis (x or y)

ii. It has coordinates (. . . , . . . )

iii. As cos is the x coordinate we know:

=⇒ cos 5π =

2
2. Now try the same process with these questions:

(a) sin( 5π
3
)

(b) cos( 5π
4
)

(c) tan( 7π
6
)

(d) sin(2π)

(e) cos(− 7π
2
)

(f) sin(− 7π
4
)

(g) tan(− 17π

6
)

There are other trig ratios we can use but they are based on the standard ones. So
to find cosec, sec or cot we calculate sin, cos or tan respectively and then just ”turn
them upside down” because of the definitions:
1 1 1 cos θ
cosec θ = sec θ = cot θ = =
sin θ cos θ tan θ sin θ

Examples: We found on page 1 in section 3 that:

1 π 2
sin π6 = 2
=⇒ cosec 6
= 1
=2 and
√ √
3 π √2 2 3
cos π6 = 2
=⇒ sec 6
= 3
(or 3
)
π
√
tan π6 = √1 =⇒ cot = 3
3 6

3. Find the following trig ratios (you may find your answers to Q2 useful in some cases):

(a) cosec ( 5π
3
)

(b) sec (− 7π
2
)

(c) cot( 7π
6
)

(d) sec ( 3π
4
)

(e) cot(6π)

3
B: Solving Trig equations

1. Rearrange the equation to make the trig ratio (usually sin, cos or tan) the subject
e.g. sin x + 1 = 0 =⇒ sin x = −1
√ 5π
2 cos(x + 5π ) − 1 = 0 =⇒ cos(x + ) = √1
6 6 2

2. Find the basic angle that satisfies this ratio – this may involve looking at the angles
in the two special triangles or looking at the coordinates of points on the unit circle
where they intersect with the two axes.

3. Decide which quadrants the answers must be in - look at the sign of the trig ratio
e.g. if the sin ratio has a negative answer then angles must be in Q3 and Q4
if the cos ratio has a positive answer then angles must be in Q1 and Q4
so we are really looking at our CAST diagram ”backwards”

4. Use knowledge of the unit circle to find

the basic angle in the right quadrants

So the unit circle on the right  

might be useful here

Note that θ is the basic angle found in step 2  

5. Check the domain of the question

have you found all the solutions?

you may need to add or subtract 2π if you need bigger angles or negative angles for
the domain given in the question - that is, angles outside the standard 0 → 2π which
is only one revolution around the unit circle

PRACTICE EXERCISE B

Solve the following trig equations over the given domains (as in Exercise A you are guided
through the first few questions then you should use the same process to complete the rest):

√
1. 2 cos x = 3 x ∈ (0, 2π)
... π
cos x = basic angle θ = 6
see special triangle 1
...
cos is + in Q. . . (θ) and Q. . . (2π − θ)
π
=⇒ x = π6 , 2π − 6
...
=⇒ x = π6 , 6
(mentalcheck : these values are in the domain 0 → 2π)

Note: if we added or subtracted 2π to either of our answers we would get values

outside the domain, so we don’t need to do anything else here

4
 √
2. tan(x − π4 ) − 3=0 x ∈ (0, 2π)

tan(x − π4 ) = . . . basic angle θ = . . . see special triangle 1

tan is . . . (+/–) in Q. . . (θ) and Q3 (. . . . . . )
π
=⇒ x− 4
= ......, ......
π
=⇒ x− 4
= ......, ......
π π
=⇒ x = . . . . . . + π4 , ...... + 4
add 4
to RHS of equation to find x

=⇒ x = ......, ...... use LCD to add fractions

(mental check: these values are inside the domain of 0 → 2π, and if we added or
subtracted 2π to either of them we would get answers outside the domain, so we
don’t need to do anything else here)

3. 8 sin(x + π6 ) + 4 = 0 x ∈ (−2π, 2π)

sin(x + π6 ) = . . . basic angle θ = . . . see special triangle 1

sin is – in Q3 (π + θ) and Q. . . (. . . . . . )
π
=⇒ x+ 6
= ......, ......
π
=⇒ x+ 6
= ......, ......
π π
=⇒ x = . . . . . . − π6 , ...... − 6
subtract 6
to RHS of equation to find x

=⇒ x = ......, ...... use LCD to add fractions

and x = . . . . . . − 2π, . . . . . . − 2π domain needs negative angles too

Note: we need all four answers – the two negative and the original two positive ones

So the final solutions are:

x = ......, ......, ......, ......

√
4. 2 cos x + 1 = 0 x ∈ (−2π, 2π)

5. sin(x + π3 ) = 1 x ∈ (0, 4π]

3π
6. cos(x − 4
) =0 x ∈ (0, 2π)

7. 2 cos2 x + 3 cos x + 1 = 0 x ∈ [0, 2π]

5
Trigonometry
Friday, 22 April 2011
3:05 PM

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