Trigonometry 1

1. Degrees and Radians

• Up to now angles were measured in degrees.
• 1 revolution was equal to 3600.
• Another unit to measure angles is the radian.
s
The angle in radians is given by r
θ

s
θ=
r
By simple proportion it can be found that…

1 revolution = 2π c
& When using the calculator make sure that the angle setting is on Radians [RAD]

2. Some common angles

π/6 = 300 2π/3 = 1200
π/4 = 450 3π/4 = 1350
π/3 = 600 π = 1800
π/2 = 900 3π/2 = 2700

Example 1

Convert the following angles to radians.

(a) 2250
(b) 1450
(c) 7200

Example 2

Convert the following angles to degrees.

5π
(a)
8
7π
(b)
12

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(c) 8π

Homework

Exercise 6a

3. Length of arc and area of sector

• When the angle at the centre θ is measured in radians then…

§ Length of arc = rθ
§ Area of Sector = ½θ r2

Where r is the radius of the circle

Example 3

πc
Arc AB subtends an angle of at the centre of a circle of radius 7/2 cm. Determine the
7
length of minor arc and major arc AB and the area of minor sector AOB, where O is the
centre of the circle.

Example 4

πc
An arc PQ subtends an angle of at the centre O of a circle of radius 3cm. Determine
12
the area of the minor segment.

Example 5

A chord LM divides a circle in two segments. The radius of the circle is r and the area of
⎛π ⎞
the minor segment is ⎜ − 1⎟ cm2. Determine the length of minor arc LM given that the
⎝3 ⎠
angle subtended at the centre by LM is π / 6 .

Example 6

The shape here shown consists of a large circle

of radius 12cm and a smaller circle of which the
centre lies on the circumference of the bigger
circle. The radius of the smaller circle is 5cm.
Determine the area and perimeter of this resultant
shape.

Trigonometry  1     2  
Homework

Exercise 6b.

4. Trigonometric ratios
For any angle θ in a right angled
triangle:
hypotenuse

Opposite

adjacent

opposite adjacent opposite

sin θ = cos θ = tan θ =
hypothenuse hypotenuse adjacent
hypotenuse hypotenuse adjacent
cosecant θ = secant θ = cotangent θ =
opposite adjacent opposite

1 1 1
cos ec θ = sec θ = cotan θ =
sin θ cos θ tan θ

5. Trigonometric ratios for angles greater than 900 - CAST rule

5.1 Quadrants and associated acute angle
• The trigonometric ratios for angles greater than 900 will be defined in this section

§ Draw the Cartesian axes and label the quadrants as 1 to 4

§ Angle θ will always be measured in an anticlockwise direction and is the angle measured
with the positive x-axis.

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§ For any angle θ there is a corresponding angle α called the associated acute angle. This
is the angle measured with the x-axis.

1st Quadrant 2nd Quadrant

θ<900 1800<θ<900
α=θ α = 180 - θ θ
α=θ α

θ θ

α α

3rd Quadrant
4th Quadrant
1800<θ<2700
270<θ<360
α = θ - 180
α = 360 - θ

If θ>3600, then α will still be the angle measured with the x-axis
e.g., if θ = 3800, then α = 380 - 360 = 200.

Example 7

Determine the associated acute angle for the following angles.

(a) θ=350
(b) θ=1300
(c) θ=2000
(d) θ=3400
(e) θ=4000

5.2 Defining the trigonometric ratios

Sin θ = + Sin α OR -Sin α

Cos θ = + Cos α OR -Cos α
Tan θ = + Tan α OR -Tan α

• The value of α is always between 00 and 900

• This means that for any angle θ the trigonometric ratios can be determined

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5.3 CAST rule

RULES

§ Enclose α in a Right angled triangle

§ The hypotenuse is always +ve
§ Lines parallel to the +ve axes are +ve while those parallel to -ve axes are –ve

+
+
+
+ θ
α=θ α
+ -

1st Quadrant 2nd Quadrant

Sin α = +ve ⇒ Sin θ = + Sin α Sin α = +ve ⇒ Sin θ = + Sin α

Cos α = +ve ⇒ Cos θ = + Cos α Cos α = -ve ⇒ Cos θ = - Cos α
Tan α = +ve ⇒ Tan θ = + Tan α Tan α = -ve ⇒ Tan θ = - Tan α

θ θ
- +

α α
- -
+
+
3rd Quadrant
4th Quadrant
Sin α = -ve ⇒ Sin θ = - Sin α
Cos α = -ve ⇒ Cos θ = - Cos α Sin α = -ve ⇒ Sin θ = - Sin α
Tan α = +ve ⇒ Tan θ = + Tan α Cos α = +ve ⇒ Cos θ = + Cos α
Tan α = -ve ⇒ Tan θ = - Tan α

Summarizing…

S ine +ve A ll of them +ve

T angent +ve C osine +ve

CAST rule

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Example 8

For the following angles θ determine the associated acute angle α. Use this angle to find
the sine, cosine and tangent of θ.

(a) θ=750
(b) θ=1200
(c) θ=2300
(d) θ=3500

5.4 Negative angles

θ = +400
• When the angle θ is measured in an clockwise θ = -400
direction then θ is -ve.

θ = 3400
This means that for any position of the line there are 2
θ = -20 0 corresponding values of θ. E.g., θ = 3400 and θ = -200 correspond
to the same position of the line.

& In practice it is always much more simple to find the sine, cosine or tangent of an angle
using straight away the calculator.

Example 9

Determine the associated acute angle for the following negative angles. Hence determine
the sine of that angle.

(a) θ=-600
(b) θ=-2000

5.5 Trigonometric equations and possible solutions

• Consider the equation sin θ = 0.5
• This is called a trigonometric equation.
• The solution/s to an equation is/are the value/s which will make the equation true.
• It can be shown that there are an infinite number of solutions to a trigonometric
equation.

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 • For instance the values θ = 300, 1500, 3900, 5100... etc are all good solutions to
the equation sin θ = 0.5 because

sin 30 = 0.5
sin 150 = 0.5
sin 390 = 0.5
sin 510 = 0.5 etc

So, it is not enough to find the sin-1 0.5 using the calculator. The CAST rule must also be
used to find all the possible solutions.

5.6 Reversing the cast rule

Example

Solve sin θ = 0.5, for θ within the range [0,360o]

Solution

STEP 1

Find the associated acute angle α by using...

α = sin-1 0.5 = 300.

STEP 2

Since sin θ is positive (i.e. +0.5), then θ must lie in the first or second quadrant

Here we get θ = 1500

α=300
α=300

Here we get θ = 300

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STEP 3

Find all the possible angles from the obtained positions within the required range.

Ans : θ = 300, θ = .1500.

Example

Solve tan θ = -1, for θ within the range (-2π,2π)

Solution

STEP 1

Find the associated acute angle α.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SIGN OF THE RATIO IS

THERE TO TELL US IN WHICH QUADRANTS THE
ANGLE LIES. IT MUST NOT BE USED TO FIND THE
VALUE OF α.

So, α = tan-1 (1) AND NOT tan-1 (-1)

So, α = π/4

STEP 2

Since the tangent is negative in the second and 4th quadrant then the angle α must lie in
the second and 4th quadrants.

θ=3π/4
θ=7π/4

α=π/4

α=π/4
θ=-π/4

θ=-5π/4

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So, the Solutions are...

θ = -5π/4, -π/4,3π/4. 7π/4.

& When the interval is in radians, the answer should be in radians too!!!.

Example 10

If cosθ = 0.866 and tan θ is negative, find sin θ .

Example 11

Solve the following trigonometric equations in the given range.

(a) sin θ= 0.8660 –3600 ≤θ≤3600

(b) cos θ = -0.5 -π≤θ≤π.
(c) tan θ = 1/√3 0≤θ≤3600
(d) sec θ = 2/√2 –1800 ≤θ≤1800
(e) cosec θ = -2 -2π≤θ≤2π
(f) cot θ = -1 0≤θ≤4π.

Homework

Exercise 6c

5.7 The graphs of the Trig ratios

• A graph is continuous if it has no breaks in the line

• Since the 3 functions repeat the pattern after a certain angle then they are called
periodic functions. (Also called Cyclic). The period of the function is over which
amount the function stars again
• The sine and cosine functions are identical except that the cosine is shifted by 900
to the left. This is called a phase shift of π/2. This common type of wave is called
a Sine wave

The properties for the 3 ratios are below compared…

Function Continuous Range Period Comments

f(θ) = sin θ YES -1<f(θ)<1 2π Also called a sine wave

f(θ) = cos θ YES -1<f(θ)<1 2π Sine wave with a phase shift
of π/2 to the left
f(θ) = tan θ NO -∞<f(θ)<∞ π Undefined at the points -π/2,
π/2, 3π/2 etc., At these
points there is an asymptote

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 f(θ) = + 1
(Amplitude)
f(θ) = sin (θ)

θ
-2π -π 0 π 2π

Period = 2π

f(θ) = - 1

f(θ) = sin θ

f(θ) = + 1 f(θ) = cos (θ)

(Amplitude)

θ
-2π -π 0 π 2π

f(θ) = - 1 Period = 2π

f(θ) = cos θ

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 f(θ)=tan θ

Period π

-2π -π 0 2π
π

-3π/2 -π/2 π/2 3π/2 5π/2

f(θ)=tan θ Vertical
asymptotes

5.8 Special Values

The graphs for the sine, cosine and tangent ratios are very useful when it comes to solve
one of the equations below listed.

• sin θ = 0, sin θ = 1 or sin θ = -1.

• cos θ = 0, cos θ = 1 or cos θ = -1.
• tan θ = 0 or tan θ = ±∞

Trigonometry  1     11  
Example 12

Solve the following equations in the range [-720,720]

(a) sin θ = 1
(b) cosθ = 0
(c) tan θ = ±∞
(d) cosecθ = -1

5.9 The graphs for the minor trig ratios

• From the graphs of the trig ratios one may plot the graphs for the secant, cosecant
and cotangent.
• The following rules apply and the graphs can hence be plotted by comparison to
the original ones. (don't forget that cosec θ = 1 / sin θ etc.,)

Rules…

(a) As one function tends to ±∞, the reciprocal tends to zero and vice-versa
(b) The reciprocal of 1 is 1 and that of -1 is -1
(c) Where a function attains its maximum the reciprocal attains its minimum
(d) When one function increases, the other decreases
(e) A function at a point and its reciprocal will have the same sign

Pages 159 and 160 (1A) show clearly the relation between the trig ratios and the minor
trig ratios graphically

5.10 Inverse functions (Inverse Trig ratios)

• The functions for Sine, Cosine and Tangent are NOT one to one.
• This means that they have no inverse. However, restricting the domain such that
the functions are 1 - 1 will make it possible to define an inverse.

f(θ) = sin (θ)

-1
5.10.1 Inverse Sine - Sin
§ The domain of the sine function is limited
to [-π/2, π/2]
§ The Range of the sine function will then be -π/2
from -1 to 1 π/2
§ The Domain of Sin-1 will hence be from
[-1,1] and the range will be [-π/2, π/2]

The inverse of this function is

defined because it is 1-1

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 sin-1x

Graph of sin-1x. Note that the domain and the range of the inverse are the range
and the domain of the actual function.

5.10.2 Inverse Cosine - Cos-1

§ The domain of the cosine function is limited to [0, π]
§ The Range of the cosine function will then be from -1 to 1
§ The Domain of cos-1 will hence be from [-1,1] and the range will be [0, π]

f(θ) = cos (θ)

The inverse of this function is

defined because it is 1-1

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 cos-1x

Graph of cos-1x. Note that

the domain and the range
of the inverse are the
range and the domain of
the actual function.

f(θ) = tan (θ)

5.10.3 Inverse Tangent - tan-1

-π/2 § The domain of the tangent function is

limited to [-π/2, π/2]
π/2 § The Range of the tangent function will
then be from -∞ to ∞.
§ The Domain of tan-1 will hence be from -
∞ to ∞ and the range will be [-π/2, π/2]

The inverse of this function is

defined because it is 1-1

tan-1x

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& The inverses are still reflections in the lines y = x of the original functions

y=sin-1(x)

y=sin(x)

y=x

6. Principal values and the Calculator

• The calculator will return the sine, cosine and tangent of ANY angle (using the
cast rule)
• When working with inverses however the calculator will only give the angle that
lies within the range specified by the inverse. i.e.,

If sin (θ ) = x, then x = sin-1 θ . x will be in the range [-π /2, π /2]

If cos (θ ) = x, then x = cos-1 θ . x will be in the range [0, π ]
If tan (θ ) = x, then x = tan-1 θ . x will be in the range [-π /2, π /2]

The  Principal  value  is  the  angle  which  lies  in  the  range  of  the  
inverse  (the  value  returned  by  the  calculator)  

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7. Standard Values
• It is sometimes convenient to give the values of certain ratios in a surd form.
• The following standard results are worth remembering

00 300 450 600 900

1 2 3
Sine 0 1
2 2 2
3 2 1
Cosine 1 0
2 2 2
1
Tangent 0 1
3 ±∞
3

8. Complimentary angles
• Since β = 90 - α, then β and α are
called complimentary angles. β

It can be easily shown that…

α
• Sin α = cos (β) = cos (90 - α)
• tan α = cotan (β) = cotan (90 - α)
• Sec α = cosec (β) = cosec (90 - α)

Hence, Sine and Cosine

Tangent and Cotangent
Secant and Cosecant
} are called Complimentary Ratios

9. Trigonometric Equations
• Any equation with a trig ratio in it is called Trigonometric equation.

e.g. sin (x) + 3cos (x) = 0.5

• A trigonometric equation can be solved using either the cast rule or using the
general solution.

Trigonometry  1     16  
9.1 General Solution
• The general solutions to the 3 principal trig ratios are hereunder given.

sin θ = x θ = (-1)nPV + nπ
cos θ = x θ = 2nπ ± PV
tan θ = x θ = nπ + PV

& PV means Principal Value i.e. the value returned by the calculator
& n ∈Ζ

sin θ = x θ = (-1)nPV + 180n

cos θ = x θ = 360n ± PV
tan θ = x θ = 180n + PV

& When giving a solution never mix up the Radians and degrees in the same answer.

9.2 A very important identity

• It can be shown that

sin θ
tan θ ≡
cosθ
• Note that this is an identity and not an equation. It is valid for any angle θ.

Trigonometry  1     17  
9.3 Working with the general solution

Example

Solve the equation tan θ = 1 in the range [0,3600]

Solution

STEP 1. Find the PV using the calculator.

PV = tan-11 = 450

STEP 2. Write the general solution for tangent.

θ = 180n + PV
so, θ = 180n + 45

STEP 3. Use n=0, ±1, ±2, ±3… until all the solution within the required range are
generated.

i.e., n=0, θ=180.0 + 45 = 45 P (lies within the range [0,3600])

n=1, θ=180.1 + 45 = 225 P (lies within the range [0,3600])
n=2, θ=180.2 + 45 = 405 O (out of the range [0,3600])
n=-1, θ=180.(-1) + 45 = -135 O (out of the range [0,3600])

Hence the final answer is θ = 450 and 2250.

Example

Solve the equation cos θ = 0.75 in the range -3600≤θ≤1800

Solution

STEP 1

Find the PV using the calculator.

PV = cos-10.75 = 41.40

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STEP 2

Write the general solution for cosine.

θ = 360n ± PV
so, θ = 360n ± 41.40

STEP 3

Use n=0, ±1, ±2, ±3… until all the solution within the required range are generated.

i.e., n=0, θ=360.0 ± 41.40 =

= 41.4 and –41.4 P
(both lie within the range [-360,1800])

n=1, θ=360.1 ± 41.40

= 401.4 and 318.6 O (neither lies within range)

n=-1, θ=360.(-1) ± 41.40

= -401.4 O and –318.6 P
(only the –318.6 is within range)

Hence the final answer is θ = ±41.40 and –318.60.

& For cosine it is very important to use the ± both as a + and as a -.

& When using the general solution for sine pay extra attention to (-1)n. Remember that…

(-1)n = +1 for n=0, ±2, ±4, ±6….

and (-1)n = -1 for n=±1, ±3, ±5, ±7….

& When finding the PV it is very important to include the sign of the ratio (not like the
cast rule to find α)

i.e., cos θ=0.5, PV=cos-10.5=600.

But cos θ=-0.5, PV=cos-1(-0.5)=1200.

Example 13

Re work all the equations in example 11 but this time use the general solution and not the
cast rule. Compare the solutions with the ones obtained using the cast rule.

Trigonometry  1     19  
Example 14

Solve in the following equations in the range [−π , π ]

(a) tan θ = 1
(b) tanθ = − 3

Example 15

Solve the equation sin θ + 3 sin θ cosθ = 0 in the range 0 ≤ θ ≤ 3600.

Example 16

1
(
Solve the equation sin θ = − in the range 0,7200
2
)
Example 17

Solve the equation 2 sin 2 θ + sin θ − 1 = 0 in the range [0,2π ]

Example 18

Give the general solution to the equation tan θ − 2 cot θ + 1 = 0

Example 19

(
Solve the equation 2 cosθ − 4 secθ + 7 = 0 in the range − 1800 ,1800 )
Example 20

Find the general solution to the equation 4 sin θ (2 tanθ + 3) + 6 tanθ + 9 = 0

Example 21

(a) Solve within the range [-180,180], the equation 3 cosθ − sin θ = 0
(b) Solve within the range [0,2π] the equation tan 2 θ = 3

Homework Exercise 6g

Trigonometry  1     20  
9.4 Multiple angles

Example 22
Solve the following equations in the range [0,3600]

3
(a) sin 2θ =
2
θ 2
(b) cos =
2 2
(c) 5 tan 3θ = 1
θ
(d) cos ec =4
3
(e) sec 2θ = 2

Example 23

Solve the equation tan 2 3θ − 3 tan 3θ + 2 = 0 in the range [− π ,π ]

Examples

Examples 6h

Homework

Exercise 6h

9.5 The equations Sin A = Sin B, Cos A = Cos B and Tan A = Tan B
• Consider the equation cos A = cos 60 !
• Instinctively A = 60 0
1 1
• But cos 60 = . The equation thus becomes cos A =
2 2
• This equations has an infinite number of solutions

Trigonometry  1     21  
So

cos A = cos 60
gives a general solution

A = 360n ± PV

So in this case A = 360n ± 60 !

The same hold for the other trig ratios i.e.

Sin A = Sin B ⇒ A = (-1)nB + 180n OR A = (-1)nB + nπ

Cos A = Cos B ⇒ A = 360n ± B OR A = 2nπ ± B

Tan A = Tan B ⇒ A = 180n + B OR A = nπ + B

Example 24

Solve the equation cos 4θ = cos θ in the range [−π , π ]

Example 25

Find the values for θ in the range 0≤θ≤3600 which satisfy the equation
tan (3θ - 400) = tan θ.

Example 26

Solve the equation (

sin 4θ = sin 2θ − 30 0 )in the range (-180 ,180 )
0 0

Trigonometry  1     22  
Example 27

Determine the general solution to the following equations

(a) sin 2θ = cos 3θ

⎛ π⎞
(b) tan⎜θ − ⎟ = cot 2θ
⎝ 4⎠
( )
(c) sec 2θ − 30 ! = cos ec(3θ )
(d) cos 2 3θ − cos 3θ sin 5θ = 0

Homework

Exercise 6i

Example 28

Solve cos(2θ - π/6)=½ in the range (0,3600)

Example 29

Solve the following equations in the indicated range:

(a) 3sin ( 2θ − 15! ) = 1 in the range (-180,180)

⎛θ π ⎞
(b) 3 tan ⎜ − ⎟ = 3 in the range [0, 4π ]
⎝ 3 6⎠

Homework

Exercise 6j. Numbers 12 to 15

Example 30

Try the following as a drill for the coming module!! Getting to the general solution is
enough.

(a) 2sin θ sec θ - 3 –sec θ + 6sin θ = 0.

(b) 3tan2θ + 5tan θ - 2 = 0
(c) cosec2θ + cosec θ - 2 = 0

Trigonometry  1     23  
10. Circular Functions for Compound Angles
10.1 Frequency and Period of a function
f(θ) = sin kθ ⇒ Frequency k and period 2π/k
f(θ) = cos kθ ⇒ Frequency k and period 2π/k
f(θ) = tan kθ ⇒ Frequency k and period π/k

Hence, for the function f(θ) = sin (2θ) we get a curve with frequency 2 and period 2π/2
= π.

Trigonometry  1     24  
Example

Compare the graphs of sin x , sin 2 x and sin 4 x

y=sin (x)

Frequency: 1
Period: 2π/1 = 2π

y=sin (2x)

Frequency: 2
Period: 2π/2 = π
y=sin (4x)

Frequency: 4
Period: 2π/4 = π/2

Trigonometry  1     25  
Example
x
Compare the graphs of tan x and tan .
2
y=tan(x)

Frequency: 1
Period: π/1 = π

y=tan(x/2)

Frequency: ½
Period: π/(½) = 2π

Trigonometry  1     26  
10.2 Phase shift
Consider f(θ)= cos(θ - α)

e.g., f(θ) = cos(θ - π/4)

Plotting we get…

& The period and frequency remain the same

& The graph move to the right by π/4.

α  is  called  the  phase  shift  

Also,

Consider f(θ)= cos(θ + α)

e.g., f(θ) = cos(θ +π/3)

Plotting we get…

The period and frequency remain the same

Trigonometry  1     27  
& The graph move to the Left by π/3.

10.3 Amplitude

Consider f(θ) = 3 sin(θ)

Plotting we get…

3
3 sin θ

1
sin θ

& The only difference is that the maximum values reached by the function are ±3. This is
called the Amplitude of the graph.
& The period and the frequency remain the same.

So, plotting f(θ) = ½cos(θ) we get…

cos θ

½cosθ

Example 31

⎛ π⎞
Sketch the function f (θ ) = 2 sin ⎜ 2θ − ⎟ .
⎝ 4⎠

Homework

Exercise 6j. From 1 to 11

Trigonometry  1     28