REVIEW SHEETS

TRIGONOMETRY
MATH 112

A Summary of Concepts Needed to be Successful in Mathematics

The following sheets list the key concepts which are taught in the specified math course. The sheets present
concepts in the order they are taught and give examples of their use.

WHY THESE SHEETS ARE USEFUL –

• To help refresh your memory on old math skills you may have forgotten.

• To prepare for math placement test.

• To help you decide which math course is best for you.

HOW TO USE THESE SHEETS –

• Students who successfully review spend from four to five hours on this material. We recommend that you
cover up the solutions to the examples and try working the problems one by one. Then, check your work by
looking at the solution steps and the answer.

KEEP IN MIND –

• These sheets are not intended to be a short course. You should use them to simply help you determine at
what skill level in math you should begin study. For many people, the key to success and enjoyment of
learning math is in getting started at the right place. You will, most likely, be more satisfied and comfortable
if you start onto the path of math and science by selecting the appropriate beginning stepping stone.
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I. Use geometry, algebra, and graphing

calculator skills from previous courses. 4. Calculate the requested length in each triangle
below to the nearest tenth.
These skills are assumed in doing trigonometry.
In a trigonometry course they might be reviewed a.
in worksheets. Placement exams in geometry
and algebra also cover many of these skills.

II. Move easily between degree and radian

measure.

1. Know from memory the basic equivalencies and

use them to calculate other equivalencies. Quickly
complete the tables below without using a calculator:
b.
Deg Rad Deg Rad
30° 120°
45° 150°
π 3π
3 4 c.
π 5π
2 4
180° 315°
3π 5π
−
2 6
IV. Identify, apply, and interpret features
2π 7π
− of the equations and graphs of the six
4 circular functions.

5. From the unit circle graph, give the approximate

2. Convert between degrees and radians for any value of these:
given angle measure. Calculate the equivalent
measures: a. sin 75°

a. 115°30′ = ______ radians to the b. cos 75°

nearest hundredth
c. tan 75°
o
b. 0.85 radians = ____ to the nearest
minute

III. Identify and use the six trigonometric

functions in right triangle applications.

3. Using the triangle shown, write a fraction for

each of the following:

a. sin A d. sec A 6. On the rectangular coordinate system, sketch a

graph of y = cos x , and use it to determine the
b. tan A e. cot A 7π
approximate value of cos .
3
c. cos A f. csc A
 -2-
7. Give the amplitude, period, phase shift, and b. Confirm that your function is a good fit by
vertical shift for each equation. Then sketch a graph. plotting a scatter plot in your calculator and
graphing your function in the same window.
1
a. y = 4 + sin(2x ) V. Recall and apply the basic trigonometric
2
identities.
 π
b. y = tan x +  10. Simplify these expressions:
 2
sin 2 x + cos2 x
a.
c. y = −4cos(3x − π ) cos x
b. tan x cot x − cos x
2
8. Write an equation for each of these graphs
using the sine function.
sec x cos x + tan2 x
c. 2
a. cos x
d. 2 cos x + sin x
2 2

11. Verify the following identities:

a. cos 2 θ − sin 2 θ = 1− 2sin2 θ

b. cos θ + sin θ tanθ = sec θ

VI. Use the sum, difference, double-angle

b. and half-angle identities.

12. Fill in the blanks using the reference identities:

sin(α ± β ) = sin α cos β ± cos α sin β

cos(α ± β ) = cos α cos β  sin α sin β
sin2θ = 2sinθ cosθ
cos 2θ = cos2 θ − sin2 θ
θ 1− cosθ
sin =±
2 2
θ 1+ cosθ
9. By hand, fit a sinusoidal function of the form cos = ±
 2 2
y = asin(bx + c) + d to a set of data.
a. sin80° = 2sin___ cos___
a. The table below gives the normal daily high
temperatures for Chicago (F, in degrees b. cos(70° − 20°) = cos__cos__ + sin__sin__
Fahrenheit) for month t, with t = 1
θ
corresponding to January. By hand, fit a c. for 270° < θ < 360° , cos = _____
sinusoidal function y = F(t) to the data. 2
2 π
t 1 2 3 4 5 6 13. Given sin θ = with < θ < π , use identities to find
3 2
F 29.0 33.5 45.8 58.6 70.1 79.6 exact values for each of the following:
θ
t 7 8 9 10 11 12 a. cos θ c. sin
2
F 83.7 81.8 74.8 63.3 48.4 34.0
b. sin2θ d. tan 2θ
 -3-
VII. Identify features of and use the three IX. Apply the Law of Sines and Law of
major inverse trigonometric functions. Cosines where appropriate.

14. Without a calculator give the value of these in the sin A sin B sin C
requested units: Law of Sines : = =
a b c
 1
a. sin −1   = ____ ° Law of Cosines : c 2 = a2 + b2 − 2abcos C
 2

b. tan
−1
(−1) = _____°
19. Solve for the requested length to nearest tenth:
 3
c. cos−1 −  = ____ radians
 2 

15. Using a calculator, give the value of these to the

nearest tenth:

sin (0.397) = ___ °

−1
a.
20. Solve for the requested length to nearest tenth:
b. tan
−1
(3.6) = ___°
c. arccos(0.825) = ___ radians

16. Calculate angle A to the nearest tenth of a degree.

21. In triangle ABC, ∠A = 27° , b = 17.9 feet, and

c = 23.1 feet. Find ∠C .

X. Use polar coordinates and polar equations and

transform them to rectangular form and back.

22. Plot points given in polar form and plot points

VIII. Solve trigonometric equations from equations given in polar form.
analytically and with technology. a. Given the polar equation r = 3 − 2cos θ ,
complete the table and plot the points:
17. Solve analytically (use algebra and trigonometry
but no calculator) for 0 ≤ x < 2π : θ r
0
a. sin x cos x − sin 2 x = 0 π/4
2π / 3
b. 3 − tan x = 0
2

23. Convert coordinates from rectangular to polar

c. 3 − 2cos2x = 0 coordinates and vice versa.

18. Solve using a graphing calculator for 0 ≤ x < 2π : a. Write polar coordinates for the rectangular
coordinates (−5, −12) .
a. cos 2x = 0.3x
b. Write the rectangular coordinates for the polar
b. 3sin x + 2 = 5 − 2cos x  π
coordinates 6,−  .
 6
 -4-
XI. Use complex numbers in standard form and in 30. Calculate the magnitude (length) and direction
polar form (optional). angle of a vector (0 ≤ θ < 2π ).
24. Calculate the magnitude of a complex number.
a. Calculate the magnitude and direction angle of
a. Calculate −2 + 6i the vector −3,7 .

25. Switch between forms of complex numbers - b. Calculate the magnitude and direction angle of
standard form: a + bi to polar form: the vector 4,−2 .
r(cos θ + i sin θ ).
31. Calculate the resultant of two vectors given their
a. Write −5 + 3i in polar form. magnitudes and direction angles.
 3π 3π 
b. Write 3 cos + i sin  in standard form. a. Two ropes are attached to a handle on a box.
 4 4 One rope is being pulled with a force of 50
pounds at a 30° angle to the horizontal. The
26. Add, subtract, multiply and divide complex
other rope is being pulled with a force of 40
numbers in standard form.
pounds at a 45° angle to the horizontal.
3 + 5i Calculate the magnitude and direction angle of
a. (3 + 5i)(−2 + i) b. the resultant force.
−2 + i
 
27. Multiply and divide complex numbers in ai + bj .
32. Write a vector in the form 
polar form.
 
ai + bj .
a. Write −2,5 in the form 
  π π   π π 
a. 5 cos 3 + isin 3   6 cos 4 + i sin 4    
ai + bj form of the vector with
b. Write the 
magnitude 4 and direction angle 90° .
 π π
5 cos + isin 
 3 3 XIII. Use parametric equations.
b.
π π
6 cos + i sin 
 4 4 33. Make a table of points by hand from a set of
parametric equations and sketch a graph by hand
XII. Solve problems using vector notation. from the points.

28. Compute with vectors in component form. a. Make a table of points and graph the resulting
  graph of x and y if:
a. Given u = 2,−3 and 
v = 3,5 , calculate
 
i. u+v x =t+1
 
ii. u−v y = t2 − 2
 
iii.
 2u − v
34. Eliminate the parameter and create an equation
29. Sketch a vector which is the sum of given vectors in x and y.
in graphic form.
    a. Write an equation in x and y equivalent to the
u and 
a. Given vectors  u+v:
v , sketch  parametric equations.

x =t+1
y = t2 − 2
 -5-
XIV. Work with the definitions, equations, and graphs 40. Identify the type of conic section from a given
of conic sections. equation and graph it.

35. Sketch by hand the graph of the equations of a a. Identify the type of conic section described by
parabola in the form: the following equation. Sketch its graph.
x 2 = 4ay or y 2 = 4ax 9x 2 + 4y2 − 36x + 8y + 31 = 0
a. Sketch the graph of y = −12x .
2
41. Write algebraic equations for conic sections from
graphs or other information.
b. Identify the focal point of y = −12x .
2

c. Give the equation of the directrix of a. Write an equation for the ellipse shown:
y 2 = −12x .
36. Find an equation of a parabola whose
vertex is at the origin if the equation of its
directrix and its focal point are given.

a. Find an equation of a parabola with

focal point (0,4) and directrix y = −4 .

37. Write an equation of an ellipse or hyperbola

when given sufficient information.

a. Write an equation of the ellipse with foci (0,2)

and (0,−2) with vertices (0,3) and (0,−3). XV. Apply geometric and trigonometric relationships
to appropriate multi-step problems.
b. Write an equation of the hyperbola with foci (4,0)
and (−4,0) and vertices (3,0 ) and (−3,0 ). 42. From a point 200 feet from the base of a
building, the angle of inclination to the base of a
o
38. Write equations of asymptotes of hyperbolas flagpole at the edge of the building is 70 . The
given their equation or other information. angle of inclination to the top of the flagpole is
o
70.5 . How tall is the flagpole?
a. Write the equations of the asymptotes of

x2 y2
− =1
4 9

39. Graph conic sections given their equations using

horizontal and/or vertical shifts. Identify center,
vertices, foci, asymptotes, and/or directrix:

a. (y − 2)2 = 8(x + 3)

(x + 5)2 + (y − 3) = 4
2
b.

(x − 2)2 (y + 3)2
c. + =1
4 9
43. A wheel travels 1 mile in 2 minutes. Calculate the
(x − 2) 2
(y + 3)2 angular velocity of the wheel in revolutions per
d. − =1 second if the wheel has a diameter of 2.5 feet.
4 9
 -6-
XVI. Use a graphing calculator to graph equations and
explore concepts for equations in rectangular,
parametric, or polar form.

44. Solve each equation graphically.

a. 2sin x = 0.7x

b. cos x = e on the interval − π ≤ x ≤ π .

x

45. Find the zeros of the function

f (x) = 2sin x − 3cos 2x on the interval
0 ≤ x ≤ 2π .

46. Find the maximum value of the function in #45 above

on the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π . Where does this maximum
occur?