LESSON 1

Trigonometric Functions of the

Special Angles
 TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS
Consider a right triangle with as  one of its acute angles. The trigonometric
ratios are defined as follows .
opposite hypotenuse
sin  = csc  =
hypotenuse opposite
hypotenuse opposite adjacent hypotenuse
cos  = sec  =
 hypotenuse adjacent
adjacent
opposite adjacent
tan  = cot  =
adjacent opposite

Note: The symbols we used for these ratios are abbreviations for their full names: sine,
cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant and cotangent.
 RECIPROCAL FUNCTIONS
The following gives the reciprocal relation of the six trigonometric
functions.

1 1
sin  = csc  =
csc  sin 

1 1
cos  = sec  =
sec  cos 

1 1
tan  = cot  =
cot  tan
 THE PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
The Pythagorean Theorem states that the square of the hypotenuse is
equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. In symbol, using
the ABC as shown,
c = a +b
2 2 2
B

c
a

C b A
FUNCTIONS OF COMPLIMENTARY ANGLES
a
sin A = c
a
cos B = c B

a c
b b
cos A = c sin B = c
C A
a a b
tan A = b cot B = b

b b
Comparing these formulas for the acute
cot A = a tan B = a angles A and B, and making use of the
fact that A and B are complementary
b b
sec A = c csc B = c angles (A+B=90o), then

c c
csc A = a sec B = a
 FUNCTIONS OF COMPLIMENTARY ANGLES
sin B = sin (90 − A)= cos A
0

cos B = cos (90 0

− A) = sin A
tan B = tan (90 0 − A)= cot A
cot B = cot (90 0
− A)= tan A
sec B = sec (90 − A) = csc A
0

csc B = csc (90 − A) = sec A

0

The relations may then be expressed by a single statement: Any function

of the complement of an angle is equal to the co-function of the angle.
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS OF SPECIAL
ANGLES 45 , 30 AND 60
o o o

To find the functions of 45o, construct a diagonal in a square of

side 1. By Pythagorean Theorem this diagonal has length of 2 .

1 2
sin450 = = csc 450 = 2
2 2
45o 2 1 2
1 cos 45 =
0 = sec 450 = 2
2 2
450
1 tan 450 = 1 cot 450 = 1
To find the functions of 300 and 600, take an equilateral triangle of
side 2 and draw the bisector of one of the angles. This bisector
divides the equilateral triangle into two congruent right triangles
whose angles are 300 and 600. By Pythagorean Theorem the length
of the altitude is 3 .

30o

3 2

60o
1
 1 1
sin 300 = 2 cos 600 =2

3 3
cos 300 = sin 600 =
2 2
1 3 1 3
tan 300 = = cot 600 = =
3 3 3 3
cot 300 = 3 tan 600 = 3
2 2 3 2 2 3
sec 300 = = csc 600 = =
3 3 3 3
csc 300 = 2 sec 600 = 2
EXAMPLE:
1. Draw the right triangle whose sides have the following values,
and find the six trigonometric functions of the acute angle A:
a) a=5 , b=12 , c=13
b) a=1 , b= 3, c=2
2. The point (7, 12) is the endpoint of the terminal side of an
angle in standard position. Determine the exact value of the six
trigonometric functions of the angle.
EXAMPLE:
3. Find the other five functions of the acute angle A, given that:

3
a) tan A = b) sec A = 2
4

4. Express each of the following in terms of its co-function:

c) tan (A + 15 )
0 0 ' " 0
a) sin 76 b) csc 80 35 32
EXAMPLE:
6. Without the aid of the calculator, evaluate the following:

a) 3 tan2 600 + 2 sin2 300 – cos2 450

b) 5 cot2 450 + 5 tan 450 + sin 300
c) cos2 600 – csc2 300 – sec 300
d) tan 600 + 2 cot 300 – sin 600
e) tan5 450 + cot2 450 – sin4 600
 LESSON 2
Trigonometric Functions of the
Quadrantal Angles
 QUADRANTS
The coordinate axes divide the plane into four parts called quadrants. For
any given angle  in standard position, the measurement boundaries for
each quadrant are summarized as follows:
y
Quadrant II Quadrant I
900    1800 00    900
( -, + ) ( +, + )

o x
Quadrant III Quadrant IV
1800    2700 2700    3600
( -, - ) ( +, - )
 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
OF ANY ANGLE
If  is an angle in standard position, P(x, y) is any point other
than the origin on the terminal side of  , and
r = x 2 + y 2 , then
y
P( x , y )

r y

 x
o x
 y x
sin  = cos  =
r r
r r
csc  = , if y  0 sec  = , if x  0
y x

y
tan  = , if x  0
x
x
cot = , if y  0
y
SIGNS OF THE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
Each of the trigonometric functions of an angle  is given by two of the
variables x, y and r associated with  . Because r is always positive, the
sign (+ or -) of a trigonometric function is determined by the signs of x and
y, and therefore by the quadrant containing  .
y

sin 
csc  All Functions

o x

tan  cos 
cot  sec 
 QUADRANTAL ANGLES
An angle in standard position whose terminal side lies on the x or y-axis is
called a quadrantal angle. The definitions of the trigonometric functions can
be used to evaluate the trigonometric functions of the quadrantal angles 0o,
90o, 180o, 270o, and 360o by using r equal to 1.

x =0
y =1
r =1
x = −1 x =1
y =0 y =0 x
o
r =1 r =1
x =0
y = −1
r =1
 REFERENCE ANGLE
The reference angle  R of any angle  is the positive angle formed by the
terminal side of the angle and the nearest x-axis.

A summary of how to calculate the reference angle  R from a given angle

is given below:
Quadrant I : R = 
Quadrant II :  R = 180 0
−
Quadrant III :  R =  − 180 0

Quadrant IV :  R = 360 0
−
EXAMPLE:
1. Determine the quadrant where the terminal side of each
angle lie when it is in standard position.
2
a) − b ) 197 0

3
2. The terminal side of angle in standard position passes
through P. Draw  the exact values of the six
and find
trigonometric functions of . 
a ) P(-3,-3) b ) P(2,- 3 )
3. Determine the sign of the following trigonometric functions
without the aid of calculator.
a ) cot 135 0 b ) csc 3010
EXAMPLE:
4. Find the exact values of the other five trigonometric functions
for an angle  in standard position lying in the given quadrant.
12
a ) cot  = − , IV b ) sec = −2, II
5
5. Give the measure of the reference angle  R for each of the
angle  in standard position.
a ) - 110 0 b ) 505 0
6. Find the exact values of the six trigonometric functions for
each of the following angle without the aid of calculator.
0 5
a ) 135 b)
3