CALCULUS LECTURE NOTES

Section Number:
Topic: Trigonometric Functions
1.3
Homework 114, 122, 126, 130, 156

Radian Measure

If a central angle 𝜃, in a circle of radius 𝒓, cuts off an arc of length 𝒔, then the measure of 𝜃, in
radians, is given by 𝜃 = 𝑠⁄𝑟 .

Notation: 1 radian: 1 rad or 1𝑟 or 1

(where “𝒓” acts in the manner of the degree symbol, not an exponent)

Relationship between Degrees and Example 1: Convert between radian and degree
Radians measure, as specified:

a. Convert 27° to radian measure.

In one full rotation (circumference): 𝑠 = 𝐶 = 2𝜋𝑟

b. Convert 280° to radian measure.

We have:

𝑠 2𝜋𝑟
𝜃 = 360° 𝜃=𝑟= = 2𝜋 rad c. Convert
9𝜋
rad to degree measure.
𝑟
20

Thus:
360° = 2𝜋 rad
180° = 𝜋 rad

180° 𝜋 rad
=1 and =1 25𝜋
𝜋 rad 180° d. Convert rad to degree measure.
Note: We use this relationship to convert between degrees and radians 18
 The SIX Trigonometric Functions

If 𝜃 is an angle in standard position, and the point (𝑥, 𝑦) is any point other than the
origin on the terminal side of 𝜃, then the six trigonometric functions of angle 𝜃 (𝜃
is known as the argument) are defined as follows:

Where:
𝒓 > 𝟎 and 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐
Thus, solving for 𝒓:

𝒓 = √𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐

Big Three: (Reciprocal) Other Three:

𝒚 𝒓
𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝜽) = 𝒓 𝐜𝐬𝐜(𝜽) = 𝒚 (𝒚 ≠ 𝟎)

𝒙 𝒓
𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜽) = 𝒓 𝐬𝐞𝐜(𝜽) = 𝒙 (𝒙 ≠ 𝟎)

𝒚 𝒙
𝐭𝐚𝐧(𝜽) = 𝒙 (𝒙 ≠ 𝟎) 𝐜𝐨𝐭(𝜽) = 𝒚 (𝒚 ≠ 𝟎)

There is NO SUCH THING as “sin” (or other trig function) by itself; it MUST have an argument (𝜽, 𝜶, 𝜷, 𝒙, etc.; this includes numbers)

When 𝜃 terminates in a Quadrant

(so it isn’t an axial point):
Definition
The values of 𝑥 and 𝑦 are
Axial (Quadrantal) Point positive or negative,
depending on the quadrant
where 𝜃 terminates.
An axial point is a point on
the 𝒙- or 𝒚-axis. These signs also affect the signs
of sine, cosine, and tangent, as
shown here:
Example 2: Developing the Unit Circle (Special Angles)

𝜃 Value of Trigonometric Function

Degrees Radians sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 tan 𝜃
0
30
45
60
90

Right Triangle Trig

The SIX Trigonometric Functions

If triangle 𝑨𝑩𝑪 is a right triangle (with 𝑚∠𝐶 = 90°),

then the six trigonometric functions of 𝑨 are defined
as follows:

side 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐴 𝑎 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝑐

sin(𝐴) = = csc(𝐴) = =
𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝑐 side 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐴 𝑎

side 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐴 𝑏 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝑐

cos(𝐴) = = sec(𝐴) = =
𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝑐 side 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐴 𝑏

side 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐴 𝑎 side 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐴 𝑏

tan(𝐴) = = cot(𝐴) = =
side 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐴 𝑏 side 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐴 𝑎

Note: The MOST important takeaway from these definitions is the

relationship between sides for each function (not the arbitrary labels
“A”, “a,”, “b,” etc., which can easily be re-defined), which leads to
the following:
Soh-Cah-Toa
Because:
𝐎pposite
“Soh”: Sine is
𝐇ypotenuse

𝐀djacent
“Cah”: Cosine is 𝐇ypotenuse

𝐎pposite
“Toa”: Tangent is 𝐀djacent
Example 4: Consider triangle ABC, a right triangle with a right angle at C. Find the missing side of the
triangle. Then, find the six trigonometric function values for the angle at A.

Let 𝒂 = 𝟒, 𝒄 = 𝟗

Important Identities
The Reciprocal Identities The Other Two Pythagorean Identities
1 1 cos 2 (𝜃) + sin2 (𝜃) = 1
cos(𝜃) = and sec(𝜃) =
sec(𝜃) cos(𝜃)

Dividing both sides by cos 2 (𝜃):

The Pythagorean Identity
1 1
sin(𝜃) = and csc(𝜃) = cos 2 (𝜃) + sin2 (𝜃) 1
csc(𝜃) sin(𝜃)
=
cos 2 (𝜃) cos 2 (𝜃)
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 (𝜽) + 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 (𝜽) = 𝟏
tan(𝜃) =
1
and cot(𝜃) =
1 Leads to:
cot(𝜃) tan(𝜃) Proof:
𝟐 (𝜽)
𝑥 2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2 𝟏 + 𝐭𝐚𝐧 = 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 (𝜽)
The Ratio Identities 𝑥 2 + 𝑦2 𝑟2
sin(𝜃) = 2
𝑟2 𝑟
tan(𝜃) =
cos(𝜃)
𝑥 2 𝑦2 cos 2 (𝜃) + sin2 (𝜃) = 1
+ =1
𝑟2 𝑟2
cos(𝜃) Dividing both sides by sin2 (𝜃):
cot(𝜃) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 2
sin(𝜃) ( ) +( ) =1
𝑟 𝑟
cos 2 (𝜃) + sin2 (𝜃) 1
(cos 𝜃)2 + (sin 𝜃)2 = 1 =
2
sin (𝜃) 2
sin (𝜃)

Leads to:
Note: (cos 𝜃)2 = cos 2 (𝜃) 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝟐 (𝜽) + 𝟏 = 𝐜𝐬𝐜 𝟐 (𝜽)

Note: sin 𝜃 and sin(𝜃) represent the same thing. Unless parentheses are used, only the item directly to the right of the trig function is the argument.
 Double-Angle Identities
cos(2𝜃) = cos2 (𝜃) − sin2 (𝜃)
sin(2𝜃) = 2 sin(𝜃) cos(𝜃) cos(2𝜃) = 2cos2 (𝜃) − 1
cos(2𝜃) = 1 − 2sin2 (𝜃)
Note: The arguments are flexible. If the argument on the left-side of the equation is twice the argument on the right-side, the identities hold.

For example, cos(4𝜃) = 2 cos 2(2𝜃) − 1

Example 5: Solve each of the following on 0° ≤ 𝜃 < 360°:

√2
a. sin 𝜃 = − 2

√3
b. tan 𝜃 = 3

c. cot 𝜃 = −1

Example 6: Solve each of the following on 0° ≤ 𝜃 < 360°:

a. 3 cos 𝜃 + 4 = 0

b. 4 cos 𝜃 + 7 = 5 − cos 𝜃