CIRCULAR FUNCTION

LESSON 1: UNIT CIRCLE The one on the left goes counterclockwise and is defined to
be a positive angle. The one on the right goes clockwise and
DEFINITION is defined to be a negative angle.
A "unit circle" is a type of circle where the origin of the
rectangular coordinate system is found at the center and the Two angles in the
radius should be always equal to 1 unit. Since the equation of standard position that
a circle is denoted as x2 + y2 = r2 then the equation of a unit have the same terminal
circle will be x2 + y2 = 1. side are called
coterminal angles.
The coordinates of a unit circle must satisfy the defined Figure below shows two
equation which is x2 + y2 = 1 if not then it will be consider as angles that are
outside the unit circle. These points includes (1,0), (0,1), (- coterminal.
1,0) and (0,-1).
Coterminal angles of a given angle θ may be
obtained by either adding or subtracting a multiple of 360° or
Example 1.1 We consider a point ( 12 ,− 12 ) , identify if the 2π radians. Two angles are coterminal if the difference
between them is a multiple of 360° or 2π.
point is on, inside or outside the unit circle. Coterminal of θ = θ + 360° × k if θ is given in degrees,
Solution: Coterminal of θ = θ + 2π × k if θ is given in radians, where k is
Using the equation x2 + y2 = 1 we have, any integer
x2 + y 2 = 1
Example Solve the following

() ( )
1 2 −1 2 1 1 1
2
+
2 4 4 2
1
= + = , since is less than 1
2
1. Determine if – 410°, 180° pairs of angles are coterminal
2. Find two positive angles that are coterminal with an angle
then the point is inside the unit circle. that measures 600.
3. Find one positive angle and one negative angle that are
DEFINITION 5π
A central angle is an angle whose vertex rests on the center coterminal with an angle measuring .
6
of a circle and its sides are radii of the same circle.
4. Find the angle coterminal with −4200 that has measure
between −3600 and 00.
Converting Degree to Radian and Vice Versa
Solution:
Degrees and radians are the two most commonly used units
1. –410° – 180° = –590°, which is not a multiple of 360°
of measurement for angles. Since a unit circle has
So, –410° and 180° are not coterminal angles.
circumference 2 π , a central angle that measures 3600 has 2. 600 + 3600 (1) = 600 + 3600 = 4200
measure equivalent to 2 π radians. Thus, we obtain the 600 + 3600 (2) = 600 + 7200 = 7800
following conversion rules. 5π 5 π 12 π 17 π
π 3. +2 π ( 1 )= + =
1. To convert a degree measure to radian, multiply it by 6 6 6 6
180 5π 5 π 12 π −7 π
+2 π (−1 )= − =
6 6 6 6
180
2. To convert a radian measure to degree, multiply it by
π 4. Note: A negative angle moves in a clockwise direction, so –
4200 will be found in the fourth quadrant, then the angle
Angles in the Standard Position, Coterminal Angles and would be, – 4200 + 3600 = – 600
Reference Angles
The positioning of an angle is called the standard position. It LESSON 2: CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS AND THEIR GRAPHS
is in standard position when the initial side coincides with the Circular functions which is commonly known as the
positive x-axis and the vertex of the angle is located at the trigonometric functions because the radian measures of the
origin of the rectangular coordinate. The initial side of an angles are calculated by the length and coordinates of the
angle is the ray where the measurement of an angle starts. terminal point of the arc on the unit circle. Circular functions
The terminal side of an angle is the ray where the are function whose domain and range correspond to the
measurement of an angle ends. Two angles in standard measures of angles with respect to the trigonometric
position are shown below. functions.
Let θ be an angle in the standard position and P(x,y)
be a point on the terminal side of the angle. Then we have
the six-circular function as follows:
 y
sin θ= = y csc θ=
1
=
1 cos θ 1 √3 √2 1 0
r sin θ y 2 2 2
x tanθ 0 √3 1 √3 undefined
cos θ= =x
r 3
1 1
sec θ= =
cos θ x Rule of the Signs of the Circular Functions
y 1 x
tanθ= ; x ≠ 0 cot θ= = ;
x tan θ y
y ≠0

DEFINITION
A reference angle is the acute angle formed by the terminal
side of a given angle in the standard position and the x-axis.

Legend:
Q – stands for quadrant
A – ALL circular functions are positive
S – Only SINE and cosecant are positive
T – Only TANGENT and cotangent are positive
C – Only COSINE and secant are positive
The Reference Angle Theorem
To find the value of a circular/trigonometric function of any
angle θ : a. Determine the function value for the associated
reference angle θ '
b. Depending on the quadrant in which θ lies, the answer will
either be + or -.
Example. Find the values of the six circular functions of
3π
θ whose terminal side is at .
4
SOLUTION:

Nonetheless, the reference angle is always made positive

which ever quadrant and what direction (counterclockwise
and clockwise) is the given angle. Finding the reference angle
in each quadrant we have (Note for negative angle, neglect
the negative sign),
Quadrant Reference angle for θ
1 Same as θ
2 180 - θ
3 θ - 180
4 360 - θ
Example. Use reference angles to find the exact values of the
Example. Find the reference angle of the following
six circular function given the function cot 2100.
given angle in standard position.
Solution:
1. 2040
2. - 1500
Values of the Basic Circular Functions for Certain Acute
Angles
θ 00 300 450 600 900
sin θ 0 1 √2 √3 1
2 2 2
Example. Find the values of the other five circular functions if
12
sin θ= and lies in the second quadrant.
13
Solution:
Properties of Trigonometric Functions

x- Intervals Vertical
domai y- intervals of
fcn graph range period intercept
intercepts
Max pts Min pts symmetry of asymptote
n s decrease
increase s

(0 , π2 )
since sin(-
x) = - sin
(x) then

( )( )
x=kπ π 3 π sin (x) is
+2 kπ ,−1
+2 kπ , 1
( π2 , 32π )
an odd
, where 2 2 function ¿
f ( x )=sin x
All R [-1, 1] π k is an y=0
, where k , where k and its
Ι is
an Ιnteger Ιnteger
is an
graph is
symmetric
with
( 32π , 2 π )
respect to
the origin
(0 , 0).
since
cos(-x) =
cos (x)
π ( π +2 kπ ,−1 ) cos
then
x= + kπ ( 2 kπ , 1 ) (x) is an
2
f ( x )=cos x All R [-1, 1] 2π , where y=1
, where k is , where k is even ( π ,2 π ) (0 , π )
k is an an Integer an Integer function
and its
Ι graph is
symmetric
with
respect to
the y axis.
since
tan(-x) = - over one
tan(x) period and
all R
then tan π π
except x=k π , (x) is an from - to x= + kπ
π where odd 2 2
f ( x )=ta n x +kπ All R π k is an y=0 function , where k is
2 π
Ι and its , tan (x) an Ι
, k is graph is 2
an symmetric is
integer with increasing
respect .
the origin.
 since
cot(-x) = -
cot(x)
all R π then cot
x= + kπ (x) is an
over one
except 2 period and
f ( x )=cot x kπ , k All R π , where y=1
odd from 0 to x=k π ,
function where k is
is an k is an and its π , cot (x) an integer.
is
integer Ι graph is
decreasing.
symmetric
with
respect
the origin.

since
sec(-x) =
all R
sec (x)
except then sec 3π
π (x) is an π (π , ) π
+kπ even (0 , )U 2 x= + kπ
f ( x )=sec x 2 2π 2 2
¿U ¿ function 3π
, k is and its π U( , 2 , where k is
( , π) 2
an graph is 2 an Ι
integer symmetric π)
with
respect to
the y axis.

since
csc(-x) = -
csc(x)
π
,𝜋) U
all R then csc π (0 , )U(
except (x) is an ( 2
odd 2 x=k π ,
f ( x )=csc x kπ , k ¿U ¿ 2π 3π
function 3π ,2π where k is
is an and its (π, ) 2 an integer.
integer graph is 2
)
symmetric
with
respect
the origin.
GRAPHING THE SIX CIRCULAR FUNCTION
In general, the graph of sine and cosine function will be affected by the values of the a

Steps in Graphing of y=a sin(bx +c ) and y=a cos(bx+ c) and b . When |a|>1, the graph of the sine and cosine functions will vertically stretch
1. Determine the amplitude. The amplitude is given by |a| which indicates the
while |a|<1 it will be compressed closer to the x-axis. Similarly, when |b|>1, the
height of the graph.

2. Determine the period m of the function. The period is given by m = | |

2π
b
is equal
graph will have a shorter period and have a longer period for |b|<1. Also, you can
observe that the graphs of the sine and cosine functions have a pattern of hills and
to the length of one complete cycle.
3. Divide the period into four equal parts. valleys that repeat. If a function has a repeating pattern like sine or cosine, it is called
4. Construct the table of values. a periodic function. The period is the length of the smallest interval that contains
5. Plot the points then connect to sketch the graph.
exactly one copy of the repeating pattern. Any part of the graph that shows this
Example. Sketch the graph of y=2sin x . pattern over one period is called a cycle.
Solution: DEFINITION
Amplitude = |a| = |2| = 2 Phase Shift is the amount of shifting either to the left or to the right
Period: m = |2bπ | |21π |
=m= = 2π

Divide the period into four equal parts:

Table of values:

Graph

Domain: x ∈ R
Range: [ - 2, 2]
Zeros of the function: 0 , π ,2 π , nπ where n is an integer
Maximum value is 2 and minimum value is – 2
Minimum value is