UNIT 5 – TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

6.1 - Radian Measure

Another way to measure angles (besides degrees) is to use radian measure. If you
imagine that the angle is drawn inside a circle, the radian measure of the angle is the
ratio of the arc length to radius. Thus, an angle that results in an arc length equal to the
radius is 1 radian. The angle at the center of the circle is one radian.

Note: Degrees and radians are fundamentally different in that degrees measure the angle directly (think of how you use a
protractor). Radians measure an angle indirectly (we would measure the radius and the arc length, not the angle itself).
Also note that since radian measure is a ratio of arc length to radius, radian measure doesn’t technically have any units
associate with it, since the units of the arc length and the units of the radius will cancel each other out. We will often say
“radians” as if they are units, but you should know that they aren’t true units (fun fact: The same is true for percent).

How many radians are there in a full circle?

∴ 360°is equivalent to ___________radians. ∴ 180° is equivalent to ___________radians. It is helpful to

express this as a rate: or

You can convert from degrees to radians by multiplying by . Unit analysis:

You can convert from radians to degrees by multiplying by . Unit analysis:

1. Convert the following angles to radian measure. 2. Convert to degrees

a. 270° b. 220° a. 2.75 b. 𝜋
6

In many cases, it is much easier to work entirely with radian measure rather than trying to convert back and forth. But
2𝜋 5𝜋
how can we conceptualize angles like 3 and - 4 without thinking about the
equivalent measurement in degrees? What will they look like on the Cartesian
2𝜋
plane? Well, we know that 𝜋 radians is a semi-circle. So in the case of 3 ,
imagine the top half and/or the bottom half of the Cartesian plane is cut into
5𝜋
three equal pieces. In the case of − 4 , each half is broken into four equal
pieces.

3. Draw each of the following angles.

a. 3𝜋 b. 𝜋 c. 7𝜋 d. 7𝜋
6 −
4 3 6

Pg. 320: #1 – 12
6.2 - Working with Special Angles in Radian Measure
1. Convert the following angles to radians.
a. 30o b. 45o c. 60o d. 90o

Special (Tri)angles Using Radian Measure

Right Isosceles Triangle.

Half of an Equilateral Triangle

2𝜋
2. Use what we have just learned along with your understanding of the CAST rule to determine the exact value of sin 3 .

1.

2.

3.

2. Determine the exact value of the following.

a. 3𝜋 b. 11𝜋 c. 4𝜋
cos tan cos (− )
4 6 3
 d. 7𝜋 2 𝜋 2 e. 5𝜋 5𝜋
(cos ) − (cot ) 2 (sin ) − 3 (tan )
4 3 3 6

Pg. 330 # 1,3-6,8-11,15-17

Trigonometry in the Cartesian Plane

Recall: Angles can be represented on the xy-plane:

a. Draw 𝜃 = 5𝜋 b. Draw 𝜃 = − 𝜋
3 4

-The arm that begins the angle is called the

-The arm that ends the angle is called the .
-When the initial arm lies on the positive x-axis, as above, then the angle is said to be in
. We will always sketch angles in standard position.
-Positive angles are represented by and negative angles are
represented by .
5𝜋 7𝜋 11𝜋
-Angles that have the same terminal arm are called co-terminal angles. Ex. 3 , − 3 , 3 are co-terminal angles.

Remember that co-terminal angles have all identical trig ratios. Using the example above, we can use our calculators to
5𝜋 7𝜋 11𝜋
see that 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 − 3 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3 .

Recall that of all the co-terminal angles, the one that is between 0 and 2𝜋 is called the
5𝜋
In the example above 3 is the principal angle. The is the angle formed
between the terminal arm and the x-axis.

Angles that have the same related acute angle will have almost the same trig ratios as each other. The only difference is
whether the ratios are positive or negative. We can determine whether each ratio will be positive or negative based on
what quadrant the terminal arm lies in.
The CAST Rule & syr cxr tyx
Recall that our definitions for the trig ratios are different on the Cartesian plane: Since we don’t really have any
triangles, we don’t really have an opposite side, adjacent side, or hypotenuse to refer to. Instead we define our
primary trig ratios using x, y, and r, as follows:

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 =

Due to these definitions, the trig ratios are positive in some quadrants and negative in others. For
𝑦
example, since 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = , and x and y are positive quadrant 1, then 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 is positive (since it’s a
𝑥
positive over a positive). In quadrant 2, x is negative and y is positive, so 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 is negative (it’s a
positive over a negative). Continue this exercise for all ratios and all quadrants, and we end up with
the CAST rule:

Note that our “syr cxr tyx” definitions of the trig ratios also help explain why angles with the same RAA will have the
same trig ratios (except for the signs).

1. Predict the sign using the CAST rule, then evaluate with a calculator.
a. 17𝜋 b. 7𝜋 c. 5𝜋 d. 5𝜋 e. 5𝜋 f. 71𝜋
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛 − 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑡 −
18 6 18 18 4 36

2. Point P(-5,-8) is on the terminal arm of angle 𝜃 in standard position.

a. Determine the sine, cosine and tangent ratios.

b. Determine the principal angle 𝜃 using any ratio above

3. The following points lie on the terminal arm of a certain angle. Determine exact values for each of the primary
trigonometric ratios created by the angle formed in each case.
a. (8, -15) b. (-3, 9) c. (0, 1)

d. What is the principal angle for the point in question c?

 4. The terminal arm of the angle θ lies in quadrant 4. If 5. 29
If 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝜃 = − 20, determine the exact value of 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃.
√2
cos 𝜃 = 5
, determine the exact values of 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 and
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃.

Pg. 330 #2,7,13 Pg. 376 #5,6 Pg. 378 #7

6.4 – Graphs of Sinusoidal Functions (Radians)

Recall the base graphs for 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 and 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃:

For each function identify the amplitude, axis of the curve, period, y-intercept, max and min.

Function Axis of the Period y-int Max Min

Curve
𝒇(𝜽) = 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽

𝒈(𝜽) = 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽

While transformations can be helpful in identifying certain characteristics of the graph, it can be difficult to create graphs
of sinusoidal functions based on the transformations alone. For this reason, we will typically use the characteristics of the
function to construct the graphs of these kinds of functions.

In order to graph any sinusoidal functions, we will need to identify the max, min and period. We will also need to know
where to begin graphing the function.

1. Examine the graphs in DESMOS to see how each of the transformations impacts the location of the “starting point” on
the graph and what the function does from that point.

The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 will always “begin” . From

there it will when and it will
when .

The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 will “begin” when

and it will “begin” when .
2. Graph 𝑓(𝜃) = 2 sin(3𝜃) + 1 using the characteristics described on the previous page. State the domain and range.

Max = Min = Period = Axis of the Curve –

This is a function with a a-value, a q-value of and a p-value

of , i.e. . This means we will begin graphing the function at
and the graph will from there.

D- R-

𝜋
3. Graph the function 𝑔(𝑥) = −3 cos (2 (𝑥 + )).
2
 1 𝜋
4. Graph the function ℎ(𝑥) = − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (6 (𝑥 − )) + 1.
2 8

Pg. 344 #1,6,8ade

Determining the Equation of Sinusoidal Functions

In this section we will try to determine the equation of a sinusoidal function from the graph. For the values of a, k and q,
we will use the following equations:

|𝑎| = 𝑘= 𝑞=

With these values known we still need to determine , the

of the a-value and the . A cosine function will have its initial point at either
if or if . A sine function will have its initial point
and if or
if .

1. Determine the equation of the following graph.

2. Determine the equations of the following sinusoidal functions.

a. b.

3. A sinusoidal function has an amplitude of 5 units, a period of 𝜋, and a minimum at (1, 4). Represent the function with
an equation in two different ways.

4. The following graph shows the height in inches of a single tooth of

a table saw blade above the table after a certain time (t) in seconds.

a. Determine the amplitude, axis of the curve and period and explain
their meaning within the context of this problem.

b. Determine the equation of this function.

c. Determine the speed of the saw blade.

Pg. 344 #1-4ab,5,12

6.7 - Applications of Trigonometric Functions

1. The selling price of snowboards fluctuates between a maximum of $750 on November 1st and a minimum of $550 on
May 1st.

a. Develop a sinusoidal equation modeling the price of the snowboards over a year.
b. How much money would you save if you bought the snowboard on April 1st vs. October 1st?

2. Each year, the population of field mice is sinusoidal in nature and is affected by many factors including predators,
weather, etc.

a. If the population of mice reaches a maximum of 12000 in September and a minimum of 5000 in March, develop an
equation to model the population over a year starting in January.

b. Determine the rate at which the population changes between September 1st and January 1st.

c. Determine the rate of change of the population on November 16th.

𝚫𝐏(𝒕)
interval Δt (in minutes) ΔP(t)
𝚫𝒕

3. Suppose the height (in meters) of a stone that is stuck in a car tire is modelled by ℎ(𝑡) = 0.3𝑠𝑖𝑛100𝑡 + 0.3, where t
represents time in seconds.

a. Determine how fast the height of the stone is changing at t = 2.

b. How fast is the stone moving? i.e. determine the speed of the stone.

c. How fast is the tire spinning? i.e. determine the angular velocity of the tire.

4. Five seconds after the ride begins, a certain rider on a Ferris wheel reaches their maximum height of 22m. At the 23
second mark they have descended to their minimum height of 3m. Determine the equation that can be used to model this
situation. What assumption did you make when answering this question?

Pg. 344 #9-11 Pg. 360 #1,5-8,10,12,13 RoC: Pg. 369#2, 5, 7

6.5 – Graphs of Other Trigonometric Functions
1 1 1
Recall: If 𝑓(𝑥) = 1, then 𝑓(𝑥) = . If 𝑓(𝑥) = −1, then 𝑓(𝑥) = . If 𝑓(𝑥) = 0, then 𝑓(𝑥) .

What happens if 𝑓(𝑥) is undefined?

1. Use this information along with your understanding of exact values for 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 to complete the following chart.

𝑥 0 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋 𝜋 5𝜋 2𝜋
6 4 3 2 4 4
𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑥

2. Graph 𝑦 = tan(𝑥). 3. Graph 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡(𝑥).

What is the period for 𝑦 = tan(𝑥)?

 1
4. In the space below, graph 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝑥) and use it to graph 𝑦 = sec(𝑥) (in other words = ).
cos(𝑥)

1
5. In the space above, graph 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑥) and use it to graph 𝑦 = csc(𝑥) (in other words = sin(𝑥) ).

6. Use your understanding of the base graphs, reciprocal functions and transformations to make a sketch of the graph of the following functions:

a. 𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑐𝑠𝑐(𝑥) + 1 b. 𝜋
𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 (2 (𝑥 − ))
4

Pg. 353 #6,7 Pg. 345 #7,8bcf,13, 14c