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6-6 Unit Circle

The document explains the concept of the unit circle, where points on the circle can be represented using sine and cosine functions. It covers relationships such as sin²θ + cos²θ = 1, the periodic nature of sine and cosine, and symmetry properties. Additionally, it includes examples and exercises related to these concepts, emphasizing their applications in trigonometry.

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moxiao199941
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22 views13 pages

6-6 Unit Circle

The document explains the concept of the unit circle, where points on the circle can be represented using sine and cosine functions. It covers relationships such as sin²θ + cos²θ = 1, the periodic nature of sine and cosine, and symmetry properties. Additionally, it includes examples and exercises related to these concepts, emphasizing their applications in trigonometry.

Uploaded by

moxiao199941
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 6-6 THE UNIT CIRCLE

OVERVIEW
A unit circle is a circle with a radius of 1. The coordinates of a
point on the unit circle centered at the origin in the xy-plane can be
expressed in terms of cosine and sine.

THE UNIT CIRCLE


If the terminal side of angle θ intersects a unit circle in the xy-plane at P(x,
y), as shown in Figure 6.26, then

■ P(x, y) = P(cos θ, sin θ) since cos θ = = x and sin θ = = y.


■ sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1 because x2 + y2 = 1.

Figure 6.26 The unit circle

MATH REFERENCE FACT


The maximum and minimum values of sin θ and cos θ occur when
the terminal side of angle θ coincides with a coordinate axis.

RANGE OF VALUES OF SINE AND COSINE


Since the y-values of the sine and cosine functions are coordinates of points
on the unit circle, −1 ≤ sin θ ≤ 1 and −1 ≤ cos θ ≤ 1 where

Example

In the figure above, if cos θ = −0.36, what is the value of sin θ to the
nearest hundredth?
(A) 0.64
(B) 0.80
(C) 0.93
(D) −0.93

Solution

Use the relationship sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1 to solve for sin θ:


Since sine is positive in Quadrant II, the correct choice is (C).

Example
If sin w = a and < w < π, what is tan w in terms of a?

Solution
The terminal side of angle w in standard position intersects the unit circle in
Quadrant II at a point P whose x-coordinate is cos w and y-coordinate is sin
w:
■ Form a right triangle by dropping a perpendicular to the x-axis as
shown in the accompanying figure. The lengths of the legs of the right
triangle correspond to the coordinates of point P.
■ Use the Pythagorean theorem to express x (= cos w) in terms of a:

■ Find tan w:

The correct choice is (B).

Example
Point P is on the unit circle with center at O and point A is the point at
which the unit circle intersects the positive x-axis. If angle AOP measures
radians, what are the coordinates of point P?

Solution

If θ = , then θ is in Quadrant III, and the reference angle is (=30°). The


right triangle that contains the reference angle is a 30-60 right triangle with
a hypotenuse of 1. Since x and y are both negative in Quadrant III, x = –
and y = – so the coordinates of point P are
MATH REFERENCE FACT
When finding the coordinates of points on rays whose angles of
rotation within the unit circle are multiples of use these
special right triangle relationships:

Example
If cos x = a, cos w = −a, and − < x < 0, which of the following is a
possible value of w?
(A) π − x
(B) x − π
(C) 2π − x
(D) x + 2π

Solution
Since and cos x = a, locate point P(a, y) in Quadrant IV with
reference angle x. We need to find the angle, w, that the ray through P(−a,
y) makes with the positive x-axis. Locate P(−a, y) in Quadrant II on the ray
opposite OP. Since the reference angle is also x, the angle of rotation, w, is
π − x as shown in the accompanying figure.

The correct choice is (A).

PERIODIC FUNCTIONS
The sine and cosine functions are periodic functions. A function is periodic
if its values repeat at regular intervals. The sine and cosine functions each
have a period of 2π radians since each time 2π is added to an angle, or
subtracted from an angle, we go around the unit circle and return to the
same point. For example, sin (2π + x) = sin x and cos (x − 2π) = cos x.

SYMMETRY IN THE UNIT CIRCLE


In Figure 6.27, P′ is the reflection of P in the x-axis.
Figure 6.27 Symmetry in the unit circle
■ The angle ray OP′ makes with the terminal side is equal in measure
but clockwise in rotation compared to the angle ray OP makes with the
terminal side. Thus, the coordinates of point P′ are (cos (−θ), sin (−θ)).
■ Because P′ is the reflection of P in the x-axis, it has the same x-
coordinate as point P but the opposite y-coordinate:

cos (−θ) = cos θ and sin (−θ) = −sin θ

■ Since tan θ is the quotient of sin θ divided by cos θ,

tan (−θ) = −tan θ

TIP
You should memorize:
■ sin(−θ) = −sin θ
■ cos(−θ) = cos θ
■ tan(−θ) = −tan θ

GENERAL REDUCTION RELATIONSHIPS


For SAT test purposes, to determine whether a general relationship such as
sin (x + π) = −sin x is true or false, use a convenient test value for x. If
, then x + π is a Quadrant III

angle and the reference angle is 30° as illustrated in Figure 6.28.

Figure 6.28 Illustrating sin 210° = −sin 30°


Sine is negative in Quadrant III so sin (30° + 180°) = sin 210°= −sin 30°.
You can then make the generalization that sin(x + π) = −sin x. Similarly,
sin(x − π) = −sin x.
LESSON 6-6 TUNE-UP EXERCISES

Multiple-Choice
1. The path traveled by a roller coaster is modeled by the equation y = 27
sin 13x + 30 where y is measured in meters. What is the number of
meters in the maximum altitude of the roller coaster?
(A) 13
(B) 27
(C) 30
(D) 57

2. The unit circle above has radius OC, angle AOB measures w radians,
BA is tangent to circle O at A, and CD is perpendicular to the x-axis.
The length of which line segment represents sin w?
(A) OD
(B) CD
(C) AB
(D) OB
3. If x is an acute angle, which expression is not equivalent to cos x ?
(A) −cos(−x)
(B)
(C) −cos(x + π)
(D) cos(x − 2π)

4. In the figure above, θ is an angle in standard position and its terminal


side passes through the point on the unit circle. What is a
possible value of θ?
5. In the unit circle above, an angle that measures 4 radians intercepts arc
AB. What is the length of major arc AB?

6. If θ is an angle in standard position and its terminal side passes


through the point on the unit circle, then a possible value of θ
is

7. What are the coordinates of the image of the point (1, 0) on the
terminal side of an angle after a clockwise rotation of radians?
8. What are the coordinates of the image of the point (1, 0) on the
terminal side of an angle after a counterclockwise rotation of π
radians?

9. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to


(A) 1 − sin x
(B) 1 − cos x
(C) sin x + cos x
(D) sin x − cos x
10. In the unit circle above, the ordered pair (x, y) represents a point P
where the terminal side intersects the unit circle, as shown in the
accompanying figure. If radians, what is the value of y?

11. If x is a positive acute angle and cos x = a, an expression for tan x in


terms of a is

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