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Trigonometric Functions The Unit Circle

The document explains the unit circle and its relationship to trigonometric functions, defining the six functions: sine, cosecant, cosine, secant, tangent, and cotangent. It details how each real number corresponds to a point on the unit circle and provides definitions for the trigonometric functions based on coordinates. Additionally, it includes examples of evaluating these functions at specific real numbers.

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Belle S. Marino-Adriazola
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22 views13 pages

Trigonometric Functions The Unit Circle

The document explains the unit circle and its relationship to trigonometric functions, defining the six functions: sine, cosecant, cosine, secant, tangent, and cotangent. It details how each real number corresponds to a point on the unit circle and provides definitions for the trigonometric functions based on coordinates. Additionally, it includes examples of evaluating these functions at specific real numbers.

Uploaded by

Belle S. Marino-Adriazola
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS:

THE UNIT CIRCLE


MATH 114N: TRIGONOMETRY
THE UNIT CIRCLE

Consider the unit circle given by as shown


below:
𝑥 2 + 𝑦2 = 1
Wrapping the real number line around
this circle, with positive numbers
corresponding to a counterclockwise
wrapping and negative numbers
corresponding to a clockwise wrapping
Each real number 𝑡 corresponds to a
point (𝑥, 𝑦)on the circle. For example the
real number 0 corresponds to the point
(1,0). Moreover, because the unit circle
has circumference of 2𝜋 , the real
number 2𝜋 also corresponds to the point
(1,0).In general, each real number 𝑡 also
corresponds to a central angle 𝜃 whose
radian measure is 𝑡 . With this
interpretation of 𝑡 , the arc length
formula:
𝑠 = 𝑟𝜃 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑟 = 1
THE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

This follows that the coordinates 𝑥 & 𝑦 are


two functions of the real variable 𝑡. You can use
these coordinates to define the six trigonometric
functions of 𝑡.

𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆 , 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕

These six functions are abbreviated as


𝑠𝑖𝑛, 𝑐𝑠𝑐, 𝑐𝑜𝑠, 𝑠𝑒𝑐, 𝑡𝑎𝑛, 𝑐𝑜𝑡 respectively.
Definition of Trigonometric Functions

Let 𝑥 be a real number and let (𝑥, 𝑦) be


the point on the unit circle corresponding to 𝑡.

𝒚
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒕 = 𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒕 = 𝒙 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒕 = 𝒙
,𝒙 ≠ 𝟎

1 1 𝑥
csc 𝑡 = , 𝑦 ≠ 0 sec 𝑡 = , 𝑥 ≠ 0 cot 𝑡 = , 𝑦 ≠ 0
𝑦 𝑥 𝑦
Based on the trigonometric functions
definition, the 𝑡𝑎𝑛 and 𝑠𝑒𝑐 are not defined
𝜋
when 𝒙 = 𝟎 . For instance 𝑡 = 2 ,
corresponds to 𝑥, 𝑦 = (0,1), it follows that
𝜋 𝜋
tan 2 and sec 2 are 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅. Similarly,
the cotangent and and cosecant are not
defined when 𝑦 = 0. For instance, because
𝑡 = 0 corresponds to 𝑥, 𝑦 = (1,0), cot 0 &
csc 0 are 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅.
Evaluating Trigonometric Functions

Evaluate the six trigonometric functions


at each real number.
𝝅
a. 𝒕=𝟔
𝟓𝝅
b. 𝒕= 𝟒
c. 𝒕 = 𝝅
𝝅
d. 𝒕 = −𝟑
Solution
𝝅
a. 𝒕 = corresponds to the point 𝑥, 𝑦 =
𝟔
3 1 ).
( 2 , 2
𝝅 𝟏
𝒔𝒊𝒏 = 𝒚 =
𝟔 𝟐
𝝅 𝟑
𝐜𝐨𝐬 =𝒙=
𝟔 𝟐

𝝅 𝒚 𝟏
𝐭𝐚𝐧 = = 𝟐 = 𝟏 = 𝟑
𝟔 𝒙 𝟑 𝟐 𝟑 𝟑
𝝅 𝟏 𝟏
𝐜𝐬𝐜 = = =𝟐
𝟔 𝒚 𝟏
𝟐
𝝅 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐 𝟑
𝒔𝒆𝒄 = = =
𝟔 𝒙 𝟑 𝟑
𝟑
𝝅 𝒙 𝟐= 𝟑
𝐜𝐨𝐭 = =
𝟔 𝒚 𝟏
𝟐
Solution
𝟓𝝅
b. 𝒕 = corresponds to the point 𝑥, 𝑦 =
𝟒
2 2
(− 2,− 2).
𝟓𝝅 𝟐
𝒔𝒊𝒏 =𝒚=−
𝟒 𝟐
𝟓𝝅 𝟐
𝐜𝐨𝐬 =𝒙=−
𝟒 𝟐
𝟓𝝅 𝒚 − 𝟐 𝟐=𝟏
𝐭𝐚𝐧 = =
𝟒 𝒙
− 𝟐𝟐
𝟓𝝅 𝟏 𝟐
𝐜𝐬𝐜 = =− =− 𝟐
𝟒 𝒚 𝟐
𝝅 𝟏 𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 = = − =− 𝟐
𝟔 𝒙 𝟐

𝝅 𝒙 − 𝟐𝟐
𝐜𝐨𝐭 = = =𝟏
𝟔 𝒚
− 𝟐𝟐
Solution
c. 𝒕 = 𝝅 corresponds to the point 𝑥, 𝑦 =
(−1,0).
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝅 = 𝒚 = 𝟎

𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝅 = 𝒙 = −𝟏

𝒚 𝟎
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝝅 = = =𝟎
𝒙 −𝟏
𝟏
𝐜𝐬𝐜 𝝅 = = 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅
𝒚
𝟏 𝟏
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝝅 = = = −𝟏
𝒙 −𝟏
𝒙
𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝛑 = = 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅
𝒚
Solution
𝝅
d. 𝒕 = − 𝟑 corresponds to the point 𝑥, 𝑦 =
3
(1 2 , − 2).
𝝅 𝟑
𝒔𝒊𝒏 − =𝒚=−
𝟑 𝟐
𝝅 𝟏
𝐜𝐨𝐬 − =𝒙=
𝟑 𝟐

𝝅 𝒚 − 𝟑𝟐
𝐭𝐚𝐧 − = = =− 𝟑
𝟑 𝒙 𝟏
𝟐
𝝅 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐 𝟑
𝐜𝐬𝐜 − = =− =−
𝟑 𝒚 𝟑 𝟑
𝝅 𝟏 𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 − = = =𝟐
𝟑 𝒙 𝟏
𝝅 𝒙 𝟏
𝐜𝐨𝐭 − = = 𝟐 =− 𝟏 =− 𝟑
𝟑 𝒚 𝟑
− 𝟑𝟐 𝟑

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