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Precalc UnitCircle TI84

This document outlines a 20-minute precalculus activity focused on exploring relationships on the unit circle, where students identify coordinates based on angle measures. It includes teacher preparation notes, associated materials, and suggested related activities for further learning. The activity emphasizes understanding right triangle trigonometry and patterns in special right triangles.

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lucyfengfeng
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5 views3 pages

Precalc UnitCircle TI84

This document outlines a 20-minute precalculus activity focused on exploring relationships on the unit circle, where students identify coordinates based on angle measures. It includes teacher preparation notes, associated materials, and suggested related activities for further learning. The activity emphasizes understanding right triangle trigonometry and patterns in special right triangles.

Uploaded by

lucyfengfeng
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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TImath.

com Precalculus

Round and Round She Goes… Time Required


ID: 12385 20 minutes

Activity Overview
In this activity, students will explore relationships on the unit circle. Students will identify
coordinates of points given an angle measure in degrees.

Topic: Unit Circle


• Right triangle trigonometry and the unit circle
• Special right triangles
• Cosine and sine on the unit circle

Teacher Preparation and Notes


• The first problem and second problem engage students in the exploration of the
connection between angle measure and the coordinates of points in the first quadrant.
• To download the student worksheet, go to education.ti.com/exchange and enter
“12385” in the quick search box.

Associated Materials
• PrecalcWeek08_UnitCircle_Worksheet_TI84.doc

Suggested Related Activities


To download any activity listed, go to education.ti.com/exchange and enter the number in
the quick search box.
• Graphs of Sine and Cosine (TI-Nspire technology) — 9431
• Graphs of Sine, Cosine, and Tangent (TI-Nspire technology) — 8314
• Graphing in Circles (TI-Nspire technology) — 9893
• The Unit Circle (TI-Nspire technology) — 9404
• Trig Values of the Unit Circle (TI-84 Plus) — 6562

©2009 Texas Instruments Incorporated Teacher Page Round and Round She Goes…
TImath.com Precalculus

Problem 1 – Introduction to the Unit Circle


Students are introduced to the concept of the unit circle.
Right triangle relationships are explored to develop an
understanding of the patterns involved.
Special right triangles are addressed to help students
understand the exact values they will likely be expected
to know.
Students often have difficulty with remembering some of
these special values. Ask students if they can see a
2
pattern that might help them remember that goes
2 60°
2a
with the 45-45-90 triangle. Students may point out that
a
there is a pattern of twos—two angles and two sides are
the same. 30°
3 a 3
Similarly, ask them how they might remember that
2
goes with the 30-60-90 triangle. Students may state that
there is a pattern of threes—all angles involved are
3
multiples of 3. Next, once students realize that and
2
1
go together in an ordered pair, it is easy to point out
2
using a unit circle sketch that a 60° angle involves an x-
1
value that is and the 30° angle involves a y-value that
2
1
is .
2
Problem 2 – Extending the Pattern
Students use a visual model to extend what they
established in Quadrant I to Quadrants II, III, and IV.
It is very helpful for students to think about symmetry as
they move on to these other quadrants. Construction of
rectangles in the unit circle is helpful for many students
to make this extension.

©2009 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 2 Round and Round She Goes…
TImath.com Precalculus

Student Solutions
1. x = cos θ 3
10.
2. x = sin θ 2
⎛ ⎞
3.
1 11. ⎜ 2 , 2 ⎟
2 ⎝ 2 2 ⎠
2 2
4. 12.
2 2
⎛ ⎞
5. ⎜ 3 , 1 ⎟ 13.
2
⎝ 2 2⎠ 2
⎛ ⎞ 14. (–a, b)
6. ⎜ 1 , 3 ⎟
⎝2 2 ⎠ 15. (–a, –b)
3 16. (a, –b)
7.
2 17. 120°
1 18. 240°
8.
2
19. 300°
1
9.
2

©2009 Texas Instruments Incorporated Page 3 Round and Round She Goes…

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