Special Angles and their Trig Functions

By Jeannie Taylor
Through Funding Provided by a
VCCS LearningWare Grant
We will first look at the special angles called the quadrantal
angles.

90

180

270

0
The quadrantal angles are those angles that lie on the axis of
the Cartesian coordinate system: , , , and .

0

90

180

270
We also need to be able to recognize these angles when they
are given to us in radian measure. Look at the smallest
possible positive angle in standard position, other than 0 , yet
having the same terminal side as 0 . This is a 360 angle
which is equivalent to .

radians 2t

radians 2 360 t =

90

180

270

0
2
t
=
radians
If we look at half of
that angle, we have

radians or 180 t

.
radians t =
Looking at the angle half-way
between 180 and 360 , we have
270 or radians which is of
the total (360 or ).

2
3t
4
3
t 2
radians

Moving all the way around from 0 to 360

completes the circle and and gives the 360
angle which is equal to radians.
t 2

radians
2
3t
=

Looking at the angle

half-way between 0
and 180 or , we have
90 or .
2
t

t
We can count the quadrantal angles in terms of .
radians
2
t
radians
2
t
0 radians
radians
2
2t
radians
2
3t
radians
2
4t
Notice that after counting these angles
based on portions of the full circle,
two of these angles reduce to radians
with which we are familiar, . t t 2 and
t =
radians
radians 2t =
Add the equivalent degree
measure to each of these
quadrantal angles.

90

180

270
radians 57 . 1 ~
radians 14 . 3 ~
radians 71 . 4 ~
radians 28 . 6 ~
We can approximate the
radian measure of each
angle to two decimal places.
One of them, you already
know, . It
will probably be a good idea
to memorize the others.
Knowing all of these
numbers allows you to
quickly identify the location
of any angle.
radians 14 . 3 ~ t

360
We can find the trigonometric functions of the
quadrantal angles using this definition. We will
begin with the point (1, 0) on the x axis.
(1, 0)
radians
2
t
0 radians
radians
2
3t
t =
radians
radians 2t =

90

180

270

360
or
As this line falls on top of the x axis,
we can see that the length of r is 1.
y
x
x
y
x
r
r
x
y
r
r
y
= =
= =
= =
| |
| |
| |
cot tan
sec cos
csc sin
For the angle 0 , we can see that x = 1 and
y = 0. To visualize the length of r, think
about the line of a 1 angle getting closer
and closer to 0 at the point (1, 0).

Remember the six

trigonometric functions
defined using a point (x, y)
on the terminal side of an
angle, .

|
radians
2
t
0 radians
radians
2
3t
t =
radians
radians 2t =

90

180

270

360
(1, 0)
or
undefined is 0 cot 0
1
0
0 tan
1 0 sec 1 0 cos
undefined is 0 csc 0 0 sin



= =
= =
=
Using the values, x = 1, y = 0, and r = 1, we list the six trig functions of 0.
And of course, these values also apply to 0 radians, 360 , 2 radians, etc.

t
It will be just as easy to find the
trig functions of the remaining
quadrantal angles using the point
(x, y) and the r value of 1.
radians
2
t
0 radians
radians
2
3t
t =
radians
radians 2t =

90

180

270

360
or
(0, 1)
0
2
cot undefined is
2
tan
undefined is
2
sec 0
2
cos
1
2
csc 1
2
sin
=
=
= =
t t
t t
t t
(-1, 0)
undefined is cot 0 tan
1 sec 1 cos
undefined is csc 0 sin
t t
t t
t t
=
= =
=
(0, -1)
0
2
3
cot undefined is
2
3
tan
undefined is
2
3
sec 0
2
3
cos
1
2
3
csc 1
2
3
sin
=
= =
= =
t t
t t
t t
Now lets cut each quadrant in
half, which basically gives us 8
equal sections.
0
4
t
4
2t
4
4t
4
6t
4
3t
4
5t
4
7t
4
8t
The first angle, half way between 0
and would be .
2
t
4 2 2
1 t t
= -
We can again count around the
circle, but this time we will count
in terms of radians. Counting
we say:
4
t
.
4
8
,
4
7
,
4
6
,
4
5
,
4
4
,
4
3
,
4
2
,
4
1 t t t t t t t t
and
4
t
2
t
=
t 2 =
2
3t
=
= t
Then reduce appropriately.
45 =
90 =
135 =
180 =
225 =
270 =
315 =
360 =
Since 0 to radians is 90 , we know
that is half of 90 or 45. Each
successive angle is 45 more than the
previous angle. Now we can name all
of these special angles in degrees.
2
t

4
t

2
t
It is much easier to construct this picture of angles in
both degrees and radians than it is to memorize a table
involving these angles (45 or reference angles,).

4
t
45

45
The lengths of the legs of the
45 45 90 triangle are equal
to each other because their
corresponding angles are
equal.

If we let each leg have a length
of 1, then we find the hypotenuse
to be using the Pythagorean
theorem.
2
1
1
2
You should memorize this
triangle or at least be able
to construct it. These
angles will be used
frequently.
Next we will look at two special triangles: the 45 45 90
triangle and the 30 60 90 triangle. These triangles will allow
us to easily find the trig functions of the special angles, 45 , 30 ,
and 60 .

45

45

1
1
2
1 45 cot 1 45 tan
2 45 sec
2
2
45 cos
2 45 csc
2
2
2
1
45 sin
= =
= =
= = =



Using the definition of the trigonometric functions as the
ratios of the sides of a right triangle, we can now list all six
trig functions for a angle.

45
For the 30 60 90 triangle, we will construct an equilateral
triangle (a triangle with 3 equal angles of each, which
guarantees 3 equal sides).

60
If we let each side be a length
of 2, then cutting the triangle
in half will give us a right
triangle with a base of 1 and a
hypotenuse of 2. This smaller
triangle now has angles of 30,
60, and 90 .

We find the length of the other

leg to be , using the
Pythagorean theorem.
3
3

60
1
2

30
You should memorize this
triangle or at least be able to
construct it. These angles,
also, will be used frequently.
3

60
1
2

30
Again, using the definition of the trigonometric functions as the
ratios of the sides of a right triangle, we can now list all the trig
functions for a 30 angle and a 60 angle.


3 30 cot
3
3
3
1
30 tan
3
3 2
3
2
30 sec
2
3
30 cos
2 30 csc
2
1
30 sin
= = =
= = =
= =



3
3
3
1
60 cot 3 60 tan
2 60 sec
2
1
60 cos
3
3 2
3
2
60 csc
2
3
60 sin
= = =
= =
= = =



3

60
1
2

30
45

45

1
1
2
Either memorizing or learning how to construct these
triangles is much easier than memorizing tables for the
45 , 30 , and 60 angles. These angles are used frequently
and often you need exact function values rather than
rounded values. You cannot get exact values on your
calculator.

3

60
1
2

30
45

45

1
1
2
Knowing these triangles, understanding the use of reference
angles, and remembering how to get the proper sign of a
function enables us to find exact values of these special
angles.
All
I
Sine
II
III
Tangent
IV
Cosine
A good way to
remember this chart is
that ASTC stands for
All Students Take
Calculus.
y
x
Example 1: Find the six trig functions of 330 .

Second, find the reference angle, 360 - 330 = 30

First draw the 330 degree angle.

To compute the trig functions

of the 30 angle, draw the
special triangle.

60
1
2

30
Determine the correct sign for the trig functions
of 330 . Only the cosine and the secant are +.

A
S
T C

330
30

y
x

330
3

60
1
2

30
A
S
T C
3 330 cot
3
3
3
1
330 tan
3
3 2
3
2
330 sec
2
3
330 cos
2 330 csc
2
1
330 sin
= = =
= = =
= =

Example 1 Continued: The six trig functions of 330 are:

30

y
x
Example 2: Find the six trig functions of . (Slide 1)
3

60
1
2

30
3
4t
First determine the location of .
3
4t
3
t
3
2t
3
3t
3
3t
3
4t
3
t
With a denominator of 3, the distance from 0 to radians is cut into
thirds. Count around the Cartesian coordinate system beginning at 0 until
we get to .
t
3
4t
We can see that the reference
angle is , which is the same as
60 . Therefore, we will compute
the trig functions of using the
60 angle of the special triangle.
3
t

3
t
3

60
1
2

30
A
S
T C
Example 2: Find the six trig functions of . (Slide 2)
3
4t
y
x
3
t
3
2t
3
4t
3
t
t
3
3
3
1
3
4
cot 3
3
4
tan
2
3
4
sec
2
1
3
4
cos
3
3 2
3
2
3
4
csc
2
3
3
4
sin
= = =
= =
= = =
t t
t t
t t
Before we write the functions, we need to determine the signs for each
function. Remember All Students Take Calculus. Since the angle, , is
located in the 3
rd
quadrant, only the tangent and cotangent are positive. All
the other functions are negative..
3
4t
0 radians
Example 3: Find the exact value of cos .
|
.
|

\
|

4
5t
We will first draw the angle to determine the quadrant.
|
.
|

\
|

4
5t
|
.
|

\
|

4
t
|
.
|

\
|

4
2t
|
.
|

\
|

4
3t
|
.
|

\
|

4
4t
We see that the angle is
located in the 2
nd
quadrant
and the cos is negative in the
2
nd
quadrant.
|
.
|

\
|

4
5t
A
S
T C
45

45

1
1
2
We know that is the
same as 45 , so the
reference angle is 45 .
Using the special triangle
we can see that the cos of
45 or is .
2
1
4
t
4
t

4
t
Note that the reference angle is .
4
t
|
.
|

\
|

4
5t
cos =
2
2
2
1
=
Practice Exercises
1. Find the value of the sec 360 without using a calculator.
2. Find the exact value of the tan 420 .
3. Find the exact value of sin .
4. Find the tan 270 without using a calculator.
5. Find the exact value of the csc .
6. Find the exact value of the cot (-225 ).
7. Find the exact value of the sin .
8. Find the exact value of the cos .
9. Find the value of the cos(- ) without using a calculator.
10. Find the exact value of the sec 315 .

t
|
.
|

\
|

6
5t

|
.
|

\
|
6
11t

|
.
|

\
|

3
7t
|
.
|

\
|
4
13t
Key For The Practice Exercises
1. sec 360 = 1
2. tan 420 =
3. sin =
4. tan 270 is undefined
5. csc =
6. cot (-225 ) = -1
7. sin =
8. cos =
9. cos(- ) = -1
10. sec 315 =

|
.
|

\
|
6
11t

|
.
|

\
|

3
7t
|
.
|

\
|
4
13t
3
|
.
|

\
|

6
5t
2
1

3
3 2
3
2
=
2
2
2
1
=
2
3
2
Problems 3 and 7 have solution explanations following this key.
0 radians
Problem 3: Find the sin .
All thats left is to find the correct sign.
And we can see that the correct sign is -, since
the sin is always - in the 3
rd
quadrant.
A
S
T C
|
.
|

\
|

6
5t
6
t

6
2t

6
3t

6
4t

6
5t

We will first draw the

angle by counting in a
negative direction in
units of .
6
t
We can see that is the
reference angle and we know
that is the same as 30 . So
we will draw our 30 triangle
and see that the sin 30 is .

6
t
6
t
2
1
3

60
1
2

30
Answer: sin =
|
.
|

\
|

6
5t
2
1

6
t
0 radians
Problem 7: Find the exact value of cos .
We will first draw the angle to determine the quadrant.
A
S
T C
45

45

1
1
2
We know that is the
same as 45 , so the
reference angle is 45 .
Using the special triangle
we can see that the cos of
45 or is .
2
1
4
t
4
t

Note that the reference angle is .

4
t
|
.
|

\
|
4
13t
4
t
4
2t
4
4t
4
6t
4
5t
4
7t
4
8t
4
9t 4
10t
4
11t
4
3t
We see that the angle is
located in the 3rd quadrant
and the cos is negative in the
3
rd
quadrant.
|
.
|

\
|
4
13t
cos =
|
.
|

\
|
4
13t
2
2
2
1
=
|
.
|

\
|
4
12t
4
13t
4
t