The

Trigonometric
Functions
First let’s look at the three basic trigonometric functions

SINE (x, y)
COSINE r
TANGENT 

They are abbreviated using their first 3 letters r x y 2 2

Let’s look at an angle  in standard position

whose terminal side contains the point (x, y).

Let r be the distance from the origin to the point (x, y).
r can be found using the distance formula.
The three basic trigonometric functions are defined as
follows:
y x y
sin   cos   tan  
r r x
 There are three more trig functions. They are called the
reciprocal functions because they are reciprocals of the first
three functions. Oh yeah, this
means to flip the
Like the first three trig functions, these are referred fraction over.
to by the first three letters except for cosecant since
it's first three letters are the same as for cosine.
y r r
sin   cosecant   csc  
r y y
x r r
cos  secant   sec  
r x x
x x
y cotangent   cot  
tan  y y
x
Best way to remember these is learn which is the reciprocal of which and flip
them over.
Based on the fact that these 3 trig functions are
reciprocals of the three basic ones, they are called the
reciprocal identities.

RECIPROCAL IDENTITIES
1 1 1
csc   sec   cot  
sin  cos  tan 
 Find the values of the six trigonometric functions of the angle 
in standard position whose terminal side passes through the
point (4, -5)
r  4   5  41
2 2

Often the
preferred way
to leave the

answer is with
a rationalized
denominator
41r (4, -5)
y 5 41 r 41
sin      
5 41 csc    
r 41 41 41 y 5
x 4 41 4 41 r 41
cos     sec   
r 41 41 41 x 4
y 5 x 4
tan    cot   
x 4 y 5
An angle whose terminal side is on an axis is called a quadrantal angle.
(0, 1)
A 90° angle is a quadrantal angle.
To find the trig functions of 90°, 1
choose a point on the terminal side. 90°

y 1 r 1
sin     1 csc    1
r 1 y 1

x 0 r 1
cos    0 sec     undefined
r 1 x 0

y 1 x 0
tan    undefined cot    0
x 0 y 1
To fill in the following table of quadrantal angles use the graph below. Start with 0°
going down. Figure out the answer and then click the mouse to see if you are right.
r
sin  
y
(0, 1) csc  
r y
x r
cos  sec  
r x
(-1, 0) (1, 0)
y
tan  x
x (0, -1) cot  
y

? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
 All trig In quadrant I both the x
functions and y values are positive
positive so all trig functions will be
positive
 Let's look at the signs of sine,
cosine and tangent in the other
quadrants. Reciprocal functions will
have the same sign as the original
sin is + since "flipping" a fraction over
cos is - doesn't change its sign.
tan is -
In quadrant II x is negative
and y is positive.

We can see from this that any trig function that
requires the x value will then have a negative
sign on it.
 In quadrant III, x is
negative and y is negative.
The r is always positive so if we
have either x or y with hypotenuse
 we'll get a negative. If we have both
x and y the negatives will cancel
sin is -
cos is -
tan is +

In quadrant IV, x is positive

and y is negative .

So any functions using y will be
sin is - negative.
cos is +
tan is -
 To help
remember
sin is + All trig
these S A
cos is - functions
signs we
tan is - positive
look at T C
sin is - sin is - what trig
cos is - cos is + functions
tan is + tan is - are
positive in
each
quadrant.
Here is a mnemonic Students All
to help you
remember.
(start in Quad I and Take Calculus
go counterclockwise)
Computing the Values of Trig
Functions of Acute Angles

TRIANGLES
 The 45-45-90 Triangle
In a 45-45-90 triangle the sides are in a ratio of 1- 1- 2

This means I can build a triangle with these lengths for sides
(or any multiple of these lengths) (1, 1)
We can then find the six trig
functions of 45° using this triangle. 45°
1 2
sin 45   rationalized 2
2 2 1
1 2
cos 45   45° 90°
2 2
1
1 You can "flip"
tan 45   1 these to get other
1 3 trig functions
You are expected to know exact values for trig functions of 45°.
You can get them by drawing the triangle and using sides.

What is the radian equivalent of 45°?
4
You also know all the trig
functions for /4 then.
45°
2 2
sec   2 1
4 1
reciprocal of cos 45° 90°

1 1
tan  1
4 1
 The 30-60-90 Triangle side opp 60°

In a 30-60-90 triangle the sides are in a ratio of 1- 3 - 2

side opp 30° side opp 90°

This means I can build a triangle with these lengths for sides
We can then find trig functions of 60° using this
triangle.
1, 3  
sin 60  3 30°
2 2
1 3
cos 60 
2
60° 90°
3 1
tan 60   3
1
 The 30-60-90 Triangle side opp 60°

In a 30-60-90 triangle the sides are in a ratio of 1- 3 - 2

side opp 30° side opp 90°

We can draw the triangle so the 30° angle is at the bottom.
We can then find trig functions of 30° using this
triangle.

sin 30 
1  
3,1
2
2 60°
3
cos 30  1
2
30° 90°
1 3
tan 30   3
3 3
What this means is that if you memorize the special triangles,
then you can find all of the trig functions of 45°, 30°, and 60°
which are common ones you need to know.

You also can find the radian equivalents of these angles.

  
45  30  60 
4 6 3

When directions say "Find the exact value", you must

know these values not a decimal approximation that
your calculator gives you.
Here is a table of sines and cosines for common angles.
You can get these by drawing the special triangles, but
notice the pattern.
 Using a Calculator to Find
Values of Trig Functions
If we wanted sin 38° we could not use the
previous methods to find it because we
don't know the lengths of sides of a
triangle with a 38° angle. We will then
use our calculator to approximate the
value.
You can simply use the sin button on
the calculator followed by (38) to find
the sin 38°

A word to the wise: Always make sure your calculator is in the

right mode for the type of angle you have (degrees or radians).
If there is not a degree symbol then you know the angle is in
radians.
Using a Calculator to Find
Values of Reciprocal Trig
Functions

If we wanted csc (/5) we use our

calculator to approximate the value
remembering that cosecant is the
reciprocal function of sine so is
1 over sine.

You can simply put in 1 divided by sin

followed by (/5 ) to find the csc /5

Make sure you are in radian mode

and that you put the /5 in
parenthesis.