Section 4.

4 • Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle 85

Name______________________________________________
Section 4.4 Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle

Objective: In this lesson you learned how to evaluate trigonometric

functions of any angle.

Important Vocabulary Define each term or concept.

Reference angles Let θ be an angle in standard position. Its reference angle is the
acute angle θ ′ formed by the terminal side of θ and the horizontal axis.

I. Introduction (Pages 312−313) What you should learn

How to evaluate
Let θ be an angle in standard position with (x, y) a point on the trigonometric functions
terminal side of θ and r = x 2 + y 2 ≠ 0 . Complete the of any angle
following definitions of the trigonometric functions of any angle:
y
sin θ = y/r cos θ = x/r
(x, y)
tan θ = y/x, x ≠ 0 cot θ = x/y, y ≠ 0
r
θ
sec θ = r/x, x ≠ 0 csc θ = r/y, y ≠ 0 x

Name the quadrants in which the sine function is positive.

Quadrants I and II
Name the quadrants in which the sine function is negative.
Quadrants III and IV
Name the quadrants in which the cosine function is positive.
Quadrants I and IV
Name the quadrants in which the cosine function is negative.
Quadrants II and III
Name the quadrants in which the tangent function is positive.
Quadrants I and III
Name the quadrants in which the tangent function is negative.
Quadrants II and IV

Example 1: If sin θ = 1
2
and tan θ < 0 , find cos θ .
− 0.8660

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
86 Chapter 4 • Trigonometry

II. Reference Angles (Page 314)

What you should learn
Example 2: Find the reference angle θ ′ for How to use reference
(a) θ = 210° (b) θ = 4.1 angles to evaluate
(a) 30° (b) 0.9584 radians trigonometric functions

III. Trigonometric Functions of Real Numbers What you should learn

(Pages 315−317) How to evaluate
trigonometric functions
To find the value of a trigonometric function of any angle θ, . . . of real numbers
determine the function value for the associated reference angle
θ ′. Depending on the quadrant in which θ lies, affix the
appropriate sign to the function value.

11π
Example 3: Evaluate sin .
6
− 1/2

Example 4: Evaluate cos 240° .

− 1/2

y y y

x x x

Homework Assignment

Page(s)

Exercises

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.