Math 109 T5-Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions

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Math 109 Topic 5 UNIT CIRCLE DEFINITION OF THE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS In this section we derive the trigonometric functions based on the concept of a unit circle. Consider a unit circle (radius = 1) centered at the origin. Topic 4 studied the formula s = r. This relates the length of an arc of a circle with the radius of the circle and the central angle (in radians). For the unit circle, r = 1 and so s = . That is, the arc length subtended (marked o) by an angle is equal to the angle (in radians). We have the following picture, Fig. 5.1. 1 rad.

= arc length = angle (in radians)

Fig. 5.1. Unit Circle Let (x, y) be the coordinates of a point P on the unit circle as it moves in a counterclockwise direction from the positive x-axis. The point P also determines an angle (in radians) which, as mentioned above, is equal to

Math 109 T5-Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions

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the length of the arc traveled by P . See Fig. 5.2. P P = (x, y)

rad.

Fig. 5.2 Now, in this same circle, let us draw a right triangle as in Fig. 5.3. P = (x, y)

1 rad. x

Fig. 5.3 Using the right triangle denitions of the trigonometric functions (Topic 3a), we can write opposite = y, sin = hypotenuse and adjacent cos = = x. hypotenuse

Math 109 T5-Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions

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In other words, we see that cos = x and sin = y. Once sin and cos are determined, the other trigonometric functions are dened in the same manner as in the right triangle approach. This leads to an alternative denition of the trigonometric functions using the unit circle. For a unit circle (radius = 1), a central angle measuring radians subtends an arc of length . This arc corresponds to a point P with coordinates (x, y). Then, cos = x and sin = y. That is, nding the cosine or sine of is the same as nding the x or y coordinate of P . Maybe an example will help. Example 5.1: Find cos , sin and tan . 2 2 2 corresponds to 2 P = (0, 1). Thus,

Solution: =

(0, 1)

cos = x = 0, 2 sin = y = 1, and 2 y tan = = undened, 2 x since we cannot divide by 0. In a similar fashion, = corresponds to P (1, 0). This means cos = x coordinate = 1 and sin = y = 0.

/2

Math 109 T5-Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions

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Exercise 1: Complete the table below. sin cos tan

Answer

3 2

There are other values of for which we know the x and y coordinates. Using the special angles discussed in Topic 3a, we can list the coordinates of P for = , and as indicated below. 6 4 3
( 23

1 2) 6

1 3 2

( 22
2 2

2 2 ) 4 1 1 2

(1 2
3 2

3 2 ) 3

=
1 2

2 2

Fig. 5.4 3 2 , sin = y = , etc, which matches the This means cos = x = 6 2 4 2 values obtained in the right angle denition. As P moves from one quadrant to the next around the unit circle, the x and y coordinates will repeat themselves or have the opposite values of x and y coordinates in previous quadrants. For example, in the rst quadrant 6 5 7 11 3 1 matches the point P , . Evidently, , , and all correspond 2 2 6 6 6

Math 109 T5-Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions

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to points whose coordinates are related to P unit circle below. =

5 6 ;

3 1 , 2 2

as indicated on the

3 2

1 2)

=
1 3 2
6

6;

3 2

, 1) 2

1 2 ( 23

7 6 ;

3 2

, 1) 2

= Fig. 5.5

11 6 ;

, 1) 2

5 1 5 3 = x coordinate = , sin = y coordinate = , etc. This means cos 6 2 6 2 Again, this agrees with what we learned in our discussion of reference angles and quadrant sign changes in Review Topic 9d. Similar comments hold for 2 4 5 3 5 7 and for = , , , . = , , , 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 The argument is exactly the same if is a negative angle. For example, if 11 = , then has the same x and y coordinates as = in Fig. 5.5. 6 6 1 3 = and sin = . In a similar fashion, This means cos 6 2 6 2 5 7 if = , which gives the same point P as = in Fig. 5.5, then 6 6 5 5 3 1 and sin cos = = . 6 2 6 2 The unit circle denition also enables us to determine when the trigonometric functions assume positive or negative values. For example, since the y coordinate > 0 in the rst and second quadrants, we conclude that sin (the y coordinate)> 0 if 0 < < . If < < 2, then sin < 0 since the y coordinate is negative for these values. Similarly, cos (the x coordinate) is 3 . This gives us another positive if < < and negative if < < 2 2 2 2 way to compute exact values.

Math 109 T5-Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions

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Periodicity is a property of the trigonometric functions that follows easily from the unit circle denition. The x and y coordinates of a point on the unit circle repeat themselves after one complete revolution or 2 radians. This means that cos has the same values for and 2, 4, etc. A similar statement holds for sin . We say that cos and sin are periodic with period 2. Thus, cos cos 13 3 17 3 = cos = cos 1 + 4 = cos = , and 3 3 2 5 + 4 3 = cos 5 3 1 = . 2

In each case, we rewrote the argument in terms of multiples of 2 and utilized the peridicity property. The situation regarding periodicity is dierent for tan . Careful examination shows that the values of tan start to repeat themselves after has are the traveled radians. That is, the values of tan for < < 2 2 3 same as those for < < . In other words, tan is periodic with period 2 2 . PRACTICE PROBLEMS for Topic 5 (Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions) 5.1 Indicate the quadrant(s) where terminates a) sin < 0 b) cos > 0 c) tan > 0 and cos < 0 d) sec = 4 3
Answers

5.2 Without using a claculator, nd exact values for the following: a) sin 2, e) sin 11 6 b) sin 5, . c) tan 11 , 4 d) cos 17 , 6
Answers

Math 109 T5-Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions

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5.3 Since exact values are so important, weve decided to give you additional practice. Print o as many copies as you need. Group I 1) sin 3) cos 2 2) sin 3 2 Group II 2) sin 5 6 4) cos 3 1) sin 6

3) sin 330 5) cos 2 3 7) tan 4

4) cos 2 5) tan 2 6) tan 3 2 7) cos 3 8) sin 5 2 9) cos 2 10) sin() Group III 1) 2) sin 11 4 8 cos 3
Answers

6) cos 300 8) tan 5 4 9) tan 7 4 10) tan 9 4 Group IV 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)

Answers
1 sin 5 6 csc 5 6 1 cos 2 3 sec 2 3 1 tan 7 4 cot 7 4 3 csc 2

Answers

3) cos 4) tan 6) tan 7) 8)

5) sin(210 )
15 4 23 sin 4 cos 17 6

2 3 3 4

8) sec 2

Answers

Beginning of Topic

109 Study Topics

109 Skills Assessment

Math 109 Topic 5 Exercise 1 Answers

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Exercise 1 2 1 0 und 3 2 1 0 und

sin cos tan

0 0 1 0

0 1 0

und means undened.

Return to Review Topic

Math 109 Topic 5 Answers Practice Problems

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ANSWERS to SAMPLE PROBLEMS (Topic 5Unit Circle Denition of the Trigonometric Functions) 5.1 a) III, IV b) I, IV
Return to Problem

c) III d) II, III

5.2. a) 0; c) tan

b) 0; 11 4 17 6 11 6 = tan 3 + 2 4 5 + 2 6 6 1 = . 2 = tan 3 4 5 6 = 1; 1 = ; 2

d) cos

= cos

= cos

e) sin

= sin

Return to Problem

5.3 Group I 1) sin = 0 2) 3) sin 3 = 1 2 cos 2 = 0 Group II 2) sin 5 = 6 4) cos = 3 1) sin = 6

1 2 1 2

4) cos 2 = 1 5) tan = undef. 2 6) tan 8) sin 7) cos 3 = cos = 1 9) cos = 0 2 10) sin() = 0
Return to Problem
5 2 3 2

3) sin 330 = 1 2 5) cos 2 = 1 3 2 6) cos 300 = 7) tan = 1 4 8) tan 5 = 1 4

1 2

= undef. = sin
2

1 2

=1

10) tan 9 = tan = 1 4 4

9) tan 7 = 1 4

Math 109 Topic 5 Answers Practice Problems

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5.3 Continued Group III 1) sin 11 = sin 3 = 4 4 2) 3) 4) 6) 7)

1 2 8 2 cos 3 = cos 3 = 1 2 2 2 cos 3 = cos 3 = tan 3 = tan 3 4 4

Group IV 1) 2) 1 2 =1
1 2 1 = 1 =2 1 sin 5 6 2 5 csc 6 = 2 1 1 = 1 = 2 cos 2 3 2 2 sec 3 = 2 1 1 = 1 = 1 tan 7 4 1 sin3 2 1 cos 2

3) 4) 5)

5) sin(210 ) = sin 30 = tan 15 4 23 sin 4 = = tan

1 sin 7 = 2 4 7 4

= 1

6) cot 7 = 1 4
3 2

8) cos 17 = cos 5 = 6 6
Return to Problem

7) csc 3 = 2

= 1 =1

8) sec 2 =