1.4: Trigonometric Functions of Any Angle

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To define the trigonometric functions of any angle - including angles less than $0^\circ$ or greater than $360^\circ $ - we need a more general definition of an angle. We say that an angle is formed by rotating a ray $\overrightarrow{OA} $ about the endpoint $O $ (called the vertex), so that the ray is in a new position, denoted by the ray $\overrightarrow{OB} $. The ray $\overrightarrow{OA} $ is called the $\textbf{initial side}$ of the angle, and $\overrightarrow{OB} $ is the terminal side of the angle (see Figure 1.4.1(a)).

1.4.1.png — Figure 1.4.1 Definition of a general angle

We denote the angle formed by this rotation as $\angle\,AOB $, or simply $\angle\,O $, or even just $O $. If the rotation is counter-clockwise then we say that the angle is positive, and the angle is negative if the rotation is clockwise (see Figure 1.4.1(b)).

One full counter-clockwise rotation of $\overrightarrow{OA} $ back onto itself (called a revolution), so that the terminal side coincides with the initial side, is an angle of $360^\circ$; in the clockwise direction this would be $-360^\circ $. Not rotating $\overrightarrow{OA} $ constitutes an angle of $0^\circ $. More than one full rotation creates an angle greater than $360^\circ $. For example, notice that $30^\circ $ and $390^\circ $ have the same terminal side in Figure 1.4.2, since $30 + 360 = 390 $.

1.4.2.png — Figure 1.4.2 Angle greater than $360^◦$

We can now define the trigonometric functions of any angle in terms of $\textbf{Cartesian coordinates}$. Recall that the $\mathbf{xy}$-coordinate plane consists of points denoted by pairs $(x,y) $ of real numbers. The first number, $x $, is the point's $\mathbf{x} $ coordinate, and the second number, $y $, is its $\mathbf{y} $ coordinate. The $x $ and $y $ coordinates are measured by their positions along the $\mathbf{x}$-axis and $\mathbf{y}$-axis, respectively, which determine the point's position in the plane. This divides the $xy$-coordinate plane into four quadrants (denoted by QI, QII, QIII, QIV), based on the signs of $x $ and $y $ (see Figure 1.4.3(a)-(b)).

1.4.3.png — Figure 1.4.3 $x y$-coordinate plane

Now let $\theta $ be any angle. We say that $\theta $ is in standard position if its initial side is the positive $x$-axis and its vertex is the origin $(0,0) $. Pick any point $(x,y) $ on the terminal side of $\theta $ a distance $r>0 $ from the origin (see Figure 1.4.3(c)). (Note that $r = \sqrt{ x^2 + y^2 } $. Why?) We then define the trigonometric functions of $\theta $ as follows:

\[ \sin\;\theta ~=~ \dfrac{y}{r} \qquad\qquad
\cos\;\theta ~=~ \dfrac{x}{r} \qquad\qquad
\tan\;\theta ~=~ \dfrac{y}{x} \label{1.2}\]

\[\csc\;\theta ~=~ \dfrac{r}{y} \qquad\qquad
\sec\;\theta ~=~ \dfrac{r}{x} \qquad\qquad
\cot\;\theta ~=~ \dfrac{x}{y} \label{1.3}\]

Notice that in the case of an acute angle these definitions are equivalent to our earlier definitions in terms of right triangles: draw a right triangle with angle $\theta $ such that $x = \text{adjacent side} $, $y = \text{opposite side} $, and $r = \text{hypotenuse} $. For example, this would give us $\sin\;\theta = \frac{y}{r} = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} $ and $\cos\;\theta = \frac{x}{r} = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}} $, just as before (see Figure 1.4.4(a)).

In Figure 1.4.4(b) we see in which quadrants or on which axes the terminal side of an angle $0^\circ \le \theta < 360^\circ $ may fall. From Figure 1.4.3(a) and formulas Equation \ref{1.2} and Equation \ref{1.3}, we see that we can get negative values for a trigonometric function. For example, $\sin\;\theta < 0 $ when $y<0 $. Figure 1.4.5 summarizes the signs (positive or negative) for the trigonometric functions based on the angle's quadrant:

1.4.5.png — Figure 1.4.5 Signs of the trigonometric functions by quadrant

Example 1.20

Find the exact values of all six trigonometric functions of $120^\circ$.

$1.4 1.20 ex.png$

Solution

We know $120^\circ = 180^\circ - 60^\circ$. By Example 1.7 in Section 1.2, we see that we can use the point $(-1,\sqrt{3})$ on the terminal side of the angle $120^\circ$ in QII, since we saw in that example that a basic right triangle with a $60^\circ$ angle has adjacent side of length $1$, opposite side of length $\sqrt{3}$, and hypotenuse of length $2$, as in the figure on the right. Drawing that triangle in QII so that the hypotenuse is on the terminal side of $120^\circ$ makes $r = 2$, $x=-1$, and $y=\sqrt{3}$. Hence:

\[\nonumber \sin\;120^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \qquad
\cos\;120^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{2} \qquad
\tan\;120^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{-1} \,=\, -\sqrt{3} \nonumber \]

\[\nonumber \csc\;120^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{2}{\sqrt{3}} \qquad
\sec\;120^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{2}{-1} \;=\; -2 \qquad
\cot\;120^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{\sqrt{3}} \nonumber \]

Example 1.21

Find the exact values of all six trigonometric functions of $225^\circ $.

$1.4 example 1.21.png$

Solution

We know that $225^\circ = 180^\circ + 45^\circ $. By Example 1.6 in Section 1.2, we see that we can use the point $(-1,-1) $ on the terminal side of the angle $225^\circ $ in QIII, since we saw in that example that a basic right triangle with a $45^\circ $ angle has adjacent side of length $1 $, opposite side of length $1 $, and hypotenuse of length $\sqrt{2} $, as in the figure on the right. Drawing that triangle in QIII so that the hypotenuse is on the terminal side of $225^\circ $ makes $r = \sqrt{2} $, $x=-1 $, and $y=-1 $. Hence:

\[\nonumber \sin\;225^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{\sqrt{2}} \qquad
\cos\;225^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{\sqrt{2}} \qquad
\tan\;225^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{-1} \,=\, 1 \nonumber \]

\[\nonumber \csc\;225^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{y} \;=\; -\sqrt{2} \qquad
\sec\;225^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{x} \;=\; -\sqrt{2} \qquad
\cot\;225^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{-1} \,=\, 1 \nonumber \]

Example 1.22

Find the exact values of all six trigonometric functions of $330^\circ $.

$1.4 example 1.22.png$

Solution

We know that $330^\circ = 360^\circ - 30^\circ $. By Example 1.7 in Section 1.2, we see that we can use the point $(\sqrt{3},-1) $ on the terminal side of the angle $225^\circ $ in QIV, since we saw in that example that a basic right triangle with a $30^\circ $ angle has adjacent side of length $\sqrt{3} $, opposite side of length $1 $, and hypotenuse of length $2 $, as in the figure on the right. Drawing that triangle in QIV so that the hypotenuse is on the terminal side of $330^\circ $ makes $r = 2 $, $x=\sqrt{3} $, and $y=-1 $. Hence:

\[\nonumber \sin\;330^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{2} \qquad
\cos\;330^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \qquad
\tan\;330^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{\sqrt{3}} \nonumber \]

\[\nonumber \csc\;330^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{y} \;=\; -2 \qquad
\sec\;330^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{2}{\sqrt{3}} \qquad
\cot\;330^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{y} \;=\; -\sqrt{3} \nonumber \]

Example 1.23

Find the exact values of all six trigonometric functions of $0^\circ $, $90^\circ $, $180^\circ $, and $270^\circ $.

Solution

These angles are different from the angles we have considered so far, in that the terminal sides lie along either the $x$-axis or the $y$-axis. So unlike the previous examples, we do not have any right triangles to draw. However, the values of the trigonometric functions are easy to calculate by picking the simplest points on their terminal sides and then using the definitions in formulas Equation \ref{1.2} and Equation \ref{1.3}.

For instance, for the angle $0^\circ $ use the point $(1,0) $ on its terminal side (the positive $x$-axis), as in Figure 1.4.6. You could think of the line segment from the origin to the point $(1,0) $ as sort of a degenerate right triangle whose height is $0 $ and whose hypotenuse and base have the same length $1 $. Regardless, in the formulas we would use $r = 1 $, $x = 1 $, and $y = 0 $. Hence:

\[\nonumber \sin\;0^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{0}{1} \;=\; 0 \qquad
\cos\;0^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{1} \;=\; 1 \qquad
\tan\;0^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{0}{1} \;=\; 0 \nonumber \]

\[\nonumber \csc\;0^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{0} \;=\; \text{undefined}\qquad
\sec\;0^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{1} \;=\; 1 \qquad
\cot\;0^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{0} \;=\; \text{undefined} \nonumber \]

Note that $\csc\;0^\circ $ and $\cot\;0^\circ $ are undefined, since division by $0 $ is not allowed.

Similarly, from Figure 1.4.6 we see that for $90^\circ $ the terminal side is the positive $y$-axis, so use the point $(0,1) $. Again, you could think of the line segment from the origin to $(0,1) $ as a degenerate right triangle whose base has length $0 $ and whose height equals the length of the hypotenuse. We have $r = 1 $, $x = 0 $, and $y = 1 $, and hence:

\[\nonumber \sin\;90^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{1} \;=\; 1 \qquad
\cos\;90^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{0}{1} \;=\; 0 \qquad
\tan\;90^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{0} \;=\; \text{undefined} \nonumber \]

\[\nonumber \csc\;90^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{1} \;=\; 1\qquad
\sec\;90^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{0} \;=\; \text{undefined}\qquad
\cot\;90^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{0}{1} \;=\; 0 \nonumber \]

Likewise, for $180^\circ $ use the point $(-1,0) $ so that $r = 1 $, $x = -1 $, and $y = 0 $. Hence:

\[\nonumber \sin\;180^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{0}{1} \;=\; 0 \qquad
\cos\;180^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{1} \;=\; -1 \qquad
\tan\;180^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{0}{-1} \;=\; 0 \nonumber \]

\[\nonumber \csc\;180^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{0} \;=\; \text{undefined}\quad\;\;\;
\sec\;180^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{-1} \;=\; -1\quad\;\;\;
\cot\;180^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{0} \;=\; \text{undefined} \nonumber \]

Lastly, for $270^\circ $ use the point $(0,-1) $ so that $r = 1 $, $x = 0 $, and $y = -1 $. Hence:

\[\nonumber \sin\;270^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{1} \;=\; -1 \qquad
\cos\;270^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{r} \;=\; \dfrac{0}{1} \;=\; 0 \qquad
\tan\;270^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{y}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{-1}{0} \;=\; \text{undefined} \nonumber \]

\[\nonumber \csc\;270^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{-1} \;=\; -1\qquad
\sec\;270^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{r}{x} \;=\; \dfrac{1}{0} \;=\; \text{undefined}\qquad
\cot\;270^\circ \;=\; \dfrac{x}{y} \;=\; \dfrac{0}{-1} \;=\; 0 \nonumber \]

The following table summarizes the values of the trigonometric functions of angles between $0^\circ $ and $360^\circ $ which are integer multiples of $30^\circ $ or $45^\circ$:

Table 1.3 Table of trigonometric function values

$1.4 table 1.3.png$

Since $360^\circ $ represents one full revolution, the trigonometric function values repeat every $360^\circ $. For example, $\sin\;360^\circ = \sin\;0^\circ $, $\cos\;390^\circ = \cos\;30^\circ $, $\tan\;540^\circ = \tan\;180^\circ $, $\sin\;(-45^\circ) = \sin\;315^\circ $, etc. In general, if two angles differ by an integer multiple of $360^\circ$ then each trigonometric function will have equal values at both angles. Angles such as these, which have the same initial and terminal sides, are called coterminal.

In Examples 1.20-1.22, we saw how the values of trigonometric functions of an angle $\theta $ larger than $90^\circ $ were found by using a certain acute angle as part of a right triangle. That acute angle has a special name: if $\theta $ is a nonacute angle then we say that the reference angle for $\theta $ is the acute angle formed by the terminal side of $\theta $ and either the positive or negative $x$-axis. So in Example 1.20, we see that $60^\circ $ is the reference angle for the nonacute angle $\theta = 120^\circ$; in Example 1.21, $45^\circ $ is the reference angle for $\theta = 225^\circ$; and in Example 1.22, $30^\circ $ is the reference angle for $\theta = 330^\circ $.

Example 1.24

Which angle between $0^\circ $ and $360^\circ $ has the same terminal side (and hence the same trigonometric function values) as $\theta\,$?
What is the reference angle for $\theta\,$?

Solution

(a) Since $928^\circ = 2 \times 360^\circ + 208^\circ $, then $\theta $ has the same terminal side as $208^\circ $, as in Figure 1.4.7.

(b) $928^\circ $ and $208^\circ $ have the same terminal side in QIII, so the reference angle for $\theta = 928^\circ $ is $208^\circ - 180^\circ = 28^\circ $.

Example 1.25

Suppose that $\cos\;\theta = -\frac{4}{5} $. Find the exact values of $\sin\;\theta $ and $\tan\;\theta $.

Solution

We can use a method similar to the one used to solve Example 1.8 in Section 1.2. That is, draw a right triangle and interpret $\cos\;\theta $ as the ratio $\frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}} $ of two of its sides. Since $\cos\;\theta = -\frac{4}{5} $, we can use $4 $ as the length of the adjacent side and $5 $ as the length of the hypotenuse. By the Pythagorean Theorem, the length of the opposite side must then be $3 $. Since $\cos\;\theta $ is negative, we know from Figure 1.4.5 that $\theta $ must be in either QII or QIII. Thus, we have two possibilities, as shown in Figure 1.4.8 below:

1.4.8.png — Figure 1.4.8 $\cos θ = − \frac{4}{ 5}$

When $\theta $ is in QII, we see from Figure 1.4.8(a) that the point $(-4,3) $ is on the terminal side of $\theta $, and so we have $x = -4 $, $y = 3 $, and $r = 5 $. Thus, $\sin\;\theta = \frac{y}{r} = \frac{3}{5} $ and $\tan\;\theta = \frac{y}{x} = \frac{3}{-4} $.

When $\theta $ is in QIII, we see from Figure 1.4.8(b) that the point $(-4,-3) $ is on the terminal side of $\theta $, and so we have $x = -4 $, $y = -3 $, and $r = 5 $. Thus, $\sin\;\theta = \frac{y}{r} = \frac{-3}{5} $ and $\tan\;\theta = \frac{y}{x} = \frac{-3}{-4} =
\frac{3}{4} $.

Thus, either $\fbox{\(\sin\;\theta = \frac{3}{5} $ and $\tan\;\theta = -\frac{3}{4}$}\) or $\fbox{\(\sin\;\theta = -\frac{3}{5} $ and $\tan\;\theta = \frac{3}{4}$}\).

Since reciprocals have the same sign, $\csc\;\theta $ and $\sin\;\theta $ have the same sign, $\sec\;\theta $ and $\cos\;\theta $ have the same sign, and $\cot\;\theta $ and $\tan\;\theta $ have the same sign. So it suffices to remember the signs of $\sin\;\theta $, $\cos\;\theta $, and $\tan\;\theta$:

For an angle $θ$ in standard position and a point $(x, y)$ on its terminal side:

$\sin\;\theta $ has the same sign as $y$
$\cos\;\theta $ has the same sign as $x$
$\tan\;\theta $ is positive when $x $ and $y $ have the same sign
$\tan\;\theta $ is negative when $x $ and $y $ have opposite signs

Contributors

Michael Corral (Schoolcraft College). The content of this page is distributed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2.