TRIGONOMETRY

1.1 Angle and Measure of an Angle

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
• Define and illustrate an angle;
• Differentiate between the degree measure and radian measure
of an angle;
• Convert degree measure to radian measure and vice-versa;
• Solve problems on applications of the radian measure;
• Define and illustrate an angle in standard position;
• Discuss and illustrate quadrantal angles, coterminal angles, and
reference angles;
• Determine the reference angle for a given angle
1.1 Angle and Measure of an Angle
Angle – defined as a set of points in a plane formed by the union of two
rays having a common endpoint.

In Fig. 1.1a,

side
vertex
•
side
 • B

• •
O A
Fig. 1.1b
The vertex is usually denoted by capital letter. By
identifying an arbitrary point on each side of angle, we can name
the angle using these points.
We use the symbol to denote an angle. In Fig. 1.1b, the
angle can be labelled as AOB or BOA or simply O. Note
that the letter corresponding to the vertex is always put in the
middle.
 • B

terminal side
initial side
• •

O A
Fig. 1.2
Intuitively, an angle is formed by rotating a ray about its
endpoint. The rotation is indicated by a curved arrow to indicate
the direction of the rotation.
The ray in its original position is considered as the initial
side of the angle and the position of the ray after it has been
rotated is considered as the terminal side. In Fig. 1.2, ray OA,
is the initial side, ray OB is the terminal side, and the endpoint O
is the vertex.
 The measure of an angle is defined as the amount of
rotation from the initial side to terminal side.
The simplest unit used to measure an angle is 1 rev (rev is
the abbreviation of revolution.
However, the degree and radian units are the most
common units used to measure the amount of rotation of an
angle.