Trigonometric Functions

TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

hypotenuse opposite

θ
O adjacent A

For any acute angle θ (i.e. that angle ≤ 90o ) there are six (6) trigonometric ratios each of
which is defined by referring to a right angle triangle containing θ.

AB = opp = sine θ sin θ

OB hyp

OA = adj = cosine θ cos θ

OB hyp

AB = opp = tangent θ tan θ

OA adj

OB = hyp = cosecant θ cosec θ ≡ 1

AB opp sin θ

OB = hyp = secant θ sec θ ≡ 1

OA adj cos θ

OA = adj = cotangent θ cot θ ≡ 1

AB opp tan θ

Since one now regards an angle as a measure of the ROTATION from a given position of
a straight line about a fixed point.
It is then evident that the size of an angle is unlimited as the line can keep on rotating
indefinitely.

 NB – The meaning of the six trigonometric ratios is as yet restricted to acute

angles, since the definition used so far for each ratio refers to angle in a right
angled triangle).
 Trigonometric Functions

Now if one intends to extend the application of trigonometric ratios to angles of any size,
one MUST BE defined in a more general way.

TRIGONOMETRIC RATIOS FOR A GENERAL ANGLE

The system of reference in which a general angle is measured is very similar to that used
for polar coordinates.

The pair of Cartesian axes divides the plane of rotation into FOUR (4) QUADRANTS,
numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 as shown in the diagram below.

y NB -

2nd quadrant 1st quadrant

3rd quadrant 4th quadrant

+ ve θ

O x O x ← initial line

– ve θ

The point about which the line OP rotates is the pole or origin O, the position from which
the angle is measured is the initial line or x – axis.
 Trigonometric Functions

An angle formed when the line rotates anticlockwise is taken as + ve (positive), while
clockwise rotations are taken as – ve (negative) angles.

Now as the imaginary line OP rotates, P moves round the 1st quadrant, and in this region
its coordinates P(x, y) are both positive.

As OP moves into the 2nd quadrant its x – coordinate becomes negative whilst its y –
coordinate stays positive P(– x, y).

In the 3rd quadrant both the coordinates of P become negative P( – x, – y ).

Finally in the 4th quadrant one has a positive x – coordinate and a negative y – coordinate
P(x, – y).
The length, r of OP (the radius vector) is taken always to be positive.

Denoting the angle through which OP has (turned/charted) rotated as θ, the trigonometric
ratios of θ are always defined in the following ways.

sin θ = y
r
cos θ = x
r
tan θ = y
x
The numerical values of these ratios can be found as follows

From any position of P, a vertical line can projected down from P to meet the x – axis at
Q to form a right angle triangle OPQ.

y
P

α x
O Q

y
P

α
x
Q O
 Trigonometric Functions

Q x
α O

O Q x
α

y P

α
x
O Q
 Trigonometric Functions

The POQ so formed is always acute regardless of the value of and is called the
associated acute angle α. The value of α for a particular value of θ is the difference
between θ and π (180o) or 2π (360o) or even further multiples of π for much larger angles.

A Summary of Quadrant diagram below

2nd 1st
s+ s+ s s
c– c+ c
t– t+ t
or
s– s–
c– c+ t c
t+ t–
3rd 4th
(i) (ii)

* NB – The ratios shown are those which are positive in each quadrant.
The quadrant rule together with the value of, the associated acute angle, enable us to find
the value of any trig ratio of any angle.