TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS OF ANY ANGLE IN STANDARD

POSITION

An angle is in standard position if its vertex is located at the origin and one ray
is on the positive x-axis. The ray on the x-axis is called the initial side and the other ray is
called the terminal side.

This lesson will help you define the six trigonometric functions of any angles using
the abscissa (x), the ordinate (y) and the radius (r) of a point on the terminal side of an
angle in the standard position.

Trigonometric Functions of a General Angle

If 𝜃is an angle in standard position, P(x,y) is any point other than the origin on the
terminal side of 𝜃, and 𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 , then
 Notice that in the case of an acute angle these definitions are equivalent to our
earlier definitions in terms of right triangles.

Example
1. If a point (−3,4) is on the terminal side of an angle in the standard position, find
the six functions.
Solution:

𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2

𝑟 = √(−3)2 + (4)2

𝑟 = √(9)2 + (16)2

𝑟 = √25
𝑟=5

𝑦 4 𝑟 5
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝜃 = =
𝑟 5 𝑦 4
𝑥 −3 𝑟 5
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜃 = =−
𝑟 5 𝑥 3
𝑦 4 𝑥 3
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝜃 = =
𝑥 3 𝑦 4
6
2. Find the other trigonometric functions given cos 𝜃 = 15, terminal angle at
quadrant IV.
Solution:

𝑦 = √𝑟 2 − 𝑥 2

𝑦 = √(15)2 − (6)2
 𝑦 = √225 − 36

𝑦 = √189

𝑦 = √189 = 𝟑√𝟐𝟏

Note: y must be negative since the terminal angle is at QIV.

𝑦 −3√21 −√21 𝑟 15 5√21
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = = = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝜃 = = =−
𝑟 15 5 𝑦 −3√21 21
𝑥 6 2 𝑟 15 5
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = = = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜃 = = =
𝑟 15 5 𝑥 6 2
𝑦 −√189 −3√21 𝑥 16√21
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = = = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝜃 = =−
𝑥 16 16 𝑦 63

ACTIVITY 4

I. Determine the missing coordinate of P in each of the following

1. 𝑥 = 2, 𝑟 = 5, P in the first quadrant
2. 𝑦 = −1, 𝑟 = 3, P in the third quadrant
3. 𝑥 = −3, 𝑟 = √13, P in the second quadrant
II. Find the value of the six trigonometric functions given the following conditions
5
4. cos θ = − 8 , tan θ is positive.

√6
5. cot θ = , QIII
2
3
6. sec θ = 7, , tan θ is negative

III. Find the value of the six trigonometric functions whose terminal side passes through
the point:
7. P(−5,12) 8. P(−2, −7) 9. P(1, −2) 10. P(3.7)