CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS

The Circular Functions

For any real number s, we can find the values of the six circular functions by using the
unit circle, a circle with radius 1 having the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1. Starting at the point
(1,0), we move |𝑠| units along the circumference of the circle, counterclockwise is 𝑠 > 0
and clockwise is 𝑠 < 0. We let 𝑃(𝑠) be the terminal point of arc 𝑠. If 𝑃(𝑠) is the point (𝑥, 𝑦)
on the unit circle, then we define the six circular functions as follows:
1 𝑦
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑠 = 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑠 =
𝑥 𝑥
1 𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑠 = 𝑦 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝑠 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝑠 =
𝑦 𝑦
Since the unit circle has radius 1 unit, we can see clearly that the values of the
trigonometric function and its corresponding circular function are the same.
For circular function, the formula for any right triangle in the unit circle is
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 = 1

The Terminal Point 𝑷(𝜽) of some Special Angles

The value of six trigonometric functions varies as we go from the first quadrant to
the fourth quadrant.
Coterminal Angle
If two angles in standard position have the same initial and terminal side, they are
called coterminal angles.
𝐶𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 = 𝜃 + 3600 (𝑛) = 𝜃 + 2𝜋(𝑛)

Reference Angle
The reference angle is the acute angle (the smallest angle) formed by the terminal
side of the given angle and the x-axis. Reference angles may appear in all four quadrants.
Angles in quadrant I are their own reference angles. A reference angle is always positive
and is always less than 90º

Note: The reference angle is measured from the terminal side of the original angle
"to" the x-axis (not "to" the y-axis). It is necessary in evaluating functions.
Negative Angle
When the terminal side rotates counterclockwise direction the angle measure
is positive. One full rotation beginning from the initial side is 360°. See the figure below,
red arrow.
When the terminal side rotates clockwise direction, negative angles are created.
One full rotation beginning from the initial side is -360°. See the figure below, green arrow.

Example:
2𝜋
1. Find the value of sec 3

Solution:
2𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
The reference angle of is . The terminal point or coordinate of must be the
3 3 3
2𝜋 2𝜋
same with the terminal point of except for the sign of its abscissa and ordinate. lies
3 3
on Quadrant II which is (−, +) in sign.

𝜋 1 √3
𝑃( ) = ( , )
3 2 2 coordinate of the reference angle
𝟐𝝅 𝟏 √𝟑
𝑷( ) = (− , )
𝟑 𝟐 𝟐 coordinate of the angle located at Quadrant II
𝟐𝝅 1
𝑠𝑒𝑐 =
𝟑 𝟐𝝅 1 𝟐𝛑
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝟑
from sec θ = , substitute θ =
cos θ 𝟑
𝟐𝝅 1
𝑠𝑒𝑐 = = 1(−2) = −𝟐
𝟑 𝟏
−𝟐 𝟐𝛑
final answer: 𝐬𝐞𝐜 = −𝟐
𝟑
 2𝜋
2. Give 1 positive and 1 negative coterminal angles of .
3

𝐶𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 = 𝜃 + 3600 (𝑛) = 𝜃 + 2𝜋(𝑛)

2𝜋
Positive Coterminal Angle of 3

2𝜋 2𝜋 + 6𝜋 𝟖𝝅
+ 2𝜋(1) = =
3 3 𝟑
2𝜋
Negative Coterminal Angle of 3

2𝜋 2𝜋 − 6𝜋 −𝟒𝝅
+ 2𝜋(−1) = =
3 3 𝟑
8𝜋 −4𝜋 2𝜋
Note: , and have the same terminal point so they will have the same
3 3 3
circular functions.

𝟖𝝅 −𝟒𝝅
3. Find the six circular functions of and
𝟑 𝟑
Solution:
𝜋 1 √3
𝑃( ) = ( , ) coordinate of the reference angle
3 2 2

8𝜋 −4𝜋 1 √3
𝑃( ) = 𝑃( ) (− , ) coordinate of the angle located at Quadrant II,
3 3 2 2 Coterminal angles have common coordinates

𝟖𝝅
Circular Functions of
𝟑

8𝜋 √3 8𝜋 2 2√3
𝑠𝑖𝑛 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 = =
3 2 3 √3 3
8𝜋 1 8𝜋
𝑐𝑜𝑠 =− 𝑠𝑒𝑐 = −2
3 2 3
√3
8𝜋 −2√3 8𝜋 −√3
𝑡𝑎𝑛 = 2 = = −√3 𝑐𝑜𝑡 =
3 1 2 3 3
−2
 −𝟒𝝅
Circular Functions of
𝟑

4𝜋 √3 4𝜋 2 2√3
𝑠𝑖𝑛 − = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 − = =
3 2 3 √3 3
4𝜋 1 4𝜋
𝑐𝑜𝑠 − =− 𝑠𝑒𝑐 − = −2
3 2 3
√3
4𝜋 −2√3 8𝜋 −√3
𝑡𝑎𝑛 − = 2 = = −√3 𝑐𝑜𝑡 =
3 1 2 3 3
−2

2𝜋 2𝜋
3. Evaluate 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 3 ) 𝑠𝑒𝑐 ( 3 )

Solution:
2𝜋 2𝜋 3
√
2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ( 3 ) 𝑠𝑒𝑐 ( 3 ) = 2 ( 2 ) (−2) = −𝟐√𝟑
ACTIVITY 5

I. Complete the table below

Angle in Angle in 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝛉 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝛉 𝐜𝐬𝐜 𝛉 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝛉 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝛉
Degrees Radian

300
450
600
900
1200
1350
1500
1800
2100
2250
2400
2700
3000
3150
3300
3600

II. Give at least 5 positive coterminal angles of the following.

1. 400
2. 1100
3𝜋
3.
5
7𝜋
4.
6
5𝜋
5.
4
III. Give at least 5 negative coterminal angles of the following.
1. 450
2. 1000
3. 600
4𝜋
4.
3
7𝜋
5.
4

III. Evaluate each of the following

1. 2sin 900 + 3cos 3150 − 5 cos 00
2. csc 1200 − tan 600
3. 4 cot 900 sin 450
4. sin(−600 ) + csc(−600 )
sin(2400 )−tan 600
5.
1+sin(2400 ) tan 600
𝜋 𝜋
6. −2sec 3 𝑡𝑎𝑛 3
𝜋
7. tan 𝜋 cot 3 − 1
𝜋 𝜋
8. sec 3 − cot 4 + 1
5𝜋 11𝜋
9. 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 ( ) + cos ( )
3 6
5𝜋
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 ( ) 5𝜋
10. 5𝜋
4
− 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 ( 4 )
cos
4