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W4.Trigonometric Functions and The Unit Circle
W4.Trigonometric Functions and The Unit Circle
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
Learning objectives:
After this lesson, you should be able to:
• Define trigonometric functions in terms of right triangles.
• Redefine trigonometric functions in terms of the unit circle.
• Use right triangles drawn in the unit circle to define the trigonometric
functions for any angle
For any angle 𝑡, we can label the intersection of its side and the unit circle by its
coordinates, (𝑥, 𝑦). The coordinates 𝑥 and 𝑦 will be the outputs of the trigonometric
functions 𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 and 𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡, respectively. This means:
𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡
𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡
For an example of how this applies, consider the diagram showing the point with
√2 √2
coordinates (− , ) on a unit circle.
2 2
√2
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡 = − for the angle 𝑡 in the diagram.
2
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡
Recall that 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡. Applying this formula, we
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 =
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡
√2
−
2
= √2
−
2
=1
The coordinates of certain points on the unit circle and the measure of
each angle in radians and degrees are shown in the unit circle coordinates diagram. This diagram
allows one to make observations about each of these angles using trigonometric functions.
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Unit circle coordinates: The unit circle, showing coordinates and angle measures of certain points.
values correspond to 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡. This is an indication of the periodicity of the cosine function.
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Example
7𝜋
Solve sin ( 6 )
7𝜋
The unit circle diagram shows the coordinates at 𝑡 = . Since the 𝑦-coordinate corresponds
6
7𝜋 1
sin ( 6 ) = − 2
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