Determining the Coordinates of Special Trigonometric Points/Special Angles

Objective: At the end of the session, learners are expected to determine the coordinates of
special trigonometric points/special angles.
Definition of Terms:
Trigonometric point is a point on the unit circle.
Special Trigonometric Point is a trigonometric point whose coordinates can easily be
identified.
Examples.
π
and its multiple
6
π
and its multiple
3
π
and its multiple
4

Examples. Determine the coordinates of the following special trigonometric points.

π
1.
6
Solution: Referring to the Unit Circle Chart, the coordinates of
π
are (
√3 , 1 )
6 2 2
7π
2.
4
Solution: Referring to the Unit Circle Chart, the coordinates of
7π √ 2 −√ 2 ¿
are ( ,
4 4 2
4π
3.
3
4π −1 √ 3
Solution: Referring to the Unit Circle Chart, the coordinates of are ( ,− )
3 2 2
37 π 37 π
4. Note: is not found in the Unit Circle Chart.
4 4

37 π
Solution: To determine the coordinates of , it has to be expressed as the sum of 2
4
addends.
37 π 32 π 5 π
So, = + (Note: Make sure that one addend will yield an even number coefficient of π)
4 4 4
 5π 37 π 5π
¿8 π+ This means the coordinates of are the same as the coordinates of .
4 4 4
¿( √ ,− √ )
− 2 2
2 2

41 π
5.
3
41 π 36 π 5 π
Solution: = +
3 3 3
5π
¿ 12 π + ,
3

¿( ,− √ )
1 3
2 2

Try these.
Determine the coordinates of the following trigonometric points.
71 π
1.
4
54 π
2.
3
133 π
3.
6
98 π
4.
6