The Six Trigonometric Functions 73

23 The Six Trigonometric Functions

Definition 23.1. Let θ be an angle in standard position, P (x, y) any point on the
terminal side of θ other than the origin and r2 = x2 + y 2 , where r is the distance
from P to the origin. This is shown in the figure on the right.
The six trigonometric functions are defined as follows:

y r
• sin θ = • csc θ = , y ̸= 0
r y

x
• cos θ = • sec θ =
r
, x ̸= 0
r x
y
• tan θ = , x ̸= 0 x
x • cot θ = , y ̸= 0
y

Theorem 23.1. If θ is an angle in standard position and P (x, y) in the point on the
terminal side of θ that lies on the unit circle, then r = 1, and the six trigonometric
functions are as follows:

• sin θ = y 1
• csc θ = , y ̸= 0
y

• cos θ = x 1
• sec θ = , x ̸= 0
x
y
• tan θ = , x ̸= 0 x
x • cot θ = , y ̸= 0
y

To simplify the notations, the point P (x, y) on the unit circle can be written as P (θ)
and has coordinates (cos θ, sin θ).

23.1 Trigonometric Functions of Special Angles

0 1
6 π 1
4 π 1
3 π 1
2 π 2
3 π 3
4 π 5
6 π π
0° 30° 45° 60° 90° 120° 135° 150° 180°
√ √ √ √
sin θ 0 1
2 2
2
2
3
1 2
3
2
2 1
2 0
√ √ √ √
cos θ 1 2
3
2
2 1
2 0 − 21 − 22 − 2
3
−1
√ √ √ √
tan θ 0 3
3
1 3 undefined − 3 −1 − 33 0

7
6 π 5
4 π 4
3 π 3
2 π 5
3 π 7
4 π 11
6 π 2π
210° 225° 240° 270° 300° 315° 330° 360°
√ √ √ √
sin θ − 12 − 2
2
− 2
3
−1 − 2
3
− 2
2
− 21 0
√ √ √ √
cos θ − 2
3
− 22 − 12 0 1
2 2
2
2
3
1
√ √ √ √
tan θ 3
3
1 3 undefined − 3 −1 − 33 0
The Six Trigonometric Functions Worked Examples 74

Figure 12. The points on the unit circle (cos θ, sin θ) corresponding to special angles θ.

23.2 Worked Examples

Example 23.1. Find the exact values of the six trigonometric function values of θ
given that θ is an angle in standard position and the terminal side of θ contains
P (−12, 5).

Solution Since P (−12, 5), we have x = −12 and y − 5. Solving for r gives us
r = x2 + y 2 = 13. Hence,
p

5 13
• sin θ = • csc θ =
13 5

• cos θ = − 12 13
13 • sec θ = −
12
5
• tan θ = −
12 12
• cot θ = −
5
Example 23.2. Find the exact values of the remaining trigonometric function values
5
of θ given that cos θ = − and cot θ > 0.
7
Solution We know that cos θ = xr = − 57 , so we can let x = −5 and r = 7. We can
solve for the value of y using the equation r2 = x2 + y 2 :
√
72 = (−5)2 + y 2 =⇒ y 2 = 24 =⇒ y = ±2 6.

Since cot θ = xy > 0 and x is given to be negative, then y must also be negative
√
for the quotient xy to be positive. Hence, we take y = −2 6. Thus, the remaining
trigonometric functions of θ are:
The Six Trigonometric Functions Worked Examples 75

√
2 6
• sin θ = −
7
√
2 6
• tan θ =
5

7
• csc θ = − √
2 6

7
• sec θ = −
5

5
• cot θ = √
2 6

Example 23.3. Find the exact value of each given expression. Important: When using a cal-
culator, make sure that it is in
(a) sin 60◦ + tan 90◦ − csc 135◦
the correct mode (degree or ra-
√
dian)!
Solution Observe that sin 60◦ = 2 ,
3
tan 90◦ does not exist, and

1 1 2
csc 135◦ = =√ =√ .
sin 135◦
2/2 2

Because one term does not exist, then the whole given expression does not exist
or has no value.

3 − cos − 2

cot 5π π


(b)
sec 2π + tan − 13π
6

Note that cot 5π3 = tan 5π

1
= − √13 , cos − π2 = 0, sec 2π = 1
= 1,


Solution cos 2π
√ 3

and tan − 13π = − 33 . Therefore,

6

√
cot 5π − √13 − 0
3 − cos − 2
1+ 3
π


= √ =− .
sec 2π + tan − 13π
6 1 − 33 2