Chapter 03

TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
IMPORTANT TERMS & DEFINITIONS
01. Angle in geometry: An angle is a figure formed by two rays having common vertex called as
origin. The rays are called sides of the angle. The measure of the angle is the amount of rotation
from the direction of one ray of the angle to the other. The initial and final positions of the
revolving ray are respectively called the initial side and terminal side and the revolving line is
called the generating line or the radius vector.
In the adjacent figure, the ray OA is the initial side and ray OB is the
B Terminal Side
terminal side. And they form angle AOB at the vertex O.
This angle is denoted by AOB .
With each angle a number is associated and this number is called Initial Side
measure of the angle. There are several units for measuring this angle O Vertex A
and we shall study about them.
 In geometry an angle always lies between 0 o and 360 o and negative angle has no meaning.

02. Angle in trigonometry: The idea of angle is more general in trigonometry. It may be positive
or negative and of any magnitude. We know that angles in geometry are confined only till 360o
which corresponds to one complete revolution by a wheel say. So it is quite obvious that the angle
covered in two complete revolutions is of 720o measure and in a quarter of revolution it is of 90o
and so on.
03. Units of measurement of angles: In geometry angles are measured in terms of right angle. In
order to measure smaller angles we introduce smaller units of angle. These are Sexagesimal or
British System (Degree Measure), Centesimal or French System (Grade Measure) and Radian
or Circular System. Here we shall confine ourselves only to Degree measure and Radian measure.
Though you can expect a discussion about the Grade measure too in the class!
Degree Measure: In this system of Radian Measure: The angle subtended at the
measurement a right angle is divided into centre of circle by an arc whose length is equal to
90 equal parts which are called as its radius is called a radian and is denoted by 1C .
degrees. Each part is equal to one As shown in adjacent figure
degree. Each degree is then divided in 60 fig.A, the centre of circle is
equal parts called minutes and each O and its radius is of l units.
minute is further divided into 60 equal So if the length of arc AB=l
parts called seconds. A degree, a minute units then, by the definition
and a second are denoted by the symbols of radian given above,
1o , 1 and 1 respectively. we have,
Thus, 1 Right angle  90 o ,
AOB  1Radian .
1o  60 and 1  60 . fig.A

Radian is a constant angle Consider the fig.A shown on the previous page. Let ABC be a semi-
circle whose centre is at O and radius l. Let length of arc AB be equal to l. Then by definition,
AOB  1 C .
Now produce AO and let it meet the circle at C. Then AC is a diameter of circle and arc ABC is
equal to half the circumference of the circle and AOC  2 Right angles  180o .

Trigonometric Functions  Class XI  INFINITY… Think Beyond… 1

 Mathematics Notes By Deepika Ma’m (M. 8743011101)
By our geometrical knowledge, we know that the angles subtended at the centre of a circle are
proportional to the length of arc which subtends them.
AOB arc AB
i.e.,  … (i)
AOC arc ABC
1C l
 o
 [As arc ABC is a semicircle
180  l
180o
 1C  … (ii)

2 Right angles
 1C  i.e., 1C  Constant .


Understanding the π :
The π is not a whole number, nor it can be expressed in the form of a fraction, and hence not
in the form of a decimal fraction, terminating or recurring. The number π has a value which
can’t be exactly expressed as the ratio of two whole numbers. Its value correct to 8 places of
decimals, is π  3.14159265...
22
In fact, the fraction  3.14285... gives the value of π correct to the 2 places of decimals.
7

 Consequently we deduce that,  C  180o i.e.,  Radians  180o .

l
 Also by (i) it can be easily deduced that   , if length of any arbitrary arc AC = l which
r
subtends an angle of  radians at the centre O of the circle of radius r. So,
l
 (in radian measure )  .
r
Relations in Different Measures of Angle

 Angle in Radian Measure =  Angle in Degree Measure ×
180
180
 Angle in Degree Measure =  Angle in Radian Measure × , where   22/7 .

 Following table can be consulted for a few frequently used standard angles:

Angles in Degree 0o 30o 45o 60o 90o 180o 270o 360o

c c c c c
π π π π c  3π  c
Angles in Radian 0c
        π    2π 
6 4  3 2  2 

 In actual practice, we omit the exponent ‘c’ and instead of writing  c we simply write  and
similarly for other angle!
π
 1 Radian=57 o1745 or 206265 seconds  1o = =0.01745 radians  approximately 
180
04. Sign of angles and Quadrants: An angle formed by anticlockwise rotation of the radius vector
is taken as positive whereas the angle formed by clockwise rotation of the radius vector is taken as
negative. For the clarification, have a look at the figures given below :
Terminal Side
O Vertex Initial Side
Negative Angle
(Clockwise direction)
Positive Angle
(Anti-Clockwise direction)
Terminal Side
O Vertex Initial Side
Trigonometric Functions  Class XI  INFINITY… Think Beyond… 2
 Mathematics Notes By Deepika Ma’m (M. 8743011101)
Consider XOX  and YOY be two mutually perpendicular lines in a plane and OX be the initial
half line. The whole plane is divided into four different regions namely XOY, YOX , XOY and
XOY  . These regions are called quadrants and are respectively called 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th
quadrants. The angle is said to be in any of these quadrants according as the terminal side lies in
whichever quadrants. If the terminal side coincides with one of the axes then the angle is said to
be a quadrant angle. (Figure is given below).
π
90o
2
II Quadrant Y I Quadrant
sin θ 
  ve All T-Ratios: + ve
cosec θ 
Others:  ve
π 180o 0 0o
X O 2π 360o X
tan θ  cosθ 
  ve   ve
cot θ  sec θ 
Others:  ve Others:  ve
III Quadrant Y IV Quadrant
3π
270o
2
If there is any angle  which is not a quadrant angle and radius vector rotates in the anticlockwise
direction in such a way that number of revolution doesn’t exceed one, we have:
 0o    90o : If  lies in I quadrant

 90o    180o : If  lies in II quadrant

 180o    270o : If  lies in III quadrant

 270o    360o : If  lies in IV quadrant

Also when terminal side coincides with OY,   90o

when terminal side coincides with OX ,   180o
when terminal side coincides with OY ,   270o
when terminal side coincides with OX ,   360o .
 Following table will be sufficient to give you an idea about the discussion we just have had:
Angles  π π 3π 3π
θ θ πθ πθ θ θ 2π  θ OR 2π  θ
T- Ratios  2 2 2 2 θ
sin cos θ cos θ sin θ  sin θ  cos θ  cos θ  sin θ sin θ
cos sin θ  sin θ  cos θ  cos θ  sin θ sin θ cos θ cos θ
tan cot θ  cot θ  tan θ tan θ cot θ  cot θ  tan θ tan θ
cot tan θ  tan θ  cot θ cot θ tan θ  tan θ  cot θ cot θ
sec cosecθ  cosecθ  secθ  secθ  cosecθ cosecθ secθ secθ
cosec secθ secθ cosecθ  cosecθ  secθ  secθ  cosecθ cosecθ

05. Recapitulation of previous class: Following is a list of those relations which you have studied
in your last class.
Please note that their proof has not been mentioned here. Though you can anytime discuss it with
me again in case you’ve forgotten!
Trigonometric Functions  Class XI  INFINITY… Think Beyond… 3
 Mathematics Notes By Deepika Ma’m (M. 8743011101)
 Trigonometric ratios and sides of a right angled triangle:
p b p
 sin θ   cos θ   tan θ 
h h b
h b p h
h
 cosecθ   secθ   cotθ 
p b p
θ
 Trigonometric Identities: b
 sin 2 θ  cos 2 θ  1  1  tan 2 θ  sec 2 θ  1  cot 2 θ  cosec2θ

 Relation between trigonometric ratios:

sin θ 1
 tan θ   tan θ   tan θ.cot θ  1
cos θ cot θ
cos θ 1 1
 cot θ   cosec θ   sec θ  .
sin θ sin θ cosθ

 Following table includes trigonometric ratio of standard angles:

Degree / Radian    0o 30o 45o 60o 90o
π π π π
T – Ratios    0
6 4 3 2
1 1 3
sin 0 1
2 2 2
cos 3 1 1 0
1
2 2 2
1
tan 0 1 3 
3
2
cosec  2 2 1
3
2
sec 1 2 2 
3
1
cot  3 1 0
3

 Following table demonstrates the domain and range of trigonometric functions:

T- Functions    Domain Range

sin x R [1, 1]

cos x R [1, 1]

tan x { x  R : x  (2n  1) π 2, n  Z} R

cot x { x  R : x  n π, n  Z} R

cosec x { x  R : x  n π, n  Z} R  ( 1, 1)

sec x { x  R : x  (2n  1) π 2, n  Z} R  ( 1, 1)

Trigonometric Functions  Class XI  INFINITY… Think Beyond… 4

 Mathematics Notes By Deepika Ma’m (M. 8743011101)
06. Some useful trigonometric identities and formulae:
Trigonometric identities Multiple angle formulae involving 2A and 3A
2 2
a) sin θ  cos θ  1
a) sin 2A  2sin AcosA
2 2
b) 1  tan θ  sec θ
b) sin A  2sin
A A
2 2
cos
c) 1  cot θ  cosec θ 2 2
Addition / subtraction formulae & some related results c) cos 2A  cos2 A  sin 2 A
a) sin(A  B)  sin Acos B  cos A sin B A A
d) cos A  cos2  sin 2
b) cos(A  B)  cos A cos B  sin Asin B 2 2

c) cos(A  B) cos(A  B)  cos2 A  sin 2 B  cos2 B  sin 2 A e) cos2A  2 cos 2 A  1

d) sin(A  B) sin(A  B)  sin 2 A  sin 2 B  cos2 B  cos2 A f) 2 cos 2 A  1  cos2A

tan A  tan B
e) tan(A  B)  g) cos 2A  1  2sin 2 A
1  tan A tan B
cot Bcot A  1 h) 2sin 2 A  1  cos2A
f) cot (A  B) 
cot B  cot A
2 tan A
Transformation of sums / differences into products & vice-versa i) sin 2A 
1  tan 2 A
C D CD
a) sinC  sin D  2sin cos 1  tan 2 A
2 2 j) cos2A 
CD C  D 1  tan 2 A
b) sin C  sin D  2cos sin
2 2 2 tan A
CD CD k) tan 2A 
c) cosC  cos D  2cos cos 1  tan 2 A
2 2
C D C D
d) cosC  cos D  2sin sin l) sin 3A  3sin A  4sin 3 A
2 2
e) 2sin Acos B  sin ( A  B)  sin (A  B)
m) cos3A  4 cos3 A  3cos A
f) 2 cosAsin B  sin (A  B)  sin (A  B)
g) 2cosAcosB  cos (A  B)  cos(A  B) 3tan A  tan 3 A
h) 2sinAsinB  cos (A  B)  cos (A  B) n) tan 3A 
1  3tan 2 A

 If you are wondering how to memorize these formulae, just hang on till we discuss them in the
class. I assure you to have all these relations on your finger tips!

07. Trigonometric equations, General solutions and Principal solutions: An equation involving
one or more trigonometric ratios of unknown angle is called a trigonometric equation. It is
important to note that a trigonometric identity is satisfied for every value of the unknown angle
where as trigonometric equation is satisfied for some values (finite or infinite) of unknown
angle.
Since trigonometric functions are periodic functions, therefore, solutions of trigonometric
equations can be generalized with the help of periodicity of trigonometric functions. The
solution consisting of all possible solutions of a trigonometric equation is called its general
solution.
General solution of trigonometric equation of following types
a) sin x  0 gives x  n  , where n  Z d) sin x  sin y gives x  n   ( 1)n y , where n  Z
 e) cos x  cos y gives x  2n   y , where n  Z
b) cos x  0 gives x  (2n  1) , where n  Z
2
c) tan x  0 gives x  n  , where n  Z f) tan x  tan y gives x  n   y , where n  Z .

Trigonometric Functions  Class XI  INFINITY… Think Beyond… 5