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ALL THE TRIG THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW *

*and some you don’t

THE BASIC DEFINITIONS

Given angle θ in standard position and point P(x, y) on the terminal side:

The distance from P to the origin, r, is given by: r = x2 + y2

The six trigonometric functions of θ are:

y x y
sin θ = cos θ = tan θ =
r r x

x r r
cot θ = sec θ = csc θ =
y x y

MEASURING ANGLES

Angles may be measured in degrees (1 revolution = 360°)


or in radians (1 revolution = 2π radians).

π
To covert degrees to radians: RADIANS = (DEGREES) X
180

180
To convert radians to degrees: DEGREES = (RADIANS) X
π

Or use that fact that 180° = π radians and do a simple proportion.

SIGNS OF THE TRIG FUNCTIONS

In Quadrant I, All six trig functions


are positive.
InQuadrant II, only Sine and
cosecant are positive.
In Quadrant III, only Tangent and
cotangent are positive.
In Quadrant IV, only Cosine and
secant are positive.
Just remember your chipmunks…
Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, the Chipmunks

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TRIG FUNCTIONS OF IMPORTANT ANGLES

The following table shows the trigonometric functions of certain important first
quadrant angles:

REFERENCE ANGLE

The reference angle for a given angle, θ, is the acute angle between the terminal
side of θ and the x-axis.

The trig functions of an angle and its reference angle are numerically equal. The
signs, however, may be positive or negative depending on the quadrant in which
angle θ lies. (see Chipmunks)

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GRAPHS OF THE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

The graphs of the six basic trig functions are shown below:

y = sin x y = cos x y = tan x

y = csc x y = sec x y = cot x

AMPLITUDE

The amplitude of each of the graphs above is “1.” For sine and cosine it’s
the distance from the zero point to the top of the graph. For tangent and
cotangent, it’s the value of the function halfway between the zero point and the
asymptote. For secant and cosecant, it’s the distance from the x-axis to the low
point on the graph.

Amplitude can be changed by multiplying the function be a numerical value:

y = 2 sin x (amplitude 2) y = ½ sec x (amplitude ½) y = -3 tan x (amplitude 3)

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FREQUENCY AND PERIOD

The period of a function indicates the amount of time (x) it takes to


complete one full cycle and the graph begins to repeat itself. For sine, cosine,
secant, and cosecant it is 360°, or 2π radians. For tangent and cotangent it is
180°, or π radians.

The frequency of a graph indicates the number of complete graphs (refer


to the basic graphs above) in 360° or 2π radians. Each of the basic graphs above
has a frequency of “1.”

The frequency can be changed if you multiply the argument of the function
(the x) by a number.

y = cos 3x (freq. 3) y = cot ½x (freq. ½) y = csc 2.5x (freq. 2.5)

The period, T, of a function with a frequency different from 1 is

usual _ period
T=
frequency

360° 2π
For sine, cosine, secant and cosecant, T = or T = , where f is the
f f
frequency.

For tangent and cotangent, the usual period is 180° or π radians, so


180° π
T= =
f f

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PHASE SHIFT

As was the case with other functions we studied, we can shift the graph left or
right by adding or subtracting a number from the “x.”

 π
y = sin  x −  is a sine graph shifted y = sec (x + 60°) is a secant graph
 4
an amount π/4 to the right. shifted 60° to the left.

THE FUNDAMENTAL TRIG IDENTITIES

The formulas below show the basic relationships between the six
trigonometric functions of any angle.

THE RECIPROCAL IDENTITIES THE QUOTIENT IDENTITIES

1 sin θ
csc θ = tan θ =
sin θ cos θ
1 cos θ
sec θ = cot θ =
cos θ sin θ
1
cot θ =
tan θ

THE PYTHAGOREAN IDENTITIES


2 2
cos θ + sin θ = 1
2 2
1 + tan θ = sec θ
2 2
cot θ + 1 = csc θ

These formulas are useful in calculating the trigonometric functions of


angles and solving trigonometric equations. There are many other identities as
well which may or may not be discussed later.

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COFUNCTION PROPERTIES

When two angles are complementary (that is, they add up to 90° or to π/2, such
π 3π
as 35° and 55°, or and , or even 0° and 90°, or 110° and –20°), their
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cofunctions are equal, that is, the sine of one equals the cosine of the other, the
tangent of one equals the cotangent of the other, or the secant of one equals the
cosecant of the other.

π 3π
sin 35° = cos 55°; cot = tan ; sec(– 20°) = csc 110°
8 8

Angles θ and (90° – θ) are complementary as are angles x and (π/2 – x), so

sin θ = cos (90° – θ) cos x = sin (π/2 – x)


tan θ = cot (90° – θ) cot x = tan (π/2 – x)
sec θ = csc (90° – θ) csc x = sec (π/2 – x)

USING THE CALCULATOR TO FIND TRIG FUNCTIONS OF ANGLES

First, make sure your calculator is set to the proper MODE. If you are
using angles in degrees, select Degree mode, or, select Radian mode for
angles measured in radians.

To find sine, cosine, or tangent of an angle, press the appropriate =, >,or


? keys.

sin 17° = 17 = .292371704723 (Degree mode)

tan (p/24) ? (π/24) = .131652497587 (Radian mode---the parentheses


are important!)

You can not directly find the cotangent, secant, or cosecant of an angle.
You must use the reciprocal identities.

sec 55° 1 / > 55 = 1.74344679562

cot (3π/5) 1 / ? (3π/5) = – .324919696233

csc (– 8)* 1 / = (-8) = – 1.0107562184


* radians since it doesn’t say degrees

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DEGREES, MINUTES, AND SECONDS

One degree = 1/360th of a revolution. One minute = 1/60th of a degree


One second = 1/60th of a minute = 1/3600th of a degree

Your calculator does not handle degrees, minutes, and seconds well.
Instead you should convert the angle to degrees only.

sin (47° 23’ 49”) = (49 + 23/60 + 49/3600) = .759236600788


sin(– 15° 13’ 52’) = –(15+13/60+52/3600) or = (–15–13/60–52/3600)
Notice the placement of the negative signs

TO FIND AN ANGLE WHEN YOU KNOW A TRIG FUNCTION

Again, set your calculator to the appropriate mode: radians or degrees.

If you know that sin θ = .3761, you find the angle by asking the calculator
for the inverse sine of .3761:

−=.3761 = { .3761 = 22.0923158774 [degrees] = θ

This can be converted to degrees/minutes/seconds by using the command

22.0923158774 gives θ = 22°5’32.337”

(The command is on the MATH menu under ANGLE.)

REMEMBER: sin θ = .3761 has two answers between 0° and 360°. The
calculator gives you the first quadrant angle (which is also the reference angle).
There is another answer in the second quadrant at 180° – 22°5’32.337” which
equals 157°54’27.663”.

If you know that sec θ = 3.29, you must first rewrite the problem as
cos θ = 1/3.29. Then perform an operation similar to the one above:

−> (1/3.29) = | (1/3.29) = 72°18’17.687” = θ

There is also a fourth quadrant answer at 360° – 72°18’17.687” which equals


287°41’42.313”.

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WHEN THE KNOWN FUNCTION VALUE IS NEGATIVE
-1
The command sin (negative number) gives you an answer between 0° and –
90° (fourth quadrant, but not between 0° and 360°). The correct fourth quadrant
answer is 360° + sin -1(negative number). The correct third quadrant answer is
180° – sin -1(negative number).
-1
The command tan (negative number) gives you an answer between 0° and –
90° (fourth quadrant, but not between 0° and 360°). The correct fourth quadrant
-1
answer is 360° + tan (negative number). The correct second quadrant answer
-1
is 180° + tan (negative number).

-1
The command cos (negative number) gives you an answer between 90° and
180°, the correct second quadrant answer. The correct third quadrant answer is
-1
360° – cos (negative number).

-1
sin (- .5958) = – 36.569°

The correct answers between 0° and 360° are


-1 -1
360° + sin (- .5958) = 323.43° and 180° – sin (- .5958) = 216.57°

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RIGHT TRIANGLE TRIGONOMETRY

Standard labeling for a right triangle has angles A, B, and C, with ∠C being the
right angle. Sides a, b, and c, are opposite angles A, B, and C, respectively. The
hypotenuse of a right triangle is the side opposite the right angle. For either of the
acute angles, the side which is not opposite the angle and which is not the
hypotenuse is called the adjacent side.

The following definitions of the trigonometric function of an acute angle in a right


triangle follow directly from our basic x-y-r definitions.

opposite
sin θ =
hypotenuse

adjacent
cos θ =
hypotenuse

opposite
tan θ =
adjacent

and the reciprocal identities

adjacent hypotenuse hypotenuse


cot θ = sec θ = csc θ =
opposite adjacent opposite

Solving a right triangle means finding all three sides and all three angles.

The angle of elevation of an


object is the angle between the
horizontal and the straight line
distance from an observer to the
object.

The angle of depression of an


object is the angle between the
horizontal and the straight line
distance from an observer to the
object.

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OBLIQUE TRIANGLES

An oblique triangle (a triangle with no right angle) can be solved if you know

• two sides and the


included angle (SAS)

• any two angles an a


side (ASA or AAS)

• all three sides (SSS)

and sometimes if you know

• two sides and an


angle NOT between
them (SSA) Sometimes this is referred to as “the ambiguous case.”

THE CASE OF SAS

If you know two sides and the angle between (a-C-b, a-B-c, or b-A-c), the third
side can be found using the LAW OF COSINES:
2 2 2
c = a + b – 2ab cos C

2 2 2
or b = a + c – 2ac cos B

2 2 2
or a = b + c – 2bc cos A

Once you know all three sides, you can find the angles:

THE CASE OF SSS

When you know all three sides of any triangle, the LAW OF COSINES can be
used to find the cosines of each of the three angles:

b2 + c 2 − a2 a2 + c 2 − b2 a2 + b2 − c 2
cos A = cos B = cos C =
2bc 2ac 2ab

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THE CASE OF ASA OR SAA

First, if you know any two angles, calculate the third. Now you know all three
angles and you can apply the LAW OF SINES to find the missing two sides. The
Law of Sines states:

a b a c b c
= or = or =
sin A sin B sin A sin C sin B sin C

a b c
sometimes written: = =
sin A sin B sin C

THE CASE OF SSA

In the case of two sides with the angle NOT between them (such as a-b-A or
a-c-C or a-b-B) you can use the Law of Sines to calculate the sine of the second
angle. This can be a tricky proposition, because if we calculate, for example,

sin B = 0.9563
our calculator says B = 73°
but we must remember sin 107° = 0.9563 also.

It is possible, depending on the size of the other angle in the problem (we can’t
go over 180° total) that both answers may be correct, and there are two
different triangles that fit the given information. When this happens (but not
always---but you always have to check for it) we have what is called the
ambiguous case, and both answers must be given.

It is also possible when using the Law of Sines that in calculating the sine of the
second angle we may get something like

sin B = 1.1208

We know that for any angle B, – 1 < sin B < 1. sin B = 1.1208 is an impossible
situation, and there is no triangle that fits the given information.

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OTHER TRIG FORMULAS THAT YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW*
*But that future math courses may expect you to know

SUM AND DIFFERENCE FORMULAS

If you know the trig functions of angles α and β, you can find the trig functions of
the combined angle (α + β) or (α – β) from the formulas:

sin(α + β) = sin α cos β + cos α sin β sin(α − β) = sin α cos β – cos α sin β

cos(α + β) = cos α cos β – sin α sin β cos(α − β) = cos α cos β + sin α sin β

tan α + tan β tan α − tan β


tan(α + β) = tan(α – β) =
1 − tan α tan β 1 + tan α tan β

DOUBLE ANGLE FORMULAS

sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x


2 2 2 2
cos 2x = cos x – sin x = 2 cos x – 1 = 1 – 2 sin x

2 tan x
tan 2x =
1 − tan 2 x

HALF-ANGLE FORMULAS

1 1− cos x 1 1+ cos x
sin x= ± cos x= ±
2 2 2 2

1 1 − cos x
tan x= ±
2 1 + cos x

NOTE: The correct answer to a half-angle problem is not ± , (plus OR


minus), but is EITHER plus, or minus, depending on the quadrant of the original
angle and the quadrant of the half-angle.

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OPPOSITE ANGLES

sin(– x) = – sin x cos(– x) = cos x tan(– x) = – tan x

PRODUCT TO SUM

1 1
sin ax sin bx = cos(a – b)x – cos(a + b)x
2 2

1 1
cos ax cos bx = cos(a – b)x + cos(a + b)x
2 2

1 1
sin ax cos bx = sin(a + b)x + sin(a – b)x
2 2

SUM TO PRODUCT

a+b a−b
sin ax + sin bx = 2 sin   x cos  x
 2   2 

a+b a−b
cos ax + cos bx = 2 cos   x cos  x
 2   2 

c sin ax + d cos ax = A sin(ax + b)

where A = c 2 + d2 and b = arcos (c/A) and b = arcsin (d/A)

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INVERSE TRIG FUNCTIONS

The expression arcsin x or sin – 1 x is read “inverse sine of x” or “the angle whose
sine is x.”

π π
Example: arcsin ½ = 30° or arctan 1 = 45° or
6 4

Since this expression refers to a “function” of x, there can be only one angle
whose sine is x (although we known there are an infinite number of angles whose
sine is, say, 1/2).

Since we wish to consider these expressions as functions, we define the


Principal Value of these inverse functions as follows:

π π
– < arcsin x <
2 2

0 < arcos x < π


π π
– < arctan x <
2 2

0 < arccot x < π

π
0 < arcsec x < or
2

π < arcsec x <
2

π
– π < arccsc x < – or
2

π
0 < arccsc x <
2

Whenever we refer to an inverse function, say, cos –1 x or arccot x, we always


mean the principal value of the function unless otherwise specified. [NOTE:
Some books use Arctan x to refer to the principal value or inverse tangent, and
arctan x to refer to all values of the inverse tanent.]

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The graphs of the inverse functions are shown below:

Y = arcsin x y = arcos x

y = artan x y = arccot x

y = arcsec x y = arccsc x

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Because sin x and arcsin x are inverse functions, the composition of the two
functions should return the value of x, that is,

sin arcsin x = x cos arccos x = x


tan arctan x = x cot arccot x = x
sec arcsec x = x csc arccsc x = x

So, sin(arcsin ½) = ½ and cot(arccot 3)= 3 . This should make sense.

Similarly, if x is in the range of the inverse function

arcsin sin x = x arccos cos x = x


arctan tan x = x arccot cot x = x
arcsec sec x = x arccsc csc x = x.

3π 3π
So, arctan(tan 17°) = 17°, and arcos(cos )= .
4 4

HOWEVER, if x is NOT in the range of the inverse function in the above


formulas, then f –1(f(x)) returns a value of x which is in the range of the inverse
function.

This means arcsin(sin 200°) = – 20°. [The angle <in range> whose sine is the
same as the sine of 200° <not in range> is – 20°.]

3π 5π 3π
Likewise arcsec( sec )= . [ is not in the range of arcsec x.]
4 4 4

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