Self-Learning Module for Grade 11

PRE-CALCULUS

LESSON
3.2
CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS

1
Content

➢ Trigonometry

Content Standards

➢ Key concepts of circular functions, trigonometric identities, inverse

trigonometric functions, and the polar coordinate system

Performance Standards

➢ formulate and solve accurately situational problems involving circular

functions

Lesson Outline
1. Circular Functions
2. Reference Angles

Learning Competencies
1. Illustrate the different circular functions
STEM_PC11T-IIb-1
2. Use reference angles to find the exact values of circular functions.
STEM_PC11T-IIb-2

Introduction
We define the six trigonometric function in such a way that the domain of each function is the
set of angles in standard position. The angles are measured either in degrees or radians. In this lesson,
we will modify these trigonometric functions so that the domain will be real numbers rather than set of
angles.

2
Right Triangle and Trigonometric Ratios Test Review
Multiple Choice : Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Find the length of the missing side. The triangle is not drawn to scale.

a. 28 b. 100 c. 10 d. 48
2. Triangle ABC has side lengths 9, 40, and 41. Do the side lengths form a Pythagorean triple?
Explain.
a. Yes, they form a Pythagorean triple; 92 + 40 2 = 412 and 9, 40, and 41 are all nonzero whole
numbers.
b. No, they do not form a Pythagorean triple; although 92 + 40 2 = 412 , the side lengths do not
meet the other requirements of a Pythagorean triple.
c. No, they do not form a Pythagorean triple; 92 + 40 2  412 .
d. Yes; they can form a right triangle, so they form a Pythagorean triple.
3. Rodrigo used the diagram to compute the distance from Leonor, to Pedro, to Jose. How much
shorter is the distance directly from Leonor to Jose than the distance Rodrigo found?

a. 20 mi b. 25 mi c. 10 mi d. 35 mi
4. Find the length of the hypotenuse of the following right triangle.

a. 12 b. 6 c. 5 d. 18
5. In triangle ABC, ∠A is a right angle and m∠B = 45°. Find BC. If your answer is not an integer,
leave it in simplest radical form.

3
 a. 22 ft b. 22 2 ft c. 11 ft d. 11 2 ft
6. Find the length of the leg. If your answer is not an integer, leave it in simplest radical form.

a. 128 b. 8 2 c. 16 d. 2
7. Find the value of x and y rounded to the nearest tenth.

a. x = 48.1, y = 46.4 b. x = 48.1, y = 139.3

c. x = 24.0, y = 139.3 d. x = 24.0, y = 46.4
8. Write the ratios for sin X and cos X

119 5
a. sin X = , cos X = b. sin X = 119, cos X = 5
5 119

119 5 5 119
c. sin X = , cos X = d. sin X = , cos X =
12 12 119 5
9. Write the tangent ratios for ∠Y and ∠Z.

5 3 34 34
a. tan Y = , tan Z = b. tan Y = , tan Z =
3 5 3 5
4
 3 5 3 5
c. tan Y = , tan Z = d. tan Y = , tan Z =
34 34 5 3
12
10. Which of the following triangles represents sin A = ?
16

a. b.

c. d.
13
11. Which of the following triangles represents tan A = ?
12

a. b.

c. d.
13
12. Which of the following triangles represents cos B = ?
33

a. b.

5
 c. d.
Recall

The six trigonometric functions of a right triangle, with an acute angle  , are defined by ratios of two
sides of the triangle.

The sides of the right triangle are:

• the side opposite the acute angle  ,
• the side adjacent to the acute angle  ,
• and the hypotenuse of the right triangle.

For angle  , the trigonometric functions are defined as follows:

opp
sin  =
hyp
adj
cos  =
hyp
opp
tan  =
adj
These three functions: sine, cosine and tangent have their reciprocal functions as follows:
hyp
csc  = (reciprocal of sin  )
opp
hyp
sec  = (reciprocal of cos  )
adj
adj
cot  = (reciprocal of tan  )
opp
You may recall a little something called SOH-CAH-TOA and CHO-SHA-CAO to help you remember
the six trigonometric functions.

6
Illustrated Example
Find the values of the trigonometric ratios of angle  .

Before we can find the values of the six trigonometric ratios, we need to find the length of the missing
side. We can use the Pythagorean Theorem, a 2 + b 2 = c 2 , where a is the adjacent side, b is the
opposite side and c is the hypotenuse.
From the given example:
a=5
b = 12
c=?
a 2 + b2 = c2

c = a 2 + b 2 = 52 + 122

c = 25 + 144 = 169
c = 13
Now we can find the values of the six trigonometric functions.
opp b 12 hyp c 13
sin  = = = csc  = = =
hyp c 13 opp b 12
adj a 5 hyp c 13
cos  = = = sec  = = =
hyp c 13 adj a 5
opp b 12 adj a 5
tan  = = = cot  = = =
adj a 5 opp b 12

Need more help? Click below for a Khan Academy Video.

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/geometry/hs-geo-trig/hs-geo-trig-ratios-intro/v/basic-trigonometry
*Additional Review on Special Triangles
What Are Special Right Triangles?
If you are given a problem that has an angle measure of 45°, 30°, or 60°, these angle measures
belong to special triangles.
Two very special right triangle relationships will continually appear throughout the study of
mathematics:

• 45-45-90 Triangle
• 30-60-90 Triangle

7
 In an isosceles right triangle, the angle measures are 45°-45°-90°, and the side lengths create
a ratio where the measure of the hypotenuse is 2 times the measure of each leg as seen in the
diagram below.

And with a 30°-60°-90°, the measure of the hypotenuse is two times that of the leg opposite
the 30° angle, and the measure of the other leg is 3 times that of the leg opposite the 30° also
seen in the diagram below.

How do we use these special right triangles to find the trig ratios? If the θ you are given has
one of these angle measures it is easy.

Illustrated Example: Find sin 30 , cos 45 , and tan 60 .

Solution:

8
 adj
cos 45 =
hyp opp
tan 60 =
opp 1 adj
sin 30 = cos 45 =
hyp 2 3
tan 60 =
1 1 2 1
sin 30 = cos 45 = 
2 2 2 tan 60 = 3
2
cos 45 =
2

3.2.1 Circular Functions on Real Numbers

A circle with center at (0, 0) and radius 1 is called a unit circle.

The equation of this circle would be x 2 + y 2 = 1 . So points on this circle must satisfy this equation.
1 1
*Let us pick a point on the circle. We'll choose a point where x is . If x is , what is the y value?
2 2

9
 1
You can see there are two y-values. They can be found by putting into the equation for x and solving
2
for y.
We know all of the sides of the triangle in the figure below. The bottom leg or the adjacent side is the
x-value of the point, the other leg or the opposite side is the y-value and the hypotenuse is always 1
because it is the radius of the unit circle.

With the information above, we can easily find the values of the sine, cosine and the tangent functions.
3
3
sin  = 2 =
1 2
1
1
cos  = 2 =
1 2
3
tan  = 2 = 3
1
2
Notice the sine is just the y-value of the unit circle point and the cosine is just the x- value. It can be
verified that these definitions are special cases of the following definition.

Let  be an angle in standard position and P ( ) = P ( x, y ) the point on its

terminal side on the unit circle. Define

1
csc  = ,y0
y
sin  = y
1
cos  = x sec  = , x  0
x
y
tan  = ,x  0 x
x cot  = , y  0
y

10
Example 3.2.1.

 3 1
1. The point  − ,  is on the unit circle as shown in the figure below. Find sin  , cos  , tan  ,
 2 2
sec  , csc  , and cot  .

Solution: Because we know the (x, y) coordinates of the point on the unit circle indicated by angle  ,
we can use those coordinates to find the six functions:
1
sin  = y =
2
3
cos  = x = −
2
1
y 1 2  1 3
tan  = = 2 = −  =− =−
x 3 2 3 3 3
−
2
1 1 2 2 3
sec  = = =− =−
x 3 3 3
−
2
1 1
csc  = = =2
y 1
2
3
−
x 32
cot  = = 2 =−  =− 3
y 1 2 1
2

2. Find the values of cos 135  , tan 135  , sin(−60  ), and sec(−60  ).

Solution:

11
From properties of 45  – 45  and 30  – 60  right triangles (with hypotenuse 1 unit), we obtain the
lengths of the legs as in the figure above. Thus, the coordinates of A and B are

 2 2 1 3
A =  − ,  and B =  , −  .
 2 2   2 2 

Therefore, for cos 135  , tan 135  we get

y
tan  =
 2 2 x
A =  − , 
 2 2  y
cos  = x tan135 =
x
2
x=− cos135 = x 2
2
2 cos135 = −
2 tan135 = 2
y= 2 2
2 −
2
tan135 = −1

For sin(−60  ), and sec(−60  ), we get

1
1 3 sec  =
B =  , −  x
2 2  1
sin  = y sec( −60) =
1 x
x= sin(−60) = y
2 1
3 sec( −60) =
3 sin(−60) = − 1
y=− 2
2 2
sec( −60) = 2

From the last example, we may then also say that

  2    3
cos  rad  = , sin  − rad  = − and so on.
4  2  3  2

12
From the above definitions, we define the same six functions on real numbers.
These functions are called trigonometric functions.

Let s be any real number. Suppose  is the angle in standard position

with measure s rad. Then we define

sin s = sin  csc s = csc 

cos s = cos  sec s = sec 
tan s = tan  cot s = cot 

From the last example, we then have

    2
cos   = cos  rad  = cos 45 =
4 4  2
and

     3
sin  −  = sin  − rad  = sin(−60) = − .
 3  3  2
In the same way, we have
tan 0 = tan ( 0rad ) = tan 0 = 0.

3 3 3
Example 3.2.2. Find the exact values of sin , cos , and tan .
2 2 2
Solution:
 3 
Let P   be the point on the unit circle and on the terminal side of the angle in the standard position
 2 
3  3 
with measure rad. Then P   = (0, −1), and so
2  2 

13
 3 3 3 3 y −1
sin = −1, cos = 0 but tan is tan = = which makes it undefined.
2 2 2 2 x 0
3
Example 3.2.3. Suppose s is a real number such that sin s = − and cos s  0.
4
Find cos s .
Solution:
We may consider s as the angle with measure s rad. Let P ( s ) = ( x, y ) be the point on the unit circle
and on the terminal side of angle s.
3
Since P ( s ) is on the unit circle, we know that x 2 + y 2 = 1 . Since sin s = y = − , we get
4
x2 + y 2 = 1
2
 3 7 7
x = 1− y = 1−  −  =  x = 
2 2
.
 4  16 4

7
Since cos s = x  0, we have cos s = .
4
Let P ( x1 , y1 ) and Q ( x, y ) be points on the terminal side of an angle  in standard position, where

P is on the unit circle and Q on the circle of radius r (not necessarily 1) with center also at the origin, as
shown below. Observe that we can use similar triangles to obtain

x1 x y y
cos  = x1 = = and sin  = y1 = 1 = .
1 r 1 r

We may then further generalize the definitions of the six circular functions.

Let  be an angle in standard position and Q ( x, y ) the point on its terminal side
of  , and r = x 2 + y 2  0. Then

y r
sin  = csc  = ,y0
r y
x r
cos  = sec  = , x  0
r x
y x 14
tan  = , x  0 cot  = , y  0
x y
 3 y
We then have a second solution for Example 3.2.3 as follows. With sin s = − and sin s = , we may
4 r
choose y = −3 and r = 4 (which is always positive). In this case, we can solve for x, which is positive
x
since cos s = is given to be positive.
4

r = x 2 + y 2  4 = x 2 + (−3) 2
16 = x 2 + (−3) 2  x 2 = 16 − (−3) 2
x 2 = 16 − 9  x 2 = 7
x= 7

Since cos s is given to be positive, we choose x = 7 and therefore

x 7
cos s = 
4 4
Example 3.2.3
1. Use the following information to find the exact values of the remaining circular functions of  .
25
a. csc  = with  in Quadrant I
24
Solution:
r 25
csc  = = , therefore r = 25 and y = 24
y 24
To solve for the value of x we use the formula:
x2 + y 2 = r 2
x2 = r 2 − y 2
x = r 2 − y2
x = 25 2 −24 2
x = 625 − 576
x = 49
x = 7
Since  is in Quadrant I, we choose 7 as the value of x. Therefore, we can now compute
the other circular functions as follows:

y 24 y 24
sin  = = tan  = =
r 25 x 7 x 7
cot  = =
x 7 r 25 y 24
cos  = = sec  = =
r 25 x 7

3
b. sec  = 2 5 with    2 .
2
Solution:
15
 3
From our given    2 ,  is located in Quadrant IV.
2
r
sec  = = 2 5 , therefore r = 2 5 and x = 1
x
To solve for the value of y we use the formula:
x2 + y 2 = r 2
y2 = r 2 − x2
y = r 2 − x2

(2 5 )
2
y= − 12

y = 20 − 1
y =  19
y = − 19

Since  is in Quadrant IV, we choose y = − 19 . Therefore, we can now compute the other
circular functions as follows:
y − 19 y x 1
sin  = = tan  = cot  = =
r 2 5 x y − 19
− 19 5 − 19 1 19
sin  = tan  = cot  =
2 5 5 1 − 19 19
95 tan  = − 19 19
sin  = − cot  = −
10 19

x 1 r 2 5
c os  = = csc  = =
r 2 5 y − 19
1 5 2 5 19
cos  = csc  =
2 5 5 − 19 19
5 2 95
cos  = csc  = −
10 19

Helpful Tips: If you have computed the value of sine, cosine and tangent you can easily find the values
of cosecant, secant, and cotangent by getting the reciprocal of the former three functions respectively
since they are reciprocal functions.
Exercise 3.2.1
1. Given  , find the exact values of the six circular functions.
a.  = 30
3
b.  =
4
c.  = −150

16
 4
d.  = −
3
2. Given a value of one circular function and sign of another function (or the quadrant where the
angle lies), find the value of the indicated function.
1
a. sin  = ,  in QI ; cos 
2
3
b. cos  = , in QIV ; csc 
5
3
c. sin  = − , sec   0; tan 
7
2
d. cot  = − , cos   0; csc 
9
3. Use the following information to find the exact values of the remaining circular functions of  .

10 91
a. csc  = with  in Quadrant III.
91

3
b. tan  = 10 with     .
2

3.2.2 Reference Angles

To extend the use of the values in the table on the previous topic to angles in quadrants other than the
first quadrant, you can use the concept of a reference angle, as shown in the figure below, together
with the appropriate quadrant sign. The reference angle  ' for an angle  is the smallest positive angle
between the terminal side of  and the x-axis.
Figure A shows the rule to find the reference angle for any angle within 360  , while Figure B is
the counterpart when the angles are expressed in radians.
(Note: The principal angle  and the reference angle  ' are the same in Quadrant I.)

17
 Figure A

Figure B

For instance, the reference angle for 135  which is in Quadrant II is 45  because we use the formula
180 −  = 180 − 135 = 45 .

Note: If the given angle θ is negative, to find its reference angle, we need to find first its coterminal
angle between 0    360 ( 0    2 in radians) by adding 360 ( 2 in radians) to the angle θ and then
proceed with the rules explained above.(Coterminal angles have the same reference angle).

For example, find the reference angle of –210  .

To solve this we need to find first the coterminal angle of –210  by adding 360  and thereby obtaining.

18
 −210 + 360 = 150
Since 150  is in the second quadrant, we use the following formula to find the reference angle
180 − 150 = 30
The reference angle for –210  which is in Quadrant II is 30  .

Knowing which quadrant an angle θ terminates in will help us determine whether sin  , cos  and tan 
are positive or negative, as indicated in the figure below. It is not necessary to memorize the table,
since the sign of each function for each quadrant is easily determined from its definition. We note that
the signs of cosecant, secant, and cotangent are the same as sine, cosine, and tangent, respectively.

Study Tip: You may want to refer to the acronym below to help you memorize the sign of each
trigonometric functions in each quadrant.

For addition information and real-time illustration of REFERENCE ANGLES, please visit the following
link. https://www.mathopenref.com/reference-angle.html. Below is a sample screenshot of the
website.

19
Example 3.2.4
1. Use reference angle to find the exact value of each trigonometric function.
3 7
a. sin b. tan 330 c. cos
4 6
Solution:
3
a. To get the reference angle  ' of  = we use the following formula since the given angle is in
4
Quadrant II.
 ' =  −
3
 '= −
4
We will rewrite  in a fraction form with a denominator of 4 so we can transform it into similar
fractions and it would be easier for us to perform the given operation.

20
 3 
Because the reference angle for is and the sine is positive in the second quadrant, we
4 4
3 
can write sin = sin and by using the 45-45-90 special triangle we get
4 4

 10 
b. To get the reference angle  ' of cot  −  we use the following formula since the given angle
 3 
is in Quadrant IV

Because the reference angle for 330 is 30 and the tangent is negative in the fourth quadrant,
we can write

7
c. To get the reference angle  ' of  = we use the following formula since the given angle is in
6
Quadrant III.
 ' = −
7
'= −
6
We will rewrite  in a fraction form with a denominator of 6 so we can transform it into similar
fractions and it would be easier for us to perform the given operation.

21
 7 
Because the reference angle for is and the cosine is negative in the third quadrant, we
6 6
can write

Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with circular functions.
• Circular Functions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i56P6xzsB5Y

• Circular Functions Using Reference Angles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6RP_ttfT4M

Study Tip: You can visit the following link to learn a hand trick in finding the values of the sine, cosine
and the tangent function. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF2nmCVSUEs

22
Exercise 3.2.2
Use reference angle and appropriate sign to find the exact value of each expression.
1. sin 510
2. tan(−225)
13
3. sec
3
 10 
4. cot  − 
 3 
Worksheet 3.2.1
1. Use reference angles to find the exact value of each expression.

23
 Key Terms
Adjacent Side – in a right triangle, the side between a given angle and the right angle
r
Cosecant – the reciprocal of the sine function: on the unit circle, csc  = ,y0
y
Cosine Function – the x-value of the point on a unit circle corresponding to a given
angle
x
Cotangent – the reciprocal of the tangent function: on the unit circle, cot  = ,y0
y
Hypotenuse – the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle
Opposite Side – in a right triangle, the side most distant from a given angle
Reference Angle – the measure of the acute angle formed by the terminal side of the
angle and the horizontal axis
r
Secant – the reciprocal of the cosine function: on the unit circle, sec  = , x  0
x
Sine Function – the y-value of the point on a unit circle corresponding to a given angle
y
Tangent – the quotient of the sine and cosine: on the unit circle, tan  = ,x  0
x
Key Equations
Let be an angle in standard position and the point on its terminal side on the
unit circle. Define

1
csc  = ,y0
y
sin  = y
1
cos  = x sec  = , x  0
x
y
tan  = ,x  0 x
x cot  = , y  0
y

Let  be an angle in standard position and Q ( x, y ) the point on its terminal

side of  , and r = x 2 + y 2  0. Then

24
 y r
sin  = csc  = ,y0
r y
x r
cos  = sec  = , x  0
r x
y x
tan  = , x  0 cot  = , y  0
x y

Key Concepts

• Finding the function values for the sine and cosine begins with drawing a unit
circle, which is centered at the origin and has a radius of 1 unit.
• Using the unit circle, the sine of an angle  equals the y-value of the endpoint
on the unit circle of an arc of length  whereas the cosine of an angle t equals
the x-value of the endpoint.
• The sine and cosine values are most directly determined when the
corresponding point on the unit circle falls on an axis.
• The signs of the sine and cosine are determined from the x- and y-values in
the quadrant of the original angle.
• An angle’s reference angle is the size angle,  , formed by the terminal side of
the angle  and the horizontal axis.
• Reference angles can be used to find the sine and cosine of the original angle.
• Reference angles can also be used to find the coordinates of a point on a circle.
• The tangent of an angle is the ratio of the y-value to the x-value of the
corresponding point on the unit circle.
• The secant, cotangent, and cosecant are all reciprocals of other functions. The
secant is the reciprocal of the cosine function, the cotangent is the reciprocal
of the tangent function, and the cosecant is the reciprocal of the sine function.
• The six trigonometric functions can be found from a point on the unit circle.
• Trigonometric functions can also be found from an angle.
• Trigonometric functions of angles outside the first quadrant can be determined
using reference angles.

25
 ASSESSMENT TEST

Direction: Choose the letter that represents your best answer.

1. Find the values of sin θ, cos θ, and tan θ for the angle θ in standard position
having (– 12,5) on its terminal side.
12 5 12 12 5 5
a. sin  = , cos  = − , tan  = − b. sin  = − , cos  = − , tan  =
13 12 5 13 13 12
5 12 5 12 5 5
c. sin  = , cos  = − , tan  = − d. sin  = − , cos  = − , tan  = −
13 13 12 13 13 12
2. . Evaluate 2sin 90 + cos180 − 5 tan 360.
a. 1 b. 2
c. – 2 d. 0
3. Determine which of the following is not possible.
3 1
a. sin  = − b. cos  =
4 2
c. tan 90 d. csc = 2
For Items 4- find the exact value of the given expressions.
5
4. tan
3
a. − 3 b. 3

3 3
c. − d.
3 3
9
5. cos
4
a. − 2 b. 2

2 2
c. − d.
2 2
5
6. sec
6
3 3
a. − b.
2 2
2 3 2 3
c. − d.
3 3
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  10 
7. sin  − 
 3 

3 3
a. − b.
2 2
2 3 2 3
c. − d.
3 3
34
8. sin
6
3 3
a. − b.
2 2
2 3 2 3
c. − d.
3 3
 11 
9. cot  − 
 4 
a. –1 b. 0
c.1 d. Undefined

10. Which of the following could be a possible value of  in the expression:

3
cos  = − , where 0    2 ?
2
5 7 7 5
I. II. III. IV.
6 3 6 4
a. I only b. I and II only
c. I and III only d. II and IV only
11. Which of the following could be a possible value of  in the expression:

3
tan  = , where 0    2 ?
3
  7 7
I. II. III. IV.
3 6 6 3
a. I and II only b. II and III only
c. I, II and III only d. II, III and IV only

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 12. Which of the following could be a possible value of  in the expression:

3
sin  = − , where −     ?
2
  3 2
I. − II. − III. − IV. −
4 6 4 3

a. I and III only b. II and IV only

c. I, II and III only d. II, III and IV only

13. Which of the following sets has all the possible value of  in the expression:

sec  = − 2, where 0    4 ?

3 5 11 13  3 7
a. , , , b. , ,3 ,
4 4 4 4 2 2 2
3 5 11 13 5 7 13 15
c. , , , d. , , ,
2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4
14. What is the value of  in the expression: csc  = 2, where 0    2 ?
3 3
a. b.
2 4
4 5
c. d.
3 6
15. Which of the following sets has all the possible value of  in the expression:
tan  = 1, where 0    2 ?
3 9 11 15  3 5 7
a. , , , b. , , ,
4 4 4 4 2 2 2 2
 3 5 7  3 5 7
c. , , , d. , , ,
2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4

Key to Correction
Right Triangle and Trigonometric Ratios Test Review
1. c 5. d 9. d
2. a 6. b 10. a
3. c 7. d 11. b
4. b 8. c 12. d
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