Geometry and Trigonometry

Trigonometric Functions & The Circle

Radians and Degrees

Created by
Dr Praic Treacy

What is a Radian? Radians

Angles are typically measured in degrees or radians.

If the arc length is the
same as the radius then 1   57.296
the angle is 1 radian.
This conversion is a little awkward so we usually
If the arc length is twice look at radians in terms of , this is because:
the radius then the
angle is 2 radians.    180

3.1416   180

Converting Degrees to Radians Converting Degrees to Radians

We know:
180    
1  
Thus: 180

1   70
180 70  
______________________________________________________________ 180

So 30  
 7
70  
 18
30  
6

1
 Converting Radians to Degrees Radians and Degrees

180   

Simple solution: replace  with 180

3
  ?
4

3 3 180
   135
4 4

Where do Sine and Cosine come

from?
We know:

!! "# 
Sine, Cosine, Tangent sin  
$%! "##&#

'

*'#" +
cos   
$%! "##&# '

This can be explained using the unit circle.

Interactive Unit Circle

The Unit Circle is a circle with a radius of 1.
,cos / , sin /.

The centre of the Unit Circle is at the point ,0, 0. on the

Cartesian plane.

How it works:
http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/trig-interactive-unit-
circle.html

2
 This explains why This explains why
In the log tables, it is stated that: In the log tables, it is stated that:

cos 0  cos  sin 0  0 sin 

Analyse the unit circle to see why that is Analyse the unit circle to see why that is

For example: cos 030  cos 30 For example: sin 060  0 sin 60

This explains why Sine and Cosine Curve

In the log tables, it is also stated that:
Notice how the output of the sine
function and the cosine function
'  1 / 2 1 /  1 is always between 1 and 1

This is derived from Pythagoras This can also be explained by the

theorem: unit circle if the radius of the
unit circle is 1 then the maximum
,cos /.1 2,sin /.1  1 1
that the sine or cosine of an angle
can be is also 1, similarly the
'  1 / 2 1 /  1 minimum that the sine or cosine
of an angle can be is 01.

Sine Curve
4 5  sin 5
Sine Curve 6  7 8 8 :8 98
9 9
and 4 5  0 1 0 1 0

Cosine Curve

3
 Cosine Curve Modelling Real Life Scenarios
4 5  cos 5 Many natural phenomena can be modelled using
6  7 8 8 :8 98 the Sine and Cosine functions e.g. simple harmonic
9 9 motion, the tide level in the sea, sound waves,
4 5  1 0 -1 0 1 population fluctuation.

http://www.mysearch.org.uk/website1/html/221.SHM.html

Modelling Real Life Scenarios Period and Amplitude

General Case:

%   sin ;" or %   cos ;"

  Amplitude
;  Angular Velocity
"  time

Note: different letters may be used in syllabus/books

(e.g. y   2 + sin '/ ) but approach is still the same.

Period (T) and Frequency (4) Modelling Real Life Scenarios

The Period (T) is the length of time it takes for one The height $,". metres of the tide above mean sea level on
full cycle. January 24th at Cape Point, Cape Town is modelled
approximately by
1 G
E [Radians] or E  [Degrees] "
F F $,".  3 sin
6
The Frequency (4) is the number of cycles completed
where t is the number of hours after midnight.
per second or min or hour (depends on what t is
measured in).
a) Graph %  $,". for 0 H " H 24.
1 b) When is high tide and what is the maximum height?
4 c) What is the height at 2 pm?
E

4
 Modelling Real Life Scenarios
Modelling Real Life Scenarios
"
$,".  3 sin 1 1 1
6 Period: E 
F
 I  K  12 $ &
J J

%   sin ;"
This means the cycle repeats itself every 12 hours
_____________________________________________________________
  Amplitude  3 ,0.
 $ 0  3 sin
;  Angular Velocity = 6
G
"  time (hours) 0 H " H 24 $,0.  0

Tide Report for Lahinch (notice anything about the tide graphic?):
http://magicseaweed.com/Lahinch-Beach-Surf-Report/52/
This tells us that the starting point is (0, 0)

Modelling Real Life Scenarios Modelling Real Life Scenarios

" "
$,".  3 sin
$,".  3 sin
6 6
where t is the number of hours after midnight. M  7 : N O P9
$ "  0 3 0 3 0
a) Graph %  $,". for 0 H " H 24.
Repeats every 12 hours so well use "  0, 3, 6, 9, 12

Modelling Real Life Scenarios Modelling Real Life Scenarios

b) When is high tide and what is the maximum
height? c) What is the height at 2 pm?

High tide is at 3 am and 3 pm. The maximum height At 2 pm, "  14

is 3 m above the mean sea level as seen at points A
and B.
,14.
$,14.  3 sin Q 2.6 R
6

So, the tide is 2.6 metres above the mean sea level.

5
 Terms Related to Proofs
Axiom: Statement accepted without proof.

Theorem: Statement deduced from the axioms by logical argument.

Proofs Corollary: A statement that follows with little or no proof required, from one
already proven.

Converse: If p then q becomes if q then p.

Implies: Indicates/suggests without being explicitly stated.

Proof by contradiction: Assume that a statement is not true and then show that
this assumption leads to a contradiction. Called reductio ad absurdum (reduction
to absurdity).

Equivalent to: A is true if B is true.

x + 5 = y + 2 is equivalent to x + 3 = y

Proof: must demonstrate that a statement is true in all cases.

Theorem 20: Proof by Contradiction

Theorem 20: Each tangent is perpendicular to the radius that goes to
the point of contact. R

O
P

t
The Circle
Suppose the point of contact is P and the tangent t is not on the
perpendicular to OP.
Let the perpendicular to the tangent from O meet it at Q
Pick R on PQ, on the other side of Q from P, with |QR| = |PQ|
Then OQR is congruent to OQP
|OR| = |OP|, so R is a second point where t meets the circle.
This contradicts the given fact that t is a tangent.
Thus t must be a perpendicular to OP, as required.

Equation of a Circle Distance between point and a line

Centre ,$, T. Radius  

To find the distance between a line 5 2 +% 2 '  0
and a point ,5 , % ., use the following:
Equation:
,5 0 $.1 2,% 0 T.1   1
5 2 +% 2 '
OR V
1 2 + 1
Equation:
5 1 2 % 1 2 2U5 2 24% 2 '  0

Centre = ,0U, 04. Radius  U1 2 4 1 0 '

6
 (i) In suitable co-ordinates, the equation of the circle h is
2014 Paper 2 Q9 5 1 2 % 1 2 45 2 6% 0 19  0

The diagram shows a circular Find the radius of h, and the co-ordinates of its centre, D
clock face, with the hands not
(ii) The point E has co-ordinates ,3, 2.. Find the radius of the
shown. The square part of the
clock face is glass so that the circle k.
mechanism is visible. Two
(iii) Show that the distance from W,02, 2. to the line DE is half
circular cogs, h and k, which
touch externally are shown. the length of [DE].

(iv) The translation which maps the midpoint of [DE] to the

The point C is the centre of the
clock face. The point D is the
centre of the larger cog, h, and
the point E is the centre of the
smaller cog, k.
point C maps the circle k to the circle j. Find the equation of
the circle j.
(v) The glass square is of side length l. Find the smallest whole
number l such that the two cogs, h and k, are fully visible
through the glass.

2014 Paper 2 Q9 2014 Paper 2 Q9

(i) In suitable co-ordinates, the equation of the circle h is (ii) The point E has co-ordinates ,3, 2.. Find the radius of
the circle k.
5 1 2 % 1 2 45 2 6% 0 19  0
We know:
Find the radius of h, and the co-ordinates of its centre, D V,02, 03. X,3, 2.
Radius of $ is 4 2
Solution: 5 1 2 % 1 2 2U5 2 24% 2 '  0

Centre = 0U, 04  ,02, 03. The distance from V,02, 03. to X,3, 2. will be the
sum of the radius of $ and the radius of T
Radius  U1 2 4 1 0 '  2 1 2 3 1 0 019  4 2

2014 Paper 2 Q9 2014 Paper 2 Q9

(iii) Show that the distance from W,02, 2. to the line DE is
V,02, 03. X,3, 2.
half the length of [DE].

VX  ,3 0 ,02..1 2,2 0 ,03..1  5 2 First, we need the equation of the line DE. To find this, we
need the slope of DE and a point on DE
& 4 $ 2 & 4 T  5 2
V,02, 03. X,3, 2.
4 2 2 & 4 T  5 2
%1 0 % 2 0 ,03. 5
R  
51 0 5 3 0 ,02. 5
& 4 T  2
R1

7
 2014 Paper 2 Q9 2014 Paper 2 Q9
Y
R1 point on DE: ,3, 2. To find the distance from The distance from W,02, 2. to DE is which can also
1
W,02, 2. to 5 0 % 0 1  0 we Y 1
be written as
use 1
Equation of DE: 5 2 +% 2 '
V
% 0 %  R,5 0 5 . 1 2 +1 The length of DE is 5 2

% 0 2  1,5 0 3. 1,02. 2 ,01.,2. 0 1 Thus it is clear that the distance from W,02, 2. to the line
V DE is half the length of [DE] as
,1.1 2,01.1
%02503
5 2
5 22
05 5 2
50%010 V 
2 2

2014 Paper 2 Q9 2014 Paper 2 Q9

The translation which maps the midpoint of [DE] The translation is from midpoint of DE to C:
to the point C maps the circle k to the circle j.  
,0 ,02, 2.
Find the equation of the circle j. 1 1

V,02, 03. X,3, 2. So the same translation for E, the centre of the circle T, to
E, the centre of the new circle j, would be:
5 2 51 % 2 %1
R! "  ,
2 2  \
3, 2 ,
1 1
02 2 3 03 2 2 1 1
 ,  ,0  \
2 2 2 2 Now we know the centre of j is , and the radius is 2
1 1

2014 Paper 2 Q9 2014 Paper 2 Q9

 \
Centre $, T  , Radius    2 (v) The glass square is of side length l. Find the smallest
1 1
whole number l such that the two cogs, h and k, are fully
Equation: visible through the glass.
,5 0 $.1 2,% 0 T.1   1
We know that the square must be greater
1 1 than the length of  2 V^ 2 1
1 9 1
50 2 %0  2
2 2
We can find V^ as we know: V,02, 03. ^,3, 03.
]
Equation of circle *: 5 1 2 % 1 0 5 0 9% 2 0
1
1 1
V^  3 0 02 2 03 0 03 5
1 1
Equation of circle *: 25 2 2% 0 25 0 18% 2 37  0

8
 2014 Paper 2 Q9

 2 V^ 2 1  4 2 2 5 2 2

 12.07

If side length _ is to be a whole number then

_  13