Lesson 4: TRIGONOMETRIC

FUNCTIONS OF ANGLES
Math 12
Plane and Spherical Trigonometry
 OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson the students are expected to:

• Define trigonometric functions in the Cartesian plane
• Evaluate the trigonometric functions of the quadrantal angles
• Determine the reference angle of a nonacute angle
• Evaluate trigonometric functions using the reference angle
 COORDINATE PLANE

The coordinate axes divide the plane into four parts called
quadrants. For any given angle in standard position, the
measurement boundaries for each quadrant are summarized as
follows: y
Quadrant II Quadrant I
900    1800 00    900
( -, + ) ( +, + )

o x
Quadrant III Quadrant IV
1800    2700 2700    3600
( -, - ) ( +, - )
 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS IN THE
CARTESIAN PLANE
Let 𝑥, 𝑦 be a point other than the origin on the terminal side of an
angle 𝜃 in standard position. Let r be the distance from the point 𝑥, 𝑦
to the origin. Then the six trigonometric functions are defined as:
𝑦 𝑥
sin 𝜃 = cot 𝜃 = 𝑦≠0 y
𝑟 𝑦
𝑥 𝑟
cos 𝜃 = sec 𝜃 = 𝑥≠0
𝑟 𝑥 r
y
𝑦 𝑟
tan 𝜃 = 𝑥≠0 csc 𝜃 = 𝑦≠0
𝑥 𝑦 𝜃
x
x

𝑟 2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑟 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 .
The distance r is positive: 𝑟 > 0
 ALGEBRAIC SIGNS OF TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS
The algebraic sign, + or -, of each trigonometric function depends
on which quadrant contains the terminal side of the angle 𝜃. The
phrase “All Students Take Calculus” helps to remember which of
the three main trigonometric functions are positive in each
quadrant.

PHRASE QUADRANT POSITIVE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

All I All three: sine, cosine and tangent
Students II Sine
Take III Tangent
Calculus IV Cosine
 ALGEBRAIC SIGNS OF TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS
The following table indicates the algebraic signs of all trigonometric
functions according to the quadrant in which the terminal side of
an angle 𝜃 lies.

Terminal Side of 𝜃 In sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 tan 𝜃 cot 𝜃 sec 𝜃 csc 𝜃

Quadrant
I + + + + + +
II + - - - - +
III - - + + - -
IV - + - - + -
 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS OF
QUADRANTAL ANGLES
An angle in standard position whose terminal side lies along a
coordinate axis is called a quadrantal angle. To evaluate the
trigonometric functions of the quadrantal angles 0°, 90°, 180° and
270°, assume point P on the coordinate axis, one unit from the
origin. y

∙ P(0,1)

P(-1,0) P(1,0)
∙ ∙ x

P(0,-1) ∙
 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS OF
QUADRANTAL ANGLES

𝜽 sin 𝜽 cos 𝜽 tan 𝜽 cot 𝜽 sec 𝜽 csc 𝜽

0° 0 1 0 undefined 1 undefined

90° 1 0 undefined 0 undefined 1

180° 0 -1 0 undefined -1 undefined

270° -1 0 undefined 0 undefined -1

 REFERENCE ANGLE

For angle 𝜃, 0° < 𝜃 < 360° , in standard position whose terminal

side lies in one of the four quadrants, there exists a reference
angle, 𝜶, that is the acute angle with positive measure formed by
the terminal side of 𝜃 and the x- axis.

To find the reference angle 𝛼 in each quadrant,

Quadrant I : 𝛼 = 𝜃
Quadrant II : 𝛼 = 180° − 𝜃
Quadrant III: 𝛼 = 𝜃 − 180°
Quadrant IV: 𝛼 = 360° − 𝜃
 EXAMPLES

1. Determine the quadrant where the terminal side of each angle

lie when it is in standard position.
7𝜋
a) − b) 257° c) −187°
6
2. Determine the sign of the following trigonometric functions
without the aid of calculator.
2𝜋
a) cos b) tan 315° c) csc 198°
3

3. If the terminal side of an angle 𝜃 in standard position passes

through 𝑃 − 3, 2 , calculate the values of the six
trigonometric functions for angle 𝜃.
4. Find the exact values of the other five trigonometric functions
for an angle 𝜃 in standard position lying in the given quadrant.
11
a) sin 𝜃 = − ; 𝐼𝐼𝐼 b) sec 𝜃 = −2; 𝐼𝐼
6
5. Give the measure of the reference angle 𝛼 for each of the
angle 𝜃 in standard position.
a) 284° b) 175° c) 83° d) 24°
6. Evaluate each expression, if possible:
a) sin −270° + cos 450°
b) csc 3600° + sec −3600°
c) cos 540° + tan 720°
𝜋 5𝜋 5𝜋
d) sin + cos + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2
3 6 4
 References

• Algebra and Trigonometry by Cynthia Young

• Trigonometry by Jerome Hayden and Bettye Hall
• Trigonometry by Academe/Scott, Foresman
• Plane and Spherical Trigonometry by Paul Rider