MATH 2500: LIMITS OF THE CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS

Name:

1. Consider the portion of the Unit Circle below. Suppose θ is an acute angle graphed in standard position.
Let P be the point where the terminal side of θ intersects the Unit Circle. This determines a triangle,
△OPB, and a circular sector, ÂOPB. Assume θ is measured in radians.
y

1
P

O B(1, 0) x

(a) What are the coordinates of P in terms of θ? (Don’t over think this!)
1
(b) Show the area of △OPB is sin(θ).
2
1
(c) Show the area of ÂOPB is θ. NOTE: It’s really important θ is measured in radians here!
2
(d) By comparing the areas of △OPB and ÂOPB, show 0 ≤ sin(θ) ≤ θ.

(e) Use your result from (d) and the Squeeze Theorem to show lim+ sin(θ) = 0.
θ→0

(f) Use your result from (e) and the fact that sine function is odd to argue lim− sin(θ) = 0.
θ→0

(g) Use your results from (e) and (f) to conclude lim sin(θ) = 0.
θ→0

π π √
(h) Use your result from (g) to show lim cos(θ) = 1. HINT: For − ≤ θ ≤ , cos(θ) = 1 − sin2 (θ).
θ→0 2 2
(i) Use the sum-to-product formula:
x +c x −c
sin(x) − sin(c) = 2 cos (
) sin ( )
2 2
along with your results from (g) and the Squeeze Theorem to show lim [sin(x) − sin(c)] = 0 and,
x→c
hence lim sin(x) = sin(c).
x→c

(j) Use the sum-to-product formula:

x +c x −c
cos(x) − cos(c) = −2 sin ( ) sin ( )
2 2
along with your result from (i) to show lim [cos(x) − cos(c)] = 0 and, hence lim cos(x) = cos(c).
x→c x→c

NOTE: We now have done enough work to show that if T is any trigonometric function c is any number
in the domain of T , lim T (x) = T (c). Do you see why?
x→c
2. Next, we extend a vertical line1 from (1, 0) until it intersects the terminal side of θ at the point Q.

y
Q

1
P

O B(1, 0) x

(a) Find the coordinates of the point Q. (HINT: Use similar tringles!)

1
(b) Show △OQB has area tan(θ).
2

(c) By comparing areas of △OPB, ÂOPB, and △OQB, show sin(θ) ≤ θ ≤ tan(θ).

sin(θ)
(d) Use the inequality sin(θ) ≤ θ to show that ≤ 1.
θ

sin(θ)
(e) Use the inequality θ ≤ tan(θ) to show that cos(θ) ≤ .
θ

sin(θ)
(f) Put your results from (d) and (e) together to show cos(θ) ≤ ≤ 1.
θ

sin(θ)
(g) Use your result from part (f) along with the Squeeze Theorem to show lim+ = 1.
θ→0 θ

sin(θ) sin(θ)
(h) Show the function f (θ) = is even and use this and your result to part (g) to show lim− = 1.
θ θ→0 θ

sin(θ)
(i) Use your results to parts (g) and (h) to get lim = 1.
θ→0 θ

cos(θ) − 1
3. Show: lim = 0.
θ→0 θ

1
a line tangent to the Unit Circle