Section 6.

3 Trigonometric Functions of Angles

In the preceding section we dened the trigonometric ratios for acute angles. Here we extend
the trigonometric ratios to all angles by dening the trigonometric functions of angles.
Trigonometric Functions of Angles
Let POQ be a right triangle with acute angle as shown in Figure (a) below. Place in
standard position as shown in Figure (b) below.
Then P = P(x, y) is a point on the terminal side of . In triangle POQ, the opposite side has
length y and the adjacent side has length x. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we see that the
hypotenuse has length r =

x
2
+ y
2
. So
sin =
y
r
cos =
x
r
tan =
y
x
csc =
r
y
sec =
r
x
cot =
x
y
These observations allow us to extend the trigonometric ratios to any angle. We dene the
trigonometric functions of angles as follows
1
Evaluating Trigonometric Functions at Any Angle
EXAMPLE: Find
(a) cos 135

(b) tan 390

Solution:
(a) From the rst Figure below we see that cos 135

= x/r. But cos 45

= x/r, and since

cos 45

2/2, we have cos 135

2
2
.
(b) The angles 390

and 30

are coterminal. From the second Figure below its clear that
tan 390

= tan 30

, and since tan 30

3/3, we have tan 390

3
3
.
From the Example above we see that the trigonometric functions for angles that arent acute
have the same value, except possibly for sign, as the corresponding trigonometric functions of
an acute angle. That acute angle will be called the reference angle.
EXAMPLE: Find the reference angle for
(a) =
5
3
(b) = 870

2
EXAMPLE: Find the reference angle for
(a) =
5
3
(b) = 870

Solution:
(a) Since
5
3
=
6
3
=
6
3

3
= 2

3
the reference number for 5/3 is /3 and the terminal point of 5/3 is in Quadrant IV.
(b) The angles 870

and 150

are coterminal [because 870 2(360) = 150]. Thus, the terminal

side of this angle is in Quadrant II (see the second Figure below). So the reference angle is
= 180

150

= 30

EXAMPLE: Find the reference angle for

(a) =
17
6
(b) =
13
7
Solution:
(a) We have
17
6
=
18
6
=
18
6

6
= 3

6
, therefore =

6
(Quadrant II).
(b) We have
13
7
=
14
7
=
14
7

7
= 2

7
, therefore =

7
(Quadrant IV).
EXAMPLE: Find
(a) sin 240

(b) cot 495

3
EXAMPLE: Find
(a) sin 240

(b) cot 495

Solution:
(a) This angle has its terminal side in Quadrant III, as shown in the rst Figure below. The
reference angle is therefore 240

180

= 60

, and the value of sin 240

is negative. Thus
(b) The angle 495

is coterminal with the angle 135

(since 495

360

= 135

), and the
terminal side of this angle is in Quadrant II, as shown in the second Figure below. So the
reference angle is 180

135

= 45

, and the value of cot 495

is negative. We have
EXAMPLE: Find
(a) sin
16
3
(b) sec

4
EXAMPLE: Find
(a) sin
16
3
(b) sec

Solution:
(a) Since
16
3
=
15 +
3
=
15
3
+

3
= 5 +

3
the reference number for 16/3 is /3 (see the rst Figure below) and the terminal point of
16/3 is in Quadrant III. Thus sin(16/3) is negative and
(b) The angle /4 is in Quadrant IV, and its reference angle is /4 (see the second Figure
below). Since secant is positive in this quadrant, we get
5
Trigonometric Identities
EXAMPLE:
(a) Express sin in terms of cos .
(b) Express tan in terms of sin where is in Quadrant II.
Solution:
(a) From the rst Pythagorean identity we get
sin =

1 cos
2

where the sign depends on the quadrant. If is in Quadrant I or II, then sin is positive, and
hence
sin =

1 cos
2

whereas if is in Quadrant III or IV, sin is negative, and so

sin =

1 cos
2

(b) Since tan = sin / cos , we need to write cos in terms of sin . By part (a)
cos =

1 sin
2

and since cos is negative in Quadrant II, the negative sign applies here. Thus
tan =
sin
cos
=
sin

1 sin
2

6
Areas of Triangles
EXAMPLE: Find the area of triangle ABC shown in the Figure below.
Solution: The triangle has sides of length 10 cm and 3 cm, with included angle 120

. Therefore
A =
1
2
ab sin
=
1
2
(10)(3) sin 120

= 15 sin 60

= 15

3
2
13 cm
2
7