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A student is often faced with the task of evaluating one of the six common trigonometric functions for some common multiple of pi,
S S S S
usually integer multiples of , , , , or S . A student who has completed precalculus with trigonometry should be able to
6 4 3 2
produce an exact evaluation of the trigonometric function for these angles without resorting to the use of a calculator. This document
provides a simple methodology for producing such evaluations.
The table on the next page represents our goal – the student should be able to readily reconstruct this somewhat intimidating table. A
blank table is provided on the following page so the student has a template for practice.
The remainder of this document walks the student through the elementary steps that allow him to reconstruct the values of the six
trigonometric for the common angle values of the first four quadrants.
0 S S S S 2S 3S 5S S 7S 5S 4S 3S 5S 7S 11S 2S
6 4 3 2 3 4 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 6
sin T 0 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 0
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
cosT 1 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
0 S 2S
sin T
cosT
tan T
cot T
sec T
csc T
Use copies of this page to practice learning the values of the trigonometric functions.
0 S S S S
6 4 3 2
sin T 0 1 2 3 1
2 2 2
sin T 0 1 2 3 4
2 2 2 2 2
Note that the values in the second row for the sine function have the same value as the corresponding value in the first row. Therefore,
if one can begin at 0 and count whole numbers to the value 4, one has everything required to reproduce values of the sine function for
the common first quadrant angle values.
0 S S S S
6 4 3 2
sin T 0 1 2 3 1
2 2 2
cosT 1 3 2 1 0
2 2 2
0 S S S S
6 4 3 2
sin T 0 1 2 3 1
2 2 2
cosT 1 3 2 1 0
2 2 2
tan T 0 3 1 3 Udf
3
S
It may be instructive to review the arithmetic required for rationalization of the denominator. The arithmetic for tan is developed:
6
1
S 2 1 2 1 1 3 3
tan
6 3 2 3 3 3 3 3
2
S S S
Note that the three tangent values for , , and form a geometric sequence with 3 as the common ratio; that is,
6 4 3
S S S S S
tan 3 tan and tan 3 tan . Note also that is not in the domain of the tangent function as division by 0 is not
4 6 3 4 2
permitted (Udf means undefined.)
0 S S S S 2S 3S 5S S 7S 5S 4S 3S 5S 7S 11S 2S
6 4 3 2 3 4 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 6
Quadrant Boundaries
S 3S
The quadrant boundaries appear at 0, , S, , and 2S . Note that the sequence of denominators, 6, 4, and 3, repeats within each
2 2
quadrant, but the pattern reverses – descending to ascending to descending… - at each quadrant boundary. Thus, the student should be
able to partially reconstruct the first line of the table as follows:
0 S S S S S 3S 2S
6 4 3 2 3 4 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 6
Second Quadrant
We previously noted the coefficient of pi in the numerator was 1 for the first quadrant common angles. There are similar patterns for
each of the three remaining quadrants.
The coefficient of pi in the numerator of the second quadrant common angles is always one less than the value of the denominator.
2S 3S
That is, for we have 2 = 3 – 1. For we have 3 = 4 – 1, etc. It is a simple matter to complete the second quadrant common
3 4
angle values.
0 S S S S 2S 3S 5S S 3S 2S
6 4 3 2 3 4 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 6
0 S S S S 2S 3S 5S S 7S 5S 4S 3S 2S
6 4 3 2 3 4 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 6
Fourth Quadrant
7S
Finally, the coefficient of pi in the fourth quadrant is one less than twice the value of the denominator. That is, for we have
4
7 2 4 1 . This allows us to easily complete the sequence of common angle values.
0 S S S S 2S 3S 5S S 7S 5S 4S 3S 5S 7S 11S 2S
6 4 3 2 3 4 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 6
0 S S S S 2S 3S 5S S 7S 5S 4S 3S 5S 7S 11S 2S
6 4 3 2 3 4 6 6 4 3 2 3 4 6
sin T 0 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 0
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
cosT 1 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
What happens if one should not remember a value of one of these functions for a common angle value beyond the first quadrant? We
may use practice of determination of sign (ASTC) and reference angle to mentally calculate sine, cosine and tangent values for
quadrants II, III, and IV as the following examples illustrate.
7S 7S 3S 7S
Example 1: Calculate sin . Since S , we know that lies in the third quadrant. Using the ASTC mnemonic, we know
6 6 2 6
7S 7S S
sin 0 . The reference angle for is - the first quadrant common angle with the same denominator. Therefore,
6 6 6
7S S 1
sin sin .
6 6 2