​ The Value of Sine, Cosine and Tangent for Angle θ,0∘≤θ≤360∘

 

6.1

 The Value of Sine, Cosine and Tangent for Angle \(\theta, 0^\circ \leq θ \leq 360^\circ\)

 
What is corresponding reference angle?
 
The corresponding reference angle, \(\alpha\), is always less than \(90^\circ\). Angles in quadrants II, III and IV have corresponding reference angles, . The angle in quadrant I itself is the corresponding reference angle, \(\alpha=\theta\).
 
 
The reference angles in quadrants II, III and IV are the corresponding angles in quadrant I.
 
 
Example 1
 
Determine the quadrant and the corresponding reference angle for each of the following.
a) \(138^\circ \)     (b) \(239^\circ \)      c) \(312^\circ\)
 
Solution:
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{a)}\hspace{1mm}&\text{$138^\circ$ is located in quadrant II.}\\ &\text{Corresponding reference angle, } \alpha\\ &= 180^\circ - 138^\circ\\ &= 42^\circ \end{aligned}\)
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{b)}\hspace{1mm}&\text{$239^\circ$ is located in quadrant III.}\\ &\text{Corresponding reference angle, } \alpha\\ &= 239^\circ - 180^\circ\\ &= 59^\circ \end{aligned}\)
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{c)}\hspace{1mm}&\text{$312^\circ$ is located in quadrant IV.}\\ &\text{Corresponding reference angle, } \alpha\\ &= 360^\circ - 312^\circ\\ &= 48^\circ \end{aligned}\)
 
 
The relationship between the function of sine, cosine and tangent for angles in quadrants II, III and IV with the corresponding reference angle
 
Quadrant II
\(\begin{aligned} &\sin \theta = + \sin \alpha = + \sin (180^\circ - \theta)\\ &\cos \theta = - \cos \alpha= - \cos (180^\circ - \theta)\\ &\tan \theta = - \tan \alpha = - \tan (180^\circ - \theta) \end{aligned}\)          
 
Quadrant III
\(\begin{aligned} &\sin \theta = - \sin \alpha = -\sin ( \theta-180^\circ)\\ &\cos \theta = - \cos \alpha= - \cos (\theta-180^\circ)\\ &\tan \theta = - \tan \alpha = +\tan (\theta-80^\circ) \end{aligned}\)     
 
Quadrant IV
\(\begin{aligned} &\sin \theta = - \sin \alpha = -\sin ( 360^\circ-\theta)\\ &\cos \theta = + \cos \alpha= + \cos (360^\circ-\theta)\\ &\tan \theta = - \tan \alpha = -\tan (360^\circ-\theta) \end{aligned}\)     
 
In summary:
 
 
 
What is a unit circle?
 
The diagram below shows a unit circle. A unit circle is a circle that has a radius of 1 unit and is centered on the origin. The \(x\)-axis and -axis divide the unit circle into 4 equal quadrants, namely quadrant I, quadrant II, quadrant III and quadrant IV.
 
 
It is given that P is a point that moves along the circumference of the unit circle and q is the angle formed by the radius of the unit circle, OP, from the positive x-axis in an anticlockwise direction. It is found that
(a) point P is in quadrant I when\(0^\circ\lt\theta\lt90^\circ\)
(b) point P is in quadrant II when \(90^\circ\lt\theta\lt180^\circ\),
(c) point P is in quadrant III when \(180^\circ\lt\theta\lt270^\circ\),
(d) point P is in quadrant IV when \(270^\circ\lt\theta\lt360^\circ\).
 
 
Relationship between the values of sine, cosine and tangent with the values of x-coordinate and y-coordinate for angles in quadrants II, III and IV in a unit circle.
 
 
 
Example 2
 
The following diagram shows a unit circle and angle \(\theta\). Determine the values of \(\sin \theta, \cos \theta\hspace{1mm}\text{and}\hspace{1mm} \tan \theta\).
 
 
Solution:
 
\(\begin{aligned} \sin \theta &= 0.8829\\ \cos \theta &= 0.4695\\ \tan \theta&=\frac{0.8829}{ 0.4695}\\ &=1 .8805 \end{aligned}\)
 
 
The value of sine, cosine  and tangent at angles \(30^\circ, 45^\circ\text{ and } 60^\circ\)
 
  \(30^\circ\) \(60^\circ\) \(45^\circ\)
\(\sin \theta\) \(\begin{aligned} 1\over 2 \end{aligned}\) \(\begin{aligned} \sqrt{3}\over 2 \end{aligned}\) \(\begin{aligned} 1\over \sqrt{2} \end{aligned}\)
\(\cos \theta\) \(\begin{aligned} \sqrt{3}\over 2 \end{aligned}\) \(\begin{aligned} 1\over 2 \end{aligned}\) \(\begin{aligned} 1\over \sqrt{2} \end{aligned}\)
\(\tan \theta\) \(\begin{aligned} 1\over \sqrt{3} \end{aligned}\) \(\begin{aligned} \sqrt{3} \end{aligned}\) \(\begin{aligned} 1 \end{aligned}\)
 
 
Example 3
 
Without using a scientific calculator, determine the value for each of the following based on the corresponding reference angle.
a)  \(\cos 150^\circ\)     b) \(\tan 225^\circ\)     (c) \(\sin300^\circ\)
 
Solution:
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{a) }\cos 150^\circ&=-\cos(180^\circ-150^\circ)\\ &=-\cos30^\circ\\ &=-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \end{aligned}\)
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{b) }\tan 225^\circ&=+\tan(225^\circ-180^\circ)\\ &=+\tan45^\circ\\ &=1 \end{aligned}\)
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{c) }\sin 300^\circ&=-\sin(260^\circ-300^\circ)\\ &=-\sin60^\circ\\ &=-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \end{aligned}\)
 
 
Example 4
 
a) Given that \(\sin \theta=0.6157 \text{ and }0^\circ\leq\theta\leq360^\circ\), calculate the angle \(\theta\).
b) Given that \(\cos \theta=-0.4226 \text{ and }0^\circ\leq\theta\leq360^\circ\) calculate the angle \(\theta\).
c) Given that \(\tan \theta=-1.4826 \text{ and }0^\circ\leq\theta\leq60^\circ\) calculate the angle \(\theta\).
 
Solution:
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{a) }&\sin \theta =0.6157 \text{(+ sign}\implies \text{quadrant I or II}) \\ &\text{Corresponding angle}\\ &=\sin^{-1}0.6157\\ &=38^\circ.\\ &\therefore\theta=38^\circ \text{ or } 142^\circ \end{aligned}\)
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{b) }&\cos \theta =-0.4226 \text{(- sign}\implies \text{quadrant II or III}) \\ &\text{Corresponding angle}\\ &=\cos^{-1}-0.4226\\ &=65^\circ.\\ &\therefore\theta=115^\circ \text{ or } 245^\circ \end{aligned}\)
 
\(\begin{aligned} \text{c) }&\tan \theta =-1.4826 \text{(- sign}\implies \text{quadrant II or IV}) \\ &\text{Corresponding angle}\\ &=\tan^{-1}-1.4826\\ &=56^\circ.\\ &\therefore\theta=124^\circ \text{ or } 304^\circ \end{aligned}\)