Lesson 3.

2
Circular Function
3.2.1 Circular Functions on Real Numbers

Circular Functions
In Figure 3.17, we start at the point(1, 0) and measure an arc of length s along the
circle. If s > 0, then the arc is measured in a counterclockwise direction, and if s < 0, then
the direction is clockwise. (If s = 0 then no arc is measured.) Let the endpoint of this arc
be at the point(x, y). The circle in Figure 3.17 is a unit circle—it has center at the origin
and radius 1 unit (hence the name unit circle). Recall from algebra that the equation of
this circle is

X2 + y2 = 1

Figure 3.17

We saw in the previous lesson that the radian measure of θ is related to the arc
length s. In fact, for θ measured in radians, we know that s = rθ. Here, r = 1, so s, which is
measured in linear units such as inches or centimeters, is numerically equal to θ,
measured in radians. Thus, the trigonometric functions of angle θ in radians found by
choosing a point(x, y) on the unit circle can be rewritten as functions of the arc length s,
a real number. When interpreted this way, they are called circular functions.

Circular Functions

Since x represents the cosine of s and y represents the sine of s, and because of
the discussion in lesson 3.1 on converting between degrees and radians, we can
summarize a great deal of information in a concise manner, as seen in Figure 18.
 Figure 3.18

Note:
Since sin s = y and cos s = x, we can replace x and y in the equation x 2 + y2 = 1
and obtain the Pythagorean identity
cos2 s + sin2 s = 1

The ordered pair(x, y) represents a point on the unit circle, and therefore

−1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 1 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1,
So
−1 ≤ cos 𝑠 ≤ 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 1 ≤ sin 𝑠 ≤ 1,

For any value of s, both sin s and cos s exist, so the domain of these functions is
𝑦
the set of all real numbers. For tan s, defined as , x must not equal 0. The only way x can
𝑥
𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋 3𝜋
equal 0 is when the arc length s is , − , ,− , and so on. To avoid a 0 denominator,
2 2 2 2
the domain of the tangent function must be restricted to those values of s satisfying

𝜋
𝑠 ≠ (2𝑛 + 1) , 𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟
2

The definition of secant also has x in the denominator, so the domain of secant
is the same as the domain of tangent. Both cotangent and cosecant are defined with a
denominator of y. To guarantee that 𝑦 ≠ 0, the domain of these functions must be the
set of all values of s satisfying

𝑠 ≠ 𝑛𝜋, 𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟

 Domains of the Circular Functions
Assume that n is any integer and s is a real number.

Sine and Cosine Functions: (−∞, ∞)

𝜋
Tangent and Secant Functions: {𝑠|𝑠 ≠ (2𝑛 + 1) }
2
Cotangent and Cosecant Functions: {𝑠|𝑠 ≠ 𝑛𝜋}

Finding Values of Circular Functions

The circular functions (functions of real numbers) are closely related to the
trigonometric functions of angles measured in radians. To see this, let us assume that
angle θ is in standard position, superimposed on the unit circle, as shown in Figure 3.19.
Suppose further that θ is the radian measure of this angle. Using the arc length formula s
= rθ with r = 1, we have s = θ. Thus, the length of the intercepted arc is the real number
that corresponds to the radian measure of θ. Using the definitions of the trigonometric
functions, we have

𝑦 𝑦
sin 𝜃 = = = 𝑦 = sin 𝑠
𝑟 1
and
𝑦 𝑦
cos 𝜃 = = = 𝑦 = cos 𝑠
𝑟 1

Figure 3.19

and so on. As shown here, the trigonometric functions and the circular functions lead to
the same function values, provided we think of the angles as being in radian measure.
This leads to the following important result concerning evaluation of circular functions

Evaluating a Circular Function

Circular function values of real numbers are obtained in the same manner as
trigonometric function values of angles measured in radians. This applies both to methods
of finding exact values (such as reference angle analysis) and to calculator
approximations. Calculators must be in radian mode when finding circular function
values.

Example:
Finding Exact Circular Function Values
3𝜋 3𝜋 3𝜋
Find the exact values of sin , 𝑐𝑜𝑠 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 tan
2 2 2
Solution:

Figure 3.20

3𝜋
Evaluating a circular function at the real number , is equivalent to evaluating it
2
3𝜋 3𝜋
at radians. An angle of radians intersects the unit circle at the point as
2 2
shown in Figure 3.20. Since

𝑦
sin 𝑠 = 𝑦, cos 𝑠 = 𝑥, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 tan 𝑠 =
𝑥

It follows that

3𝜋 3𝜋 3𝜋
sin = −1, cos = 0, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 tan 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
2 2 2

Example:
Finding Exact Circular Function Values
Use Figure 3.18 to solve for the following:
7𝜋 7𝜋
a. Find the exact values of cos 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑛
4 4
5𝜋
b. Find the exact value of tan(− )
3
c. Use reference angles and degree/radian conversion to find the exact value
2𝜋
of 𝑐𝑜𝑠 .
3

Solution:
7𝜋
a. In Figure 3.18, we see that the terminal side of radians intersects the unit
4
√2 √2
circle at ( , − ). Thus,
2 2

7𝜋 √2 7𝜋 √2
cos = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑛 =− .
4 2 4 2

5𝜋 𝜋
b. Angles of − radians and radians are coterminal. Their terminal sides
3 3
1 √3
intersect the unit circle at ( , ), so
2 2
 √3
5𝜋 𝜋 2
tan (− ) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 = 1 = √3.
3 3
2
2𝜋
c. An angle of radians corresponds to an angle of 120°. In standard position,
3
120° lies in quadrant II with a reference angle of 60°, so

3.2.2 Reference Angle

The values of the trigonometric functions of angles greater than 900 (or less
than 00 ) can be determined from their values at corresponding acute angles called
reference angles.

Definition of Reference Angle

Let θ be an angle in standard position. Its reference angle is the acute angle θ’
formed by the terminal side of and the horizontal axis.

Figure 3.21 shows the reference angles for in Quadrants II, III, and IV.

Figure 3.21

Example:
Finding Reference Angles
Find the reference angle θ’
a. Θ = 3000
b. Θ = 2.3
c. Θ = -1350
Solution:
a. Because 3000 lies in Quadrant IV, the angle it makes with the x-axis is
Θ’ = 3600 – 3000
= 600 Degrees

Figure 3.22 shows the angle θ = 3000 and its reference angle θ’ = 600

Figure 3.22

b. Because 2.3 lies between π/2 = 1.5708 and π = 3.1416, it follows that it is in
Quadrant II and its reference angle is

Θ’ = π – 2.3
= 0.8416. Radians
Figure 3.23 shows the angle θ = 2.3 and its reference angle θ’ = π – 2.3

Figure 3.22

c. First, determine that -1350 is coterminal with 2250 , which lies in Quadrant
III. So, the reference angle is

Θ’ = 2250 – 1800
= 450
Figure 3.23 shows the angle θ = -1350 and its reference angle θ’ = 450

Figure 3.23