Chapter 1.

Trigonometric Functions
What to Learn?
The focus of this chapter is to introduce trigonometric functions (sometimes
called periodic functions). The chapter includes:

▪ Angles
▪ Angle Relationships and Similar Triangles
▪ Trigonometric Functions
▪ Using Definitions of Trigonometric Functions

1 4

Introduction Learning Outcomes

The waves crashing on a beach, your heartbeat, watching television, jumping on a trampoline
and bank interest rates have one thing in common: they can be represented by trigonometric
At the end of the chapter, you should be able to:
functions.
▪ Analyze and explain the relationships between angles and similar
Why? They repeat their values at regular intervals
triangles;
Jean Baptiste Fourier (1768–1830) showed that almost any function over a given domain can be ▪ Define and explain the six trigonometric functions (sine, cosine,
represented by a series made up of trigonometric functions.
tangent, cosecant, secant, and cotangent) and their relationships.
For example, believe it or not, the fat stored (y) in a lizard’s tail in months (m) is represented by ▪ Use the definitions of sine, cosine, and tangent to derive the
the function:
reciprocal identities for cosecant, secant, and cotangent.

2 5

Angles
Sine and cosine functions are essential to the study of ALL periodic phenomena. They A ray, or half-line, is that portion of a line that starts at a point V on the line
are important in optics and acoustics, information theory and quantum mechanics and extends indefinitely in one direction. The starting point V of a ray is
(quantum theories of the atom). The skill of being able to manipulate equations, and called its vertex.
recognize and draw graphs from these functions is important.

Figure 1

3 6

1
 In Trigonometry, when two rays (or segments) are drawn with a common When an angle θ is in standard position, either the terminal side will lie in a
vertex, they form an angle. We call one ray of an angle the initial side and quadrant, in which case we say that θ lies in that quadrant, or the terminal
the other the terminal side. The angle formed is identified by showing the side will lie on the x-axis or the y-axis, in which case we say that θ is a
direction and amount of rotation from the initial side to the terminal side. If quadrantal angle.
the rotation is in the counterclockwise direction, the angle is positive; if the
rotation is clockwise, the angle is negative. The rotation can consist of more
than one complete revolution.

Figure 5

Figure 2

Counterclockwise rotation Clockwise rotation Counterclockwise rotation θ lies in quadrant II θ lies in quadrant IV θ is a quadrantal angle
Positive angle Negative angle Positive angle

7 10

Lowercase Greek letters, α (alpha), β (beta), γ (gamma), . . . θ (theta), Φ (phi), . . . Angles are measured by determining the amount of rotation needed for the
are often used to represent the values of angles. initial side to become coincident with the terminal side. The two commonly
used measures for angles are degrees and radians.
An angle can be named by using the name of its vertex. The angle below can
be named angle C. Alternatively, an angle can be named using three letters,
with the vertex letter in the middle. Thus, the angle could be named angle
ACB or angle BCA.

Figure 3

8 11

Measuring Angles Using Degrees

An angle θ is said to be in standard position if its vertex is at the origin of a
rectangular coordinate system and its initial side coincides with the positive x-
axis.

Figure 4

θ is in standard position θ is in standard position The most common unit for measuring angles is the degree. Degree measure was developed by
θ is positive θ is negative the Babylonians 4000 yrs ago.

9 12

2
 If the sum of the measures of two positive angles is 90°, the angles are
complementary and the angles are complements of each other. Two positive
Figure 5 angles with measures whose sum is 180° are supplementary, and the angles
are supplements.

13 16

Note: A protractor can be used to measure angles given in degrees or to draw an angle given Learning Activity 2. Find the measure of the complement or the
in degree measure. supplement of an angle

You may use computer applications such as Geogebra to draw an angle a. 40° c. Find the measure of each angle

b. -125 ° d. Find the measure of each angle

14 17

Learning Activity 1. Use Geogebra to draw each angle Two angles with the same initial and terminal sides but possibly different
rotations are called coterminal angles.
a. 45°
Increasing or decreasing the degree measure of an angle in standard position
b. - 90° by an integer multiple of 360° results in a coterminal angle. Thus, an angle of
θ is coterminal with angles of θ± 360k, where k is an integer.
c. 225°

d. 405°

15 18

3
 Learning Activity 3. Find the angle of least positive measure that is
coterminal with each angle FYI. Angles represented in the DMS form are very useful in applications. For example,
a. 908° latitude describes the position of a point on the earth’s surface in relation to the
equator. A point on the equator has latitude of 0. The north pole has a latitude of
b. -75° 90. The GPS coordinates of Philippines is 14°34'59.99" N 121°00'0.00" E

c. A constant angular velocity disk drive spins a disk at a constant speed.

Suppose a disk makes 480 revolutions per min. Through how many degrees
will a point on the edge of the disk move in 2 sec?

19 22

Converting between the Degree, Minute, Second Form and the Decimal Form Angle Relationship and Similar Triangles
Vertical Angles

In the figure, the sides of angle NMP are extended to

form another angle, RMQ. The pair of angles NMP
and RMQ are vertical angles. Another pair of vertical
angles, NMQ and PMR, are also formed.

Vertical angles have equal measures.

20 23

Learning Activity 4. Convert to decimal degrees or degree, minute, Parallel lines are lines that lie in the same
second notation plane and do not intersect. The figure
shows parallel lines m and n. When a line
a. 50° 6′ 21″ q intersects two parallel lines, q is called a
transversal. In the figure, the transversal
b. 58° 22′ 16″ intersecting the parallel lines forms eight
angles, indicated by numbers.
c. 29.238
In geometry, we learn that the degree
d. 37.478 measures of angles 1 through 8 possess
some special properties

21 24

4
 Angle Pairs of Parallel Lines Intersected by a Transversal Types of Triangles

25 28

Learning Activity 5. Find the measures of Similar Triangles

angles 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the figure, given
that lines m and n are parallel. Triangles are similar if their corresponding angles are equal, and their
corresponding sides are proportional.

Figure a and b are similar triangles. Triangles in figure c have the same size and
the same shape. They are called congruent triangles.

26 29

Triangle Learning Activity 6.

A triangle is a three-sided polygon that consists of three sides and three a. The measures of two of the angles of a triangle are
vertices. The most important property of a triangle is that the sum of the 48° and 61°. Find the measure of the third angle, x.
internal angles of a triangle is equal to 180 degrees.
b.Triangles ABC and NMP are similar. Find all
unknown angle measures.

c. Given that triangle ABC and triangle DFE are

similar, find the lengths of the unknown sides of
triangle DFE.

27 30

5
 Trigonometric Functions

Figure 6
Figure 8

31 34

Output is the ratio of

Input is the measure the length of the
Figure 7 of acute angle sides

32 35

Figure 8

33 36

6
 Learning Activity 7. Find the function values of an angle. To find the function values of a quadrantal angle, determine the position of
the terminal side, choose the one of these four points that lies on this terminal
a. The terminal side of an angle θ in standard position passes through the side, and then use the definitions involving x, y, and r.
point ( 8, 15). Find the values of the six trigonometric functions of angle θ.

b. The terminal side of an angle θ in standard position passes through the

point (-3, -4). Find the values of the six trigonometric functions of angle θ.

c. Find the six trigonometric function values of an angle θ in standard

position, if the terminal side of θ is defined by x + 2y = 0, x ≥ 0

37 40

Learning Activity 8. Find the values of the six trigonometric functions

FYI. The trigonometric function values found in example 5 are exact. If you are to use a for each angle.
calculator to approximate these values, the decimal results would not be acceptable if
exact values were required. a. An angle of 90°

b. an angle θ in standard position with terminal side passing through (-3, 0)

38 41

Conditions for Undefined Function Values

Note. The sign of a trigonometric
function is dependent on the signs Identify the terminal side of a quadrantal
of the coordinates of the points on angle.
the terminal side of the angle. By ▪ If the terminal side of the quadrantal angle
knowing in which quadrant the lies along the y-axis, then the tangent and
terminal side of an angle lies, you secant functions are undefined.
also know the signs of all the ▪ If the terminal side of the quadrantal angle
trigonometric functions. lies along the x-axis, then the cotangent and
cosecant functions are undefined.

39 42

7
 Function Values of Quadrantal Angles Learning Activity 9. Use reciprocal identities to find each function value.

43 46

Using the Definitions of the Six Trigonometric Functions References

[1] Ayres, F. and Moyer, R. (2018) Schaum's Outline of Trigonometry.
McGraw-Hill Education
[2] Blitzer, Robert. (2017). Algebra and Trigonometry. Sixth Edition.
Pearson Education Inc.
[3] Larson, R. (2017). Trigonometry. Tenth Edition. Cengage Learning.

Suggested Readings
[1] Topics in Trigonometry. Retrieved February 8, 2021 from
https://themathpage.com/aTrig/trigonometry.htm
[2] Trigonometric Functions of Angles Retrieved February 8, 2021 from
https://math.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Precalculus/Book%3A_Trigonometry_(S
undstrom_and_Schlicker)/03%3A_Triangles_and_Vectors/3.01%3A_Trigonometri
c_Functions_of_Angles

44 47

45