CHAPTER 6

Reduction to Functions of
Positive Acute Angles
6.1  Coterminal Angles
Let u be any angle; then

sin(u 1 n3608) 5 sin u  cot(u 1 n3608) 5 cot u

cos(u 1 n3608) 5 cos u  sec(u 1 n3608) 5 sec u
 tan(u 1 n3608) 5 tan u  csc(u 1 n3608) 5 csc u

where n is any integer (positive, negative, or zero).

EXAMPLE 6.1  (a) sin 4008 5 sin(408 1 3608) 5 sin 408

(b) cos 8508 5 cos(1308 1 2 ? 3608) 5 cos 1308
(c) tan(210008) 5 tan(808 2 3 ? 3608) 5 tan 808
If x is an angle in radian measure, then

sin(x 1 2np) 5 sin x cot(x 1 2np) 5 cot x

cos(x 1 2np) 5 cos x sec(x 1 2np) 5 sec x
tan(x 1 2np) 5 tan x csc(x 1 2np) 5 csc x
where n is any integer.

EXAMPLE 6.2  (a) sin 11p/5 5 sin(p/5 1 2p) 5 sin p/5

(b) cos(227p/11) 5 cos[17p/11 2 2(2p)] 5 cos 17p/11
(c) tan 137p 5 tan[p 1 68(2p)] 5 tan p

6.2  Functions of a Negative Angle

Let u be any angle; then

sin(2u) 5 2sin u cot(2u) 5 2cot u

cos(2u) 5 cos u sec(2u) 5 sec u
tan(2u) 5 2tan u csc(2u) 5 2csc u

For a proof of these relations, see Prob. 6.1.

EXAMPLE 6.3  sin(2508) 5 2sin 508, cos(2308) 5 cos 308, tan(22008) 5 2tan 2008.

66

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 CHAPTER 6  Reduction to Functions of Positive Acute Angles 67

6.3  Reference Angles

A reference angle R for an angle u in standard position is the positive acute angle between the x axis and the
terminal side of angle u. The values of the six trigonometric functions of the reference angle for u, R, agree with
the function values for u except possibly in sign. When the signs of the functions of R are determined by the
quadrant of angle u, as in Sec. 2.5, then any function of u can be expressed as a function of the acute angle R.
Thus, our tables can be used to find the value of a trigonometric function of any angle.

Quadrant for u Relationship Function Signs

      I R 5 u All functions are positive.

      II R 5 1808 2 u Only sin R and csc R are positive.
     III R 5 u 2 1808 Only tan R and cot R are positive.
     IV R 5 3608 2 u Only cos R and sec R are positive.

See Prob. 6.2 for a verification of the equality of the values of the trigonometric functions of u and signed
values of its reference angle R.
If u is a quadrantal angle, then the function values are the same as in Sec. 2.6, and a reference angle is not
needed. Since any angle A can be written as u 1 n3608, where n is an integer and 08 # u < 3608, reference angles
will be found for angles from 08 to 3608.

EXAMPLE 6.4  Express each as a function of an acute angle.

(a) sin 2328,   (b) cos 3128,   (c) tan 9128,  (d) sec(22278)
(a) sin 2328 5 2sin(2328 2 1808) 5 2sin 528
   2328 is in quadrant III, so the sine is negative and R 5 u 2 1808.
(b) cos 3128 5 1cos(3608 2 3128) 5 cos 488
   3128 is in quadrant IV, so the cosine is positive and R 5 3608 2 u.
(c) tan 9128 5 tan[1928 1 2(3608)] 5 tan 1928
 5 1tan(1928 2 1808) 5 tan 128
   Since 9128 $ 3608, we find the coterminal angle first.
   1928 is in quadrant III, so the tangent is positive and R 5 u 2 1808.
(d) sec (22278) 5 sec(1338 2 3608) 5 sec 1338
 5 2sec(1808 2 1338) 5 2sec 478
   Since 22278 < 08, we find a coterminal angle first.
   1338 is in quadrant II, so the secant is negative and R 5 1808 2 u.

When finding the value of a trigonometric function by using a calculator, a reference angle is unnecessary.
The function value is found as indicated in Sec. 4.5. However, when an angle having a given function value is
to be found and that angle is to be in a specific quadrant, a reference angle is usually needed even when using a
calculator.

6.4  Angles with a Given Function Value

Since coterminal angles have the same value for a function, there are an unlimited number of angles that have
the same value for a trigonometric function. Even when we restrict the angles to the interval of 08 to 3608, there
are usually two angles that have the same function value. All the angles that have the same function value also
have the same reference angle. The quadrants for the angle are determined by the sign of the function value.
The relationships from Sec. 6.3 are used to find the angle u, once the reference angle is found from a table (see
Sec. 4.4) or a calculator (see Sec. 4.6).

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 68 CHAPTER 6  Reduction to Functions of Positive Acute Angles

EXAMPLE 6.5  Find all angles u between 08 and 3608 when:

(a) sin u 5 0.6293,  (b) cos u 5 20.3256,  (c) tan u 5 21.2799
Since sin u 5 0.6293 is positive, solutions for u are in quadrants I and II because the sine is positive in these
(a) 
quadrants.
sin R 5 0.6293; thus R 5 398.
In quadrant I, R 5 u, so u 5 398.
In quadrant II, R 5 1808 2 u, so u 5 1808 2 R 5 1808 2 398 5 1418.
u 5 398 and 1418.

(b) Since cos u 5 20.3256 is negative, solutions for u are in quadrants II and III because the cosine is negative in these
quadrants.
cos R 5 0.3256; thus R 5 718.
In quadrant II, R 5 1808 2 u, so u 5 1808 2 R 5 1808 2 718 5 1098.
In quadrant III, R 5 u 2 1808, so u 5 1808 1 R 5 1808 1 718 5 2518.
u 5 1098 and 2518.

(c) Since tan u 5 21.2799 is negative, solutions for u are in quadrants II and IV because the tangent is negative in
these quadrants.
tan R 5 1.2799; thus R 5 528.
In quadrant II, R 5 1808 2 u, so u 5 1808 2 R 5 1808 2 528 5 1288.
In quadrant IV, R 5 3608 2 u, so u 5 3608 2 R 5 3608 2 528 5 3088.
u 5 1288 and 3088.

EXAMPLE 6.6  Find all angles u when (a) sin u 5 20.2079 and (b) tan u 5 0.5543.
(a) sin R 5 0.2079; thus R 5 128. The sine is negative in quadrants III and IV.
In quadrant III, u 5 1808 1 R 5 1808 1 128 5 1928.
In quadrant IV, u 5 3608 2 R 5 3608 2 128 5 3488.
All angles coterminal with these values of u are needed, so u 5 1928 1 n3608 and 3488 1 n3608 where n is any
integer.

(b) tan R 5 0.5543; thus R 5 298. The tangent is positive in quadrants I and III.
In quadrant I, u 5 R 5 298.
In quadrant III, u 5 1808 1 R 5 1808 1 298 5 2098.
All angles coterminal with these values of u are needed, so u 5 298 1 n3608 and 2098 1 n3608 where n is any
integer. [Note: These angles can be represented by u 5 298 1 n1808 where n is an integer.]

Solved Problems

  6.1 Derive formulas for the functions of 2u in terms of the functions of u.

In Fig. 6.1, u and 2u are constructed in standard position and are numerically equal. On their respective terminal
sides the points P(x, y) and P1(x1, y1) are located so that OP 5 OP1. In each of the figures, the two triangles are con-
gruent and r1 5 r, x1 5 x, and y1 5 2y. Then
y1 2y y x1 x x
sin(2u) 5 r 5 r 5 2 r 5 2sin u cot(2u) 5 y 5 2y 5 2 y 5 2cot u
1 1

x1 x r1 r
cos(2u) 5 r 5 r 5 cos u sec(2u) 5 x 5 x 5 sec u
1 1

y1 2y y r1 r r
tan(2u) 5 x 5 x 5 2 x 5 2tan u csc(2u) 5 y 5 2y 5 2 y 5 2csc u
1 1

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 CHAPTER 6  Reduction to Functions of Positive Acute Angles 69

Fig. 6.1

Except for those cases in which a function is not defined, the above relations are also valid when u is a quadrantal
angle. This may be verified by making use of the fact that 208 and 08, 2908 and 2708, 21808 and 1808, and 22708
and 908 are coterminal.
For example, sin (208) 5 sin 08 5 0 5 2sin 08, sin (2908) 5 sin 2708 5 21 5 2sin 908, cos (21808) 5 cos 1808,
and cot (22708) 5 cot 908 5 0 5 2cot 2708.

  6.2 Verify the equality of the trigonometric functions for u and its reference angle R where x > 0,
y > 0, and r 5 Ïx2 1 y2.
(a) 
u is in quadrant I. See Fig. 6.2(a).
y x
sin u 5 r 5 sin R cot u 5 y 5 cot R

x r
cos u 5 r 5 cos R sec u 5 x 5 sec R

y r
tan u 5 x 5 tan R csc u 5 y 5 csc R

(b) u is in quadrant II. See Fig. 6.2(b).

sd
y 2x x
sin u 5 r 5 sin R cot u 5 y 5 2 y 5 2cot R

2x
sd
x
cos u 5 r 5 2 r 5 2cos R sec u 5 2x 5 2s x d 5 2sec R
r r

tan u 5 2x 5 2s x d 5 2tan R
y y r
csc u 5 y 5 csc R

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 70 CHAPTER 6  Reduction to Functions of Positive Acute Angles

Fig. 6.2

u is in quadrant III. See Fig. 6.2(c).

(c) 

sd
2y y 2x x
sin u 5 r 5 2 r 5 2sin R cot u 5 2y 5 y 5 cot R

2x x
sd
cos u 5 r 5 2 r 5 2cos R
r
sd
r
sec u 5 2x 5 2 x 5 2sec R

sd
2y y r r
tan u 5 2x 5 x 5 tan R csc u 5 2y 5 2 y 5 2csc R

(d) u is in quadrant IV. See Fig. 6.2(d).

sd sd
2y y x x
sin u 5 r 5 2 r 5 2sin R cot u 5 2y 5 2 y 5 2cot R

x r
cos u 5 r 5 cos R sec u 5 x 5 sec R

sd sd
2y y r r
tan u 5 x 5 2 x 5 2tan R csc u 5 2y 5 2 y 5 2csc R

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 CHAPTER 6  Reduction to Functions of Positive Acute Angles 71

  6.3 Express the following as functions of positive acute angles.

(a) sin 1308,  (b)  tan 3258,  (c)  sin 2008,  (d)  cos 3708,  (e)  tan 1658,  (f)  sec 2508,
(g) sin 6708,  (h)  cot 9308,  (i)  csc 8658,  (j) sin(21008),  (k) cos(26808),  (l) tan(22908)
(a) sin 1308 5 1sin(1808 2 1308) 5 sin 508
(b) tan 3258 5 2tan(3608 2 3258) 5 2tan 358
(c) sin 2008 5 2sin(2008 2 1808) 5 2sin 208
(d) cos 3708 5 cos(108 1 3608) 5 cos 108
(e) tan 1658 5 2tan(1808 2 1658) 5 2tan 158
(f) sec 2508 5 2sec(2508 2 1808) 5 2sec 708
(g) sin 6708 5 sin(3108 1 3608) 5 sin 3108 5 2sin(3608 2 3108)
5 2sin 508
(h) cot 9308 5 cot[2108 1 2(3608)] 5 cot 2108 5 1cot(2108 2 1808)
5 cot 308
(i) csc 8658 5 csc[1458 1 2(3608)] 5 csc 1458 5 1csc(1808 2 1458)
5 csc 358
(j) sin(21008) 5 2sin 1008 5 2[1sin(1808 2 1008)] 5 2sin 808 or sin(21008) 5 sin(2608 2 3608)
5 sin 2608 5 2sin(2608 2 1808)
5 2sin 808
(k) cos(26808) 5 1cos 6808 5 cos(3208 1 3608) 5 cos 3208
5 1cos(3608 2 3208) 5 cos 408
or cos(26808) 5 cos[408 2 2(3608)] 5 cos 408
(l) tan(22908) 5 2tan 2908 5 2[2tan(3608 2 2908)] 5 1tan 708
or tan(22908) 5 tan(708 2 3608) 5 tan 708

  6.4 Find the exact value of the sine, cosine, and tangent of
(a) 1208,  (b) 2108,  (c) 3158, (d) 21358, (e) 22408, (f) 23308
(a) 1208 is in quadrant II; reference angle 5 1808 2 1208 5 608.

Ï3 1
sin 1208 5 sin 608 5 cos 1208 5 2cos 608 5 2 tan 1208 5 2tan 608 5 2Ï3
2 2
(b) 2108 is in quadrant III; reference angle 5 2108 2 1808 5 308.

1 Ï3 Ï3
sin 2108 5 2sin 308 5 2 cos 2108 5 2cos 308 5 2 tan 2108 5 tan 308 5
2 2 3

(c) 3158 is in quadrant IV; reference angle 5 3608 2 3158 5 458.

Ï2 Ï2
sin 3158 5 2sin 458 5 2 cos 3158 5 cos 458 5 tan 3158 5 2tan 458 5 21
2 2

(d) 21358 is coterminal with 21358 1 3608 5 2258; 2258 is in quadrant III; reference angle 5
2258 2 1808 5 458.

Ï2 Ï2
sin(21358) 5 2sin 458 5 2 cos(21358) 5 2cos 458 5 2
2 2
tan(21358) 5 tan 458 5 1

(e) 22408 is coterminal with 22408 1 3608 5 1208; 1208 is in quadrant II; reference angle 5 1808 2 1208 5 608.

Ï3 1
sin(22408) 5 sin 608 5 cos(22408) 5 2cos 608 5 2
2 2
tan(22408) 5 2tan 608 5 2Ï3

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 72 CHAPTER 6  Reduction to Functions of Positive Acute Angles

(f) 23308 is coterminal with 23308 1 3608 5 308; 308 is in quadrant I; reference angle 5 308.

1 Ï3 Ï3
sin(23308) 5 sin 308 5 cos(23308) 5 cos 308 5 tan(23308) 5 tan 308 5
2 2 3

  6.5 Use Table 1 (see Appendix 2) to find:

(a) sin 1258149 5 1sin(1808 2 1258149) 5 sin 548469 5 0.8168
(b) cos 1698409 5 2cos(1808 2 1698409) 5 2cos 108209 5 20.9838
(c) tan 2008239 5 1tan(2008239 2 1808) 5 tan 208239 5 0.3716
(d) cot 2508449 5 1cot(2508449 2 1808) 5 cot 708449 5 0.3495
(e) cos 3138189 5 1cos(3608 2 3138189) 5 cos 468429 5 0.6858
(f) sin 3418529 5 2sin(3608 2 3418529) 5 2sin 18889 5 20.3112

  6.6 Use Table 2 (see Appendix 2) to find:

(a) tan 97.28 5 2tan(1808 2 97.28) 5 2tan 82.88 5 27.9158
(b) cos 147.88 5 2cos(1808 2 147.88) 5 2cos 32.28 5 20.8462
(c) cot 241.288 5 1cot(241.288 2 1808) 5 cot 61.288 5 0.5480
(d) sin 194.378 5 2sin(194.378 2 1808) 5 2sin 14.378 5 20.2482
(e) cos 273.18 5 1cos(3608 2 273.18) 5 cos 86.98 5 0.0541
(f) tan 321.618 5 2tan(3608 2 321.618) 5 2tan 38.398 5 20.7923

  6.7 Use a calculator to find:

(a) sin 1588389 5 sin(158 1 38/60)8 5 0.364335
(b) cos 26482195 cos(264 1 21/60)8 5 20.098451
(c) tan 2888149 5 tan(288 1 14/60)8 5 23.03556
(d) tan 112.688 5 22.39292
(e) sin 223.278 5 20.685437
(f) cos 314.598 5 0.702029

  6.8 Show that sin u and tan 12 u have the same sign.
(a) Suppose u 5 n ? 1808. If n is even (including zero), say 2m, then sin (2m ? 1808) 5 tan (m ? 1808) 5 0.
The case when n is odd is excluded since then tan 12 u is not defined.
(b) Suppose u 5 n ? 1808 1 f, where 08 < f < 1808. If n is even, including zero, u is in quadrant I or quad-
rant II and sin u is positive while 12 u is in quadrant I or quadrant III and tan 12 u is positive. If n is odd,
u is in quadrant III or IV and sin u is negative while 12 u is in quadrant II or IV and tan 12 u is negative.

  6.9 Find all positive values of u less than 3608 for which sin u 5 212.
There will be two angles (see Chap. 2), one in the third quadrant and one in the fourth quadrant. The refer-
ence angle of each has its sine equal to 112 and is 308. Thus the required angles are u 5 1808 1 308 5 2108 and
u 5 3608 2 308 5 3308.
(NOTE:  To obtain all values of u for which sin u 5 212, add n ? 3608 to each of the above solutions; thus u 5 2108 1
n ? 3608 and u 5 3308 1 n ? 3608, where n is any integer.)

6.10 Find all positive values of u less than 3608 for which cos u 5 0.9063.
There are two solutions, u 5 258 in the first quadrant and u 5 3608 2 258 5 3358 in the fourth quadrant.

6.11 Find all positive values of 14 u less than 3608, given sin u 5 0.6428.
The two positive angles less than 3608 for which sin u 5 0.6428 are u 5 408 and u 5 1808 2 408 5 1408. But
if 14 u is to include all values less than 3608, u must include all values less than 4 ? 3608 5 14408. Hence, for u we
take the two angles above and all coterminal angles less than 14408; that is,

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 CHAPTER 6  Reduction to Functions of Positive Acute Angles 73

u 5 408, 4008, 7608, 11208; 1408, 5008, 8608, 12208

1
and 4u 5 108, 1008, 1908, 2808; 358, 1258, 2158, 3058

Supplementary Problems

6.12 Express each of the following in terms of functions of a positive acute angle.

(a) sin 1458 (d)  cot 1558 (g) sin(22008) (j)  cot 6108
(b) cos 2158 (e)  sec 3258 (h) cos(27608) (k)  sec 4558
(c) tan 4408 (f)  csc 1908 (i)   tan(213858) (l)  csc 8258
Ans. (a)  sin 358 (g)  sin 208
(b)  2cos 358 (h)  cos 408
(c)  tan 808 (i)  tan 558
(d)  2cot 258 (j)  cot 708
(e)  sec 358 (k)  2sec 858
(f)  2csc 108 (l)  csc 758

6.13 Find the exact values of the sine, cosine, and tangent of
(a) 1508,  (b) 
2258,  (c) 
3008,  (d) 21208,  (e) 
22108,  (f) 
23158
Ans. (a)  1y2, 2Ï3y2, 21yÏ3 5 2Ï3y3 (d)  2Ï3y2, 21y2, Ï3
(b)  2Ï2y2, 2Ï2y2, 1 (e)  1y2, 2Ï3y2, 21Ï3 5 2Ï3y3
(c)  2Ï3y2, 1y2, 2Ï3 (f )  Ï2y2, Ï2y2, 1

6.14 Use the appropriate tables to verify that the function has the value stated.

(a) sin 1558139 5 0.4192 (f) tan 129.488 5 21.2140

(b) cos 1048389 5 20.2526 (g) sin 110.328 5 0.9378
(c) tan 3058249 5 21.4071 (h) cos 262.358 5 20.1332
(d) sin 1148189 5 0.9114 (i) tan 211.848 5 0.6210
(e) cos 1668519 5 20.9738 (j) cos 314.928 5 0.7061

6.15 Find all angles, 08 # u < 3608, for which:

Ï2
(a) sin u 5 ,  (b) cos u 5 21,  (c) sin u 5 20.6180,  (d) cos u 5 0.5125,  (e)  tan u 5 21.5301
2
Ans. (a) 458, 1358 (d) 598109, 3008509 or 59.178, 300.838
(b) 1808 (e) 1238109, 3038109 or 123.178, 303.178
(c) 2188109, 3218509 or 218.178, 321.838

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