Senior High School

PRECALCULUS
Quarter 2

CIRCULAR FUNCTION

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

1
 What I Need to Know

At the end of this module, students should be able to:

1. Illustrate the different circular functions (STEM_PC11T-IIb-1)
2. Uses reference angles to find exact values of circular functions (STEM_PC11T-IIb-2)

Lesson
CIRCULAR FUNCTIONS
2
What’s In

In this lesson we will be understanding circular functions and its graphs. In order to master the
techniques explained here it is vital that you undertake plenty of practice exercises.
We define the six trigonometric function in such a way that the domain of each function is the set
of angles in standard position. In this lesson, we will modify these trigonometric functions so that the
domain will be real numbers rather than set of angles.

What is It

Circular functions which is commonly known as the trigonometric functions because the radian
measures of the angles are calculated by the length and coordinates of the terminal point of the arc on
the unit circle. Circular functions are function whose domain and range correspond to the measures of
angles with respect to the trigonometric functions. The basic circular functions are sine, cosine and
tangent and their reciprocal functions are cosecant, secant and cotangent respectively.
Let 𝜃 be an angle in the standard position and P(x,y) be a point on the terminal side of the angle.
Then we have the six-circular function as follows:
𝑦 1 1
sin 𝜃 = =𝑦 csc 𝜃 = =𝑦
𝑟 sin 𝜃
𝑥 1 1
cos 𝜃 = =𝑥 sec 𝜃 = =𝑥
𝑟 cos 𝜃
𝑦 1 𝑥
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = ;𝑥 ≠ 0 cot 𝜃 = = ;𝑦≠0
𝑥 tan 𝜃 𝑦

Example 2.1. Find the values of the six circular functions of 𝜃 given that the terminal point is
√2 √2
P(− , ).
2 2

Solution:
√2 √2
Given: x = − and y = , Therefore,
2 2

2
 √2 1 2 2 √2 2√2
sin 𝜃 = 𝑦 = csc 𝜃 = √2
= = ⋅ = = √2
2 √2 √2 √2 2
2

√2 1 2 2 √2 2√2
cos 𝜃 = 𝑥 = − sec 𝜃 = √2
=− =− ⋅ = = −√2
2 − √2 √ 2 √2 2
2

√2
𝑦 2 √2 2 1
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = = √2
= ⋅− = −1 cot 𝜃 = = −1
𝑥 − 2 √2 −1
2

5𝜋
Example 2.2. Give the six circular functions of the angle 𝜃 generated by an arc whose length is .
6

Solution:
5𝜋
Since the length of the arc generated is units then the measure of the angle is also equal
6
5𝜋
to or equivalent to 1500. Hence, the angle is in the second quadrant so the coordinates of the
6

√3 1
terminal point would be (− , ). Thus the six circular functions are,
2 2
5𝜋 1 5𝜋 1
sin =𝑦= csc = 1 =2
6 2 6
2

5𝜋 √3 5𝜋 1 2 2 √3 2√3
cos = 𝑥= − sec = √3
=− =− ⋅ =−
6 2 6 − √3 √3 √3 3
2
1
5𝜋 𝑦 2 1 2 1 √3 √3
𝑡𝑎𝑛 =𝑥 = √3
=2⋅− =− ⋅ =−
6 − √3 √3 √3 3
2

5𝜋 1 3 √3 3√3
cot = √3
=− ⋅ =− =−√3
6 − √3 √3 3
3

3
Example 2.3. Suppose s is a real number such that sin s = − 7 and sec s < 0. Find tan s.

Solution:
Let P(s) = (x, y) be the point on the unit circle and on the terminal side of angle s.
3
Since P(s) is on the unit circle, we know that x2 + y2 = 1 and sin s = y =− 7 , we get
3 𝟐 40
𝒙𝟐 = 𝟏 − (− 7 ) = 49
𝟐√𝟏𝟎
x=± 𝟕
𝟐√𝟏𝟎
Since sec s < 0, we will consider 𝑥 = − then,
𝟕
3
𝑦 − 3 −7 3 √10 3√10
7
tan s = 𝑥 = 2√10
= −7 ⋅ 2 =2 ⋅ =
− √10 √10 √10 20
7

Evaluating Circular Functions Using Reference Angles

A reference angle is the acute angle formed by the terminal side of a given angle in the
standard position and the x-axis.

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 https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/trig-function-reference-angle.html

Nonetheless, the reference angle is always made positive which ever quadrant and what
direction (counterclockwise and clockwise) is the given angle. Finding the reference angle in each
quadrant we have (Note for negative angle, neglect the negative sign),

Quadrant Reference angle for θ

1 Same as θ
2 180 - θ
3 θ - 180
4 360 - θ

Example 2.4. Find the reference angle of the following given angle in standard position.
a. 2040
b. - 1500
Solution:
a. Since the given angle is in the third quadrant, then we have,
θ – 1800 = 2040 - 1800 = 240 is the reference angle
b. - 1500 is in the II quadrant in a clockwise direction, so regardless of the negative sign, we
have,
1800 – θ = 1800 – 1500 = 300 is the reference angle

The use of reference angles is a way to simplify the calculation of the values of
trigonometric functions at various angles. Using the rules of reference angles to find the exact
values of the circular function, the following values of the basic circular functions of the unit circle
for certain acute angles and the rule of the signs of the circular functions will be useful.
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Values of the Basic Circular Functions for Certain Acute Angles

𝜽 00 300 450 600 900

𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 0 1 √2 √3 1
2 2 2
𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 1 √3 √2 1 0
2 2 2
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽 0 √3 1 √3 undefined
3

Rule of the Signs of the Circular Functions

S A

Q II QI
x

Q III Q IV

T C

Legend:
Q – stands for quadrant
A – ALL circular functions are positive
S – Only SINE and cosecant are positive
T – Only TANGENT and cotangent are positive
C – Only COSINE and secant are positive

The Reference Angle Theorem

To find the value of a circular/trigonometric function of any angle 𝜽:
a. Determine the function value for the associated reference angle 𝜽′
b. Depending on the quadrant in which 𝜽 lies, the answer will either be + or -.

3𝜋
Example 2.5. Find the values of the six circular functions of 𝜽 whose terminal side is at .
4
Solution:
3𝜋 3𝜋 1800
Convert to degree, so ⋅ = 1350 and this lies in the II quadrant.
4 4 𝜋

a. Then the reference angle will be 180 – θ = 1800 – 1350 = 450.

b. Using the chart, we have
3𝜋 √2
sin = sin 1350 = sin 450 =
4 2
3𝜋 2 √2 2√2
csc 4
= csc 1350 = csc 450 = ⋅ = = √2
√2 √2 2

5
 3𝜋 √2
cos = cos 1350 = - cos 450 = −
4 2
3𝜋 2 √2 2√2
sec = sec 1350 = - sec 450 = − ⋅ =− = −√2
4 √2 √2 2
3𝜋
tan = tan 1350 = - tan 450 = −1
4
3𝜋
cot = cot 1350 = - cot 450 = −1
4

Example 2.6. Use reference angles to find the exact values of the six circular functions given the
function cot 2100.
Solution:
The reference angle is θ – 1800 = 2100 – 1800 = 300
Since 2100 lies in the third quadrant then,
1 1 3 √3 3√3
cot 2100 = cot 300 = = = ⋅ = = √3
𝑡𝑎𝑛 300 √3 √3 √3 3
3

√3
tan 2100 = tan 300 = 3
1 1
sin 2100 = - sin 300 = −(2) = − 2
1 1
csc 2100 = - csc 300 =− 𝑠𝑖𝑛 300 = − 1 =−2
2

√3 √3
cos 2100 = - cos 300 = −( 2 ) = − 2
1 1 2 √3 2√3
sec 2100 = - sec 300 = − cos 300 = − √3 = − ⋅ =−
√3 √3 3
2

12
Example 2.7. Find the values of the other five circular functions if sin 𝜃 = 13 and lies in the second

quadrant.
Solution:
From the equation of the unit circle x2 + y2 = 1, we can obtain the equation sin2 𝜃 + cos2 𝜃 = 1.
12
Substitute sin 𝜃 = 13 we can solve for cos 𝜃, then we have

cos2 𝜃 = 1 - sin2 𝜃
12 144 25
cos2 𝜃 = 1 – (13)2 = 1 – =
169 169

25 5
cos 𝜃 = √169 = ± 13
5
Since cos 𝜃 is negative in the second quadrant, then cos 𝜃 = − 13
The other circular functions are:
13 12
𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝜃 = 12 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = − 5
5 5
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜃 = − 13 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝜃 = − 12

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 PRECALCULUS
QUARTER 2

PERFORMANCE TASK 2

Activity 1: Answer the following on pad paper and submit.

1. Compute P(𝜃), and find the exact values of the six circular functions given that
𝜃 = − 135 0 .
2. Give the values of the six circular function s of the standard angle 𝜃 generated
by an arc whose terminal point is at P(1,0).
3. Find the six circular functions of the angle 𝜃 generated by an arc with a length
−7𝜋
equal to .
6
3
4. Suppose s is a real number such that cos s = and s is in QIV. Find the other five circular
5

functions

Activity 2: Find the exact values of the following. Write your answer on pad paper
and submit.
1. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 5850
2. 𝑐𝑠𝑐 6000
3. 𝑠𝑒𝑐(−4200 )
3𝜋
4. 𝑐𝑜𝑡 4
11𝜋
5. 𝑠𝑖𝑛
6

Activity 3: Use reference angle and appropriate sign to find the exact value of each expression.
Write your answer on pad paper and submit. Show your solution.
1. csc 5100
2. cot (− 2250 )
3. sec 1200
13𝜋
4. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3
10𝜋
5. 𝑡𝑎𝑛(− )
3