Trigonometric Functions Overview
Trigonometric Functions Overview
Figure 1.4.6
The following example shows how to find the values of the trigonometric functions using
Definition 1.4.2.
EXAMPLE 1.4.3 For the right triangle shown in Figure 1.4.7 whose opposite and hypotenuse
sides of have measures 3 and 5 units respectively, find the values of all six trigonometric
functions of both angles and .
Figure 1.4.7
Solution First, we need to find the measure of the adjacent side of which we can denote
by x . By using the Pythagorean Theorem, the adjacent side will be 32 x2 52 . So,
x 25 9 4.
Figure 1.4.8
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
Therefore, using Definition 1.4.2 and Figure 1.4.8, we can find the values of the six
trigonometric functions for and .
For :
4 3 4
sin , cos , tan ,
5 5 3
5 5 3
csc , sec , cot ,
4 3 4
For
3 4 3
sin , cos , tan ,
5 5 4
5 5 4
csc , sec , cot .
3 4 3
RELATED PROBLEM 3 For the right triangle shown in Figure 1.4.9 whose opposite and
adjacent sides have measures 2 and 3 units respectively, find the values of all six trigonometric
functions of both angles and .
Figure 1.4.9
Answers
Notice that
1 1 1
cot , sec and csc ;
tan cos sin
Therefore, we focus most of our examples on the functions sin , cos and tan .
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
TRIGONOMETRIC WITH
FUNCTIONS TWO
WITH FAMILIAR
TWO TRIANGLES
FAMILIAR TRIANGLES
30o-60 o-90 o Triangle
To obtain such triangle, we start with an equilateral triangle ABC of side 2 and draw the
perpendicular bisector DB on the base, as shown in Figure 1.4.10. By the Pythagorean
Theorem, the length of DB is 3 . Since DB bisects angle ABC , we obtain a triangle with
Figure 1.4.10
We can now use the special triangle in Figures 1.4.10 and Definition 1.4.2 to calculate the
values of the three trigonometric functions for angles measures 30o and 60o 6 and 3
respectively as follows
]]]
45o-45o-90 o Triangle
Such triangle can be obtained by drawing a diagonal in a square of side 1, see Figure 1.4.11.
By the Pythagorean Theorem, this diagonal has length 2 . The resulting triangle has angles
Figure 1.4.11
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
Now, we can use the special triangle in Figures 1.4.11 and Definition 1.4.2 to calculate the
values of three trigonometric functions for the angle measure 45o as follows
4
One of the important relationships among trigonometric functions follows from Pythagorean
theorem. Using Figure 1.4.12, the Pythagorean theorem states that
a2 b2 c2
Figure 1.4.12
Pythagorean Identities
sin2 cos2 1, 1 tan2 sec2 , 1 cot2 csc2
Two positive angles are complements if their sum is 90 or . For example, angles of 70
2
and 20 are complements because 70 20 90 .
Figure 1.4.13
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
a
sin
c
a
cos(90 )
c
Thus, sin cos(90 ) . We have similar relations for the remaining trigonometric
functions.
Definition 1.4.2 helps us to calculate the trigonometric functions for acute angles only. However,
our main task is to define the trigonometric functions for any angle. In order to do that, we
introduce the reference angle.
Figure 1.4.14
EXAMPLE 1.4.4 Find the reference angle, , for each of the following angles
5 8
a. 345 b. c.
6 3
Solution
a. A 345 angle in standard position is shown in Figure 1.4.15 . Because 345° lies in
quadrant 4, the reference angle is
360 345 15
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
Figure 1.4.15
5 3 6 5
b. Because lies between and , lies in quadrant 2. The angle
6 2 6 6 6
is shown in Figure 1.4.16 . The reference angle is
5 6 5
6 6 6 6
Figure 1.4.16
8 2
c. For an , or 2 angle, subtract 2 to find a positive angle less than 2 .
3 3
8 8 6 2
2
3 3 3 3
2
Figure 1.4.17 shows in standard position.
3
2
Because lies in quadrant 2, the reference angle is
3
2 3 2
3 3 3 3
Figure 1.4.17
RELATED PROBLEM 4 Find the reference angle, , for each of the following angles
3 11
a. 210 b. c.
4 3
Answers a. 30 b. c.
4 3
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
Now we introduce the second method, which defines the trigonometric functions using the unit
circle in the following definition.
DEFINITION 1.4.4
a. Let x 2 y2 r 2 be a circle centered at the origin and is an angle in standard
form. If P is the point (x, y) as shown in Figure 1.4.18, then the trigonometric
functions are defined by:
y r
sin csc ,y 0
r y
x r
cos sec ,x 0
r x
y x
tan ,x 0 cot ,y 0
x y
where x and y are the first and the second coordinates, respectively, of the point
p (x, y) on the circle and r is the radius of the circle, see Figure 1.4.18.
(a) (b)
Figure 1.4.18
b. If the circle is the unit circle x 2 y2 1 , then the trigonometric functions are
defined by replacing the radius r with 1 .
Figure 1.4.19
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
REMARK
It can be seen form Definition 1.4.4 that the domain of sine and cosine functions is the
set of all real numbers . However, the tangent and secant functions are undefined
when x 0 (that appears only when the terminal side of is on the y -axis ).
Therefore, the domain of the tangent and secant functions is the set of all real numbers
except numbers of the form n 2
, n . Similarly, because cotangent and cosecant
functions are not defined when y 0 (that appears only when the terminal side of
is on the x -axis ). Hence, the domain of the cotangent and cosecant functions is the set
of all real numbers except numbers of the form n , n .
THE
THE SIGN
SIGN OFOF TRIGONOMETRIC
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
FUNCTIONS
The sign of the values of trigonometric function depends on the quadrant containing the
terminal side of the angle . In particular, if is in standard position and Q(x, y) is on the
terminal side of , then the sign of the values of trigonometric function depends on the sign of
x and y . Figure 1.4.20 illustrates the sign of the values of trigonometric function.
Figure 1.4.20
There is an easy way to remember the sign of the values of trigonometric function which is
All Students Take Calculus.
VALUES
VALUES OFOF SINE
SINE AND
AND COSINE
COSINE
For certain values of , the sine and cosine are easily obtained from Figure 1.4.21 and Table
1.4.5.
3
0 2
6 4 3 2 2
1 1 3
sin sin 0 1 0 1 0
2 2 2
3 1 1
cos cos 1 0 1 0 1
2 2 2
(a) (b)
Table 1.4.5
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
and Table 1.4.5(b) can be obtained from Figure 1.4.21 (b) and noticing that x sin and
y sin are on the unit circle.
The way that reference angles are defined makes them useful in evaluating trigonometric
functions.
1. If is acute, it can be found from the triangle.
3
2. If 0, , , , 2 , it can be found from table 1.4.5(b).
2 2
3
3. If 2 , and nor then the value of a trigonometric function can be
2 2
found as follows:
a. Find the associated reference angle, .
b. Find the trigonometric function taking in consideration the sign of x and y.
EXAMPLE 1.4.5 Use reference angles to find the exact value of each of the following
trigonometric functions:
3 4
a. cos b. sin
4 3
-
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
Solution
a. Using Figure 1.4.22, we find that
3 1
cos
4 2
Figure 1.4.22
Figure 1.4.23
RELATED PROBLEM 5 Use reference angles to find the exact value of each of the following
trigonometric functions:
2 7
a. sin b. tan
3 4
3
Answers a. b. 1
2
EXAMPLE 1.4.6 If is in standard position and Q(4, 3) is on the terminal side of . Use
Definition 1.4.4 to find the values of the three trigonometric functions for .
3 4 3
sin , cos , tan ,
5 5 4
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
Figure 1.4.24
Answers
12 5 12
sin , cos , tan ,
13 13 5
TRIGONOMETRIC
TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES
IDENTITIES
There are many equations, called trigonometric identities that describe relationships among
the various trigonometric identities.
1 1 1
Reciprocal Identities sin cos tan
csc sec cot
sin cos
Ratio Identities tan cot
cos sin
Identities Due to Symmetry sin( ) sin cos( ) cos tan( ) tan
Since we normally use x to represent points in the domain of a function, henceforth, we follow
that convention for the trigonometric functions and replace and t by x .
Since an angle of x radians and one of x 2 have the same terminal side, we can write
sin x sin(x 2 ) and cos x cos(x 2 ) (1)
DEFINITION 1.4.5
A function f is said to be periodic if there exists a positive real number p such that
whenever x is in the domain of f , then x p is in the domain of f , and
f (x p) f (x )
The smallest positive number p is called the period of f .
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
From (1) and Definition 1.4.4, the sine and cosine functions are periodic, they both have period
2 . Consequently, for any integer n and any real number x ,
sin(x 2n ) sin x and cos(x 2n ) cos x
Now, we are going to list some other important trigonometric identity as follows:
a. The sum and difference identities for sine, cosine and tangent are
sin(x y) sin x cos y cos x sin y
cos(x y) cos x cos y sin x sin y
tan x tan y
tan(x y) .
1 tan x tan y
b. If we have x y in the sum identity, then we obtain the double angle formula
sin(2x ) 2 sin x cos x
cos(2x ) cos2 x sin2 x 2 cos2 x 1 1 2 sin2 x
2 tan x
tan(2x ) .
1 tan2 x
c. The half-angle formula is
x 1 cos x
sin2
2 2
x 1 cos x
cos2
2 2
x sin x
tan
2 1 cos x
d. The product formula is
1
sin x cos y sin(x y ) sin(x y )
2
1
cos x sin y sin(x y ) sin(x y )
2
1
sin x sin y cos(x y ) cos(x y )
2
1
cos x cos y cos(x y ) cos(x y )
2
cos(x y ) cos(x y )
tan x tan y
cos(x y ) cos(x y )
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
In the following example, we are going to prove some of the identities mentioned before.
GRAPHS
GRAPHS OFOF THE
THE TRIGONOMETRIC
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
FUNCTIONS
For the sine and cosine functions:
The graph of f (x ) sin x and f (x ) cos x can be obtained by plotting a few points for
0 x 2 and then using periodicity of the sine and cosine function as mentioned in
Definition 1.4.5 to complete the graphs, as shown in Figure 1.4.25.
Figure 1.4.25
Figure 1.4.25
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
Notice that, the similarity of the two portions of the graphs of the sine and cosine functions on
the intervals [ 2 , 0] and [0, 2 ] shows the periodicity of the sine and cosine functions.
Moreover, we can see for both the sine and cosine functions the domain is and the range is
[ 1,1] which means
1 sin x 1 and 1 cos x 1.
(a) (b)
(c)
(d)
Figure 1.4.26
We can see from Figure 1.4.19 (a) (d) that the range of both functions tangent and cotangent
is , , whereas the range of secant and cosecant functions is , 1 1, .
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
INVERSRE
INVERSRE OFOF SINE
SINE AND
AND COSINE
COSINE FUNCTIONS
FUNCTIONS
It is necessary for a function to be one-to-one in order to have an inverse. A sketch of the graph
of sine and cosine functions in Figure 1.4.27 shows that every number in the range is an image
of infinitely many numbers in their domains. Thus the sine and cosine functions are not one-
to-one and therefore do not have an inverse. A close look at the graph of both functions, we
can easily see that the sine function is increasing on the interval ,
2 2
, while the cosine
f (x ) sin x f (x ) cos x
Figure 1.4.27
Therefore, despite that the sine and cosine functions do not have an inverse, the functions
is 1,1 . A sketch of the graphs of F and G are shown in Figures 1.4.28 (a) and (b)
respectively. The inverse of the functions defined in (1) are called the inverse sine function
and the inverse cosine function.
(a) (b)
Figure 1.4.28
DEFINITION 1.4.6
1
a. The inverse sine function denoted by sin (or arcsin ), is defined as follows:
y sin 1
x if and only if x sin y where y and 1 x 1.
2 2
1
b. The inverse cosine function denoted by cos (or arccos ), is defined as follows:
y cos 1
x if and only if x cos y where 0 y and 1 x 1.
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
1
The domain of sin is the closed interval 1,1 and the range is the closed interval ,
2 2
1
, while the domain of cos is the closed interval 1,1 and the range is the closed interval
1 1
0, . A sketch of the graphs of sin and cos are shown in Figure 1.4.29 (a) and (b)
respectively. To avoid confusion, it is necessary to denote the reciprocal of sin x and cos x by
1 1
(sin x ) and (cos x ) respectively.
(a) (b)
Figure 1.4.29
1
b. cos(cos x) x for x 1,1
1 2 1 3 1 2
a. sin b. cos c. cos sin
2 2 3
Solution
1 2
a. sin is equivalent to
2
2
sin ,
2 2 2
4
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
1 3
b. cos is equivalent to
2
3
cos , 0
2
5
6
5 5 3
Note: 6
, even though cos 6 2
,
because must be between 0 and , inclusive.
1 2 1 3
c. cos sin cos .
3 2 6
1 3 1 2 1 1
a. sin b. sin c. cos
2 2 2
2
Answers a. b. c.
3 4 3
INVERSE
INVERSE OFOF TANGENT
TANGENT AND
AND COTANGENT
COTANGENT FUNCTIONS
FUNCTIONS
A sketch of the graphs of tangent and cotangent functions is shown in Figure 1.4.30. The
tangent function is increasing on the open interval 2
,2 and the range is the set of all real
numbers, while the cotangent function is decreasing on the open interval 0, and the range
is the set of real numbers.
The functions
1.4.31 (a) and (b) respectively. The inverse of the functions defined in (2) are called the inverse
tangent function and the inverse cotangent function.
(a) H (x ) (b) K (x )
Figure 1.4.31
DEFINITION 1.4.7
1
a. The inverse tangent function denoted by tan (or arctan ), is defined as
follows:
1
y tan x if and only if x tan y where y .
2 2
1
b. The inverse cotangent function denoted by cot (or arccot ), is defined as
follows:
1
y cot x if and only if x cot y where 0 y .
1
The domain of tan is the set of real numbers and the range is the open interval 2
,2 ,
1
while the domain of cot is the set of real numbers and the range is the open interval 0, .
1 1
A sketch of the graphs of tan and cot are shown in Figure 1.4.32 (a) and (b) respectively.
1 1
(a) y tan x (b) y cot x
Figure 1.4.32
1
EXAMPLE 1.4.9 Find the value of: tan 1
3
Solution
1 1
tan is equivalent to
3
1
tan ,
3 2 2
6
Note: 11
6
, even though tan 11 6
1
, because
3
must be between 2
and 2
.
Answers a. b.
4 3
We can use points on terminal sides of angles in standard position to find exact values of
expressions involving any composition of a function and a different inverse function. To
evaluate such expressions, we represent such angles by . Then we use a sketch that illustrates
our representation.
5
EXAMPLE 1.4.10 Find the exact value of cos tan 1
12
5
Solution Let represent the angle in , where its tangent is . Thus,
2 2 12
1 5
tan
12
1 5
Using the definition of the inverse tangent function, we can rewrite tan as
12
5
tan , where .
12 2 2
Figure 1.4.33
The hypotenuse of the triangle, r, or the distance from the origin to 12, 5 , is found using
r x2 y2 .
Thus,
1 5 12
cos tan cos
12 13
INVERSE OFOF
INVERSE SECANT AND
SECANT COSECANT
AND FUNCTIONS
COSECANT FUNCTIONS
A sketch of the graph of secant function is shown in Figure 1.4.34. The secant function is
increasing on the interval 0, 2 and decreasing on the interval , 32 . Furthermore, if
x 0, 2 , 32 , then sec(x ) , 1 1, .
y sec x
Figure 1.4.34
The reason behind choosing the interval , 32 will be clear when we study the differentiation
of the inverse of the secant function in Section 3.7. So, we have the following definition.
SECTION 1.4 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR INVERSES
DEFINITION 1.4.8
1
The inverse secant function denoted by sec (or arcsec ), is defined as follows:
1
0 y , if x 1
y sec x if and only if x sec y and 3
2
y 2
, if x 1
1 1
The domain of sec is , 1 1, . The range of sec is 0, 2 , 32 . A sketch of
1
the graph of sec appears in Figure 1.4.35. From Definition 1.4.8 we have
1
sec(sec x) x for x , 1 1,
1
y sec x
Figure 1.4.35
We now define the inverse cosecant function in terms of the inverse secant function.
DEFINITION 1.4.9
1
The inverse cosecant function denoted by csc (or arccsc ), is defined by
1
0 y , if x 1
y csc x if and only if x csc y and 3
2
y 2
, if x 1
1 1
From the definition, we have the domain of csc is , 1 1, . The range of csc is
1
0, 2 , 32 . A sketch of the graph of csc appears in Figure 1.4.36.
1
y csc x
Figure 1.4.36
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
EXERCISES 1.4
In Exercises 1-2, Convert the degree measures to radians.
In Exercises 15 - 26, use reference angles to find the exact value of each of the following
trigonometric functions:
17
15. sin(8 ) 16. cos(300 ) 17. sin 18. csc(9 )
2
17 9 9
19. sin 20. cos 21. sec 405 22. csc
6 4 2
7 5 7
23. sin 24. cot 25. tan(8 ) 26. cot
2 6 4
In Exercises 27 - 30, find the values of the remaining trigonometric functions. Under the given
condition.
1 4 3
27. cos x and tan x 2 2 28. sin x and cos x
3 5 5
1 7
29. csc x 65 and cot x 30. tan x 2 and sec x 5
4 4
In Exercises 3437, a point on the terminal side of angle is given. Find the exact value of
each of the six trigonometric functions of .
3 4
34. , 35. ( 4, 3) 36. (5, 5)
5 5
37. ( 2, 5)
45.
1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3
a. sin b. sin 2
c. cos d. cos 2
2 2
46.
1 1 1 1 2 1 2
a. tan b. tan 3 c. sec d. sec
3 3 3
47.
1 1 1 1 2 1 2
a. cot b. cot 3 c. csc d. csc
3 3 3
49.
1 1 1 1
a. cos cos 3
b. cos cos 3
1 2 1 4
c. cos cos 3
d. cos cos 3
50.
1 1 1 1
a. tan tan 6
b. tan tan 3
1 7 1 4
c. tan tan 6
d. tan tan 3
CHAPTER 1 FUNCTIONS
51.
1 1 1 1
a. cot cot 6
b. sec sec 3
1 1 1 2
c. cot cot 6
d. sec sec 3
52.
1 1 1 1
a. tan sin 3 b. sin tan 3
2 2
1 1 1 1
c. cos sin 2
d. sin cos 2
53.
a. tan sec 1( 3) b. cos sin 12
3
2 sin 1 1
3
1 5 1 13
c. tan sec 3
csc 12