INTRODUCTION TO TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
Trigonometric functions describe the relationship between the angles and sides of
triangles, especially right triangles. Beyond geometry, they represent repeating
patterns, waves, rotations, and cycles found everywhere in nature from sound and
light to movement and physics.
They help us understand how one quantity changes when another rotates, grows,
or oscillates.
To start, imagine a right triangle a triangle with one 90° angle.
We label the sides relative to the angle θ:
Opposite hypotenuse
Adjacent
ANGLE (θ)
The angle represents a state of change how far something has turned from its
starting point. In real-life cycles (like day and night, seasons, waves, circular
movement), the angle symbolizes progress along a repeating path.
Opposite side
It represents the direct effect of the angle. When an angle increases or decreases,
the opposite side grows or shrinks. This shows how a small change in direction
can create a large change in vertical movement similar to how small decisions
can have big effects.
Adjacent
It represents stability or the baseline. While the opposite side shows how much
something rises, the adjacent side shows how far it moves forward. It reflects the
steady, horizontal progress that supports change.
Hypotenuse
It represents the total possible effect or the “full picture.” It connects the rise and
run into one overall measurement. In life patterns, it symbolizes the combination of
all forces working together
In summary:
Hypotenuse → longest side (across from the right angle)
Opposite side → across from angle θ
Adjacent side → next to angle θ
THE 6 BASIC TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
These are ratios comparing side lengths of right triangles.
1. Sine (sin θ)
Opposite
Sine θ= ––––––––––
Hypotenuse
Sine shows how much upward or vertical influence an angle has. It measures the
“height” created by rotation. In wave form, sine shows how things rise and fall like
tides, vibrations, or emotions.
2. Cosine (cos θ)
Adjacent
Cosine θ= ––––––––––
Hypotenuse
Cosine measures how much horizontal influence the angle creates. It represents
stability, consistency, and forward movement. Together with sine, cosine creates
the rhythm of cycles.
3. Tangent (tan θ)
Opposite
Tangent θ = –––––––––––––
Adjacent
Tangent expresses change over progress how much rise you get for each step
forward.
It is the slope of the angle and represents growth, acceleration, and steepness
This compares vertical to horizontal directions.
Also:
Sine θ
Tangent θ = –––––––––––––
Cosine θ
RECIPROCAL TRIG FUNCTIONS
These are simply flipped versions of sin, cos, and tan.
4. Cosecant (csc θ)
Hypotenuse
Cosecant θ = ––––––––––––
Opposite
5. Secant (sec θ)
Hypotenuse
Secant θ = –––––––––––––
Adjacent
6. Cotangent (cot θ)
Adjacent
Cotangent θ = –––––––––––––
Opposite
What are the Identities?
Sine (sin)
Tells how high the angle lifts the opposite side.
Cosine (cos)
Tells how far the angle pushes along the base.
Tangent (tan)
Compares how high vs. how far:
Tan = sin / cos
Cosecant (csc)
The reciprocal of sine.
Secant (sec)
The reciprocal of cosine.
Cotangent (cot)
The reciprocal of tangent.
ANGLE VALUES TO MEMORIZE
These commonly used angles occur frequently in problems.
sin, cos, and tan of special angles
Angle sin cos tan
0° 0 1 0
30° 1/2 √3/2 1/√3
45° √2/2 √2/2 1
60° √3/2 1/2 √3
90° 1 0 undefined
TRIGONOMETRY WITH THE UNIT CIRCLE
Trigonometric functions can also describe points on a circle with radius 1.
On the unit circle:
x-coordinate → cos θ
y-coordinate → sin θ
The unit circle shows that trigonometry is not only about triangles it is about
cycles and patterns that repeat forever. It represents perfect balance: no matter
where you move around the circle, sine and cosine describe your exact position.
So any point on the circle is:
(cos θ, sin θ)
This helps extend trig functions to:
✔ angles > 90°
✔ angles > 360°
✔ negative angles
✔ radians
IDENTITIES YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Pythagorean Identity
Sin² θ+cos² θ=1
2. Reciprocal Identities
1 1 1
Csc θ= sin θ, sec θ= cos θ, cot θ=tanθ1
3. Quotient Identity
Sin θ
Tangent θ = –––––––––––––
Cos θ
4. Co-function Identities
Sin(90°−θ)=cosθ
Cos(90°−θ)=sinθ
SIGNS OF TRIG FUNCTIONS BY QUADRANT
Quadrants symbolize perspective.
A single angle behaves differently depending on where it is located just like situations can change
depending on context.
They show how signs (+ or –) reveal the direction of movement.
Quadrant sin cos tan
I + + +
II + − −
III − − +
IV − + −
AMPLITUDE
Amplitude describes intensity how strong a wave is. It represents the “energy” or
“power” of the motion, whether it’s sound, light, or emotion.
PERIOD
Period represents timing and repetition. It tells you how long a pattern lasts before
repeating like seasons, habits, and natural cycles.
FREQUENCY
Frequency represents how fast a system repeats. High frequency means rapid
change; low frequency means slow, steady cycles.
TRIGONOMETRY TEST
Questions:
[Link] the versed sine of θ is 0.134, find θ.
A. 30° B. 45° C. 60° D. 90°
1 – cosθ = 0.134 → cosθ = 0.866 → θ = 30°
Answer: A (30°)
2. csc 520° is equal to:
A. cos 20° B. csc 20° C. tan 45° D. sin 20°
520° − 360° = 160°
csc(180° − 20°) = csc 20°
Answer: B (csc 20°)
3. If sec²A = 5/2, the quantity 1 − sin²A is equivalent to:
A. 2.5 B. 0.6 C. 1.5 D. 0.4
Cos²A = 1 / sec²A = 2/5 = 0.4
Answer: D (0.4)
4. Simplify the expression sin²θ (1 + cot²θ):
A. 1 B. sin²θ C. sin²θ sec²θ D. sec²θ
1 + cot²θ = csc²θ
Sin²θ × csc²θ = 1
Answer: A (1)
5. Simplify the expression sec θ − (sec θ) sin²θ:
A. cos²θ B. cos θ C. sin²θ D. sin θ
Secθ (1 – sin²θ) = secθ (cos²θ)
= cosθ
Answer: B (cosθ)
6. Evaluate arccot [2cos(arcsin 0.5)]:
A. 30° B. 45° C. 60° D. 90°
Arcsin 0.5 = 30°
Cos 30° = √3 / 2
2 × (√3 / 2) = √3
Arccot(√3) = 30°
Answer: A (30°)
7. Solve for x: arctan(2x) + arctan(x) = π/4:
A. 0.149 B. 0.281 C. 0.421 D. 0.316
Use identity: arctan a + arctan b = arctan ( (a + b) / (1 – ab) )
(3x) / (1 – 2x²) = 1
2x² + 3x – 1 = 0
Positive root x ≈ 0.281
Answer: B (0.281)
8. Find the value in degrees of arccos(tan 24°):
A. 61.48° B. 62.35° C. 63.56° D. 60.84°
Tan 24° ≈ 0.4452
Arccos(0.4452) ≈ 63.56°
Answer: C (63.56°)
9. Solve for x: x = (tan θ + cot θ)² sin²θ − tan²θ:
A. sin θ B. cos θ C. 1 D. 2
Tanθ + cotθ = 1 / (sinθ cosθ)
Square: 1 / (sin²θ cos²θ)
Multiply by sin²θ → 1 / cos²θ = sec²θ
Sec²θ – tan²θ = 1
Answer: C (1)
10. Solve for x: x = 1 − (sin θ − cos θ)²:
A. sin θ cos θ B. −2 cos θ C. cos 2θ D. sin 2θ
Expand: sin²θ – 2 sinθ cosθ + cos²θ
= 1 – (1 – 2 sinθ cosθ)
= 2 sinθ cosθ
= sin 2θ
Answer: D (sin 2θ)
11. If sin x + 1/sin x = 2, find sin²x + 1/sin²x:
A. 0 B. 1 . C. 2 D. 4
Let a = sin x
A + 1/a = 2
Multiply by a: a² + 1 = 2a
A² − 2a + 1 = 0
(a – 1)² = 0 → sin x = 1
Sin²x + 1/sin²x = 1 + 1 = 2
Answer: C (2)
PROBLEM SOLVING
14. In what quadrant is the terminal side of angle A if csc A is positive and
cos A is negative?
A. I B. II C. III D. IV
Csc A is positive → sin A is positive
Cos A is negative → x-value is negative
Signs by quadrant:
Quadrant I: sin +, cos +
Quadrant II: sin +, cos –
Quadrant III: sin −, cos –
Quadrant IV: sin −, cos +
Only Quadrant II has sin positive and cos negative.
Answer: B (Quadrant II)
15. If cos A = −5/13 and A is in Quadrant III, find sin A:
A. −12/13 B. 12/13 C. −5/13 D. 5/13
Cos A = −5/13
Quadrant III → sine is negative
Use identity:
Sin²A + cos²A = 1
Sin²A = 1 – (25 / 169)
Sin²A = 144 / 169
Sin A = −12 / 13 (negative in Quadrant III)
Answer: A (−12/13)