1

CHAPTER 6 CIRCULAR (TRIGONOMETRIC) FUNCTIONS

Definition of a radian
One radian (
c
1 ) is the angle subtended at the centre of the unit circle by an arc of length one
unit.

Conversion between degrees and radians
The angle swept out in a full revolution of a circle is
c
t 2 . So

=360 2
c
t and

=180
c
t .
Therefore
t
0
180
1 =
c
and
180
1
0
c
t
= .
The radian symbol (
c
) is optional.

Eg 1: Convert
0
30 to radians Eg 2: Convert
4
t
to degrees

6 180
30 30
0
t t
= =
0
0
45
180
4 4
= =
t
t t















Ex 6A: Q1 - 4(1/2)

Measuring angles in degrees and radians
This is a unit circle which means its radius length is one unit.
So the circumference t t t 2 1 2 2 = = = r .

The distance anticlockwise from:
A to B is
2
t
, A to C is t , A to D is
2
3t
, A to A is t 2


A (1,0)
B (0,1)
C (-1,0)
D (0,-1)
2
a -a
-b
b
u
Quad 1 Quad 2
Quad 3 Quad 4
P(u) P(t u)
P(t + u) P(2t u)
Sine, cosine and tangent
On the unit circle above, place the point P somewhere on the circle between A
and B.
Now draw a straight line from the origin, through P and beyond until it is
vertically above A. Draw a vertical line between this point and A. Also, draw a
vertical line between P and the x-axis. Label the angle created as u . Now:
The x-coordinate of P is u cos .
The y-coordinate of P is u sin .
Using similar triangles,
u
u u
cos
sin
1
tan
= , so
u
u
u
cos
sin
tan = .
u tan is undefined when 0 cos = u
i.e. when ,.....
2
5
,
2
3
,
2
t t t
u =

Eg 3:
a) = t sin
b) = t cos
c) =
|
.
|

\
|
2
3
sin
t

d) =
|
.
|

\
|
2
cos
t


Eg 4:
Evaluate with a calculator to 2 dp
a) = 8 . 1 sin
b) = ) 6 . 2 cos(
c) = 3 . 2 tan
d) =
0
56 sin
e) =
0
124 tan

Ex 6B: Q1 - 4(1/2)
Symmetry properties







Quadrant 1 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4
b = u sin u u t sin ) sin( = = b u u t sin ) sin( = = + b u u t sin ) 2 sin( = = b
a = u cos u u t cos ) cos( = = a u u t cos ) cos( = = + a u u t cos ) 2 cos( = = a
a
b
= u tan u u t tan ) tan( =

=
a
b
u u t tan ) tan( =

= +
a
b


u u t tan ) 2 tan( =

=
a
b
3
Signs of trigonometric functions
1
st
quadrant, all positive
2
nd
quadrant, only sin positive
3
rd
quadrant, only tan positive
4
th
quadrant, only cos positive

Eg 5:
5 . 0 sin = u and 6 . 0 cos = o
a) = ) sin( u t
b) = ) 2 cos( o t

Eg 6:
Solve 7 . 0 cos = x for
0 0
360 0 s s x








Ex 6C: Q1, 2-3(1/2)

Further symmetry properties
Draw your own unit circle and use it to prove the following:

Negative angles Complementary angles
u u cos ) cos( = u u
t
cos )
2
sin( =
u u sin ) sin( = u u
t
sin )
2
cos( =
u u tan ) tan( = u u
t
cos )
2
sin( = +
u u
t
sin )
2
cos( = +

Eg 7:
3 . 0 sin = u and 8 . 0 cos =
a) = )
2
sin(
t

b) = + )
2
cos( u
t

c) = ) sin( u

Ex 6D: Q1-10
4

Exact values of trigonometric functions
Using the following triangles, exact values can be found for the sin, cos and tan
of certain angles.
Equilateral with side length 2






Right angled isosceles with equal side lengths 1







Eg 8:
a) =
4
5
cos
t

b) =
6
11
sin
t

Solving Trigonometric equations

When solving trigonometric equations using the Cas you need to be aware of
whether there are any restrictions on the domain.
If there are no restrictions then the Cas gives a general form of the solution
which means an infinite number of solutions where n1 is an integer.










When you want specific solution in a given domain, you must write as shown to
get these answers.







= ) sin( u

u

u sin

u cos

u tan

= ) sin( u

) 0 ( 0
0

0

1

0

) 30 (
6
0
t

2
1

2
3

3
1

) 45 (
4
0
t

2
1

2
1

1

) 60 (
3
0
t

2
3

2
1

3
) 90 (
2
0
t

1

0

undef
5
1 1
y
x
t
2

t
2

t
t
3t
2

3t
2

2t
2t
1
1
1
1
y = cosx

y = sinx

Eg 9:
Solve 0
2
1
cos = u for
0 0
360 0 s su




Eg 10:
Find the value of , x for
2
3t
t < < x if
6
sin cos
t
= x





Eg 11:
Solve 0 1 2 sin 2 = + x for t 2 0 s s x








Ex 6E: Q1-8(1/2)
Graphs of y=sinx & y=cosx
Amplitude=1
Period= t 2
Domain used= t 2 0 s s x





Transformations applied to the graphs of y=sinx & y=cosx

d c x b a y = ) ( sin


+ upright
- inverted
amplitude
period=
horizontal
translation of

vertical
translation of

6
y
x
y
x
1 2 3 1 2 3
y
x
1
1
2
2
3
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
1 2 1 2
y
x
t
6

t
6

t
3

t
3

t
2

t
2

2t
3

2t
3

5t
6

5t
6

t
t
7t
6

7t
6

4t
3

4t
3

3t
2

3t
2

5t
3

5t
3

11t
6

11t
6

2t
2t
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
The same transformations apply to d c x b a y = ) ( cos .
Eg 12:
Sketch the graph of x y 3 sin 2 = for t 2 0 s s x , showing all axial intercepts.
State the amplitude and period.









- Check your mode
Ex 6F: Q1-2(1/2), 4,5,6,7,8

Reflections in the axes
We can see from the following graphs that:
i) x y sin = is an odd function ii) x y cos = is an even
function
i.e. ) sin( ) sin( x x = i.e. ) cos( ) cos( x x =







Eg 13:
Sketch the graph of x y 2 cos 3 = for t 2 0 s s x , showing all axial intercepts.







7
1 2 3 1 2 3
y
x
t
2

t
2

t
t
3t
2

3t
2

2t
2t
1
1
2
2
3
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
y
x
1
1
2
2
3
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
1 2 3 1 2 3
y
x
1
1
2
2
3
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
y
x
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5

Eg 14:
Sketch the graph of ) 3 sin( 2 x y = for t s s x 0 , showing all axial intercepts.








Eg 15:
Sketch the graph of )
4
( 2 sin 3
t
= x y for t t 2 s s x , showing all axial
intercepts.







Eg 16:
Sketch one cycle of the graph of 1 )
2
( 2 cos 4 + =
t
x y . Axial intercepts are not
required. State the amplitude, period and range.








Ex 6G: Q1(1/2), 2, 3(1/2)

Eg 17: Sketch the graph of 1 sin 2 + = x y for t 2 0 s s x , showing all axial
intercepts.








8
1 2 1 2 3 4
y
x
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
y
x
t
4

t
4

t
2

t
2

3t
4

3t
4

t
t
5t
4

5t
4

3t
2

3t
2

7t
4

7t
4

2t
2t
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5

Eg 18: Sketch the graph of 3 )
3
( 2 sin 2 =
t
x y for t 2 0 s s x , showing all
axial intercepts.



















Ex 6H: Q1-2(1/2)

Addition of ordinates
Eg 19:
Given x y sin 2
1
= and , 2 cos 3
2
x y = sketch the graph of x x y 2 cos 3 sin 2 + = for
t 2 0 s s x , using addition of ordinates.

Method 1
Both graphs are first sketched on the same axes.














9
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
y
t
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
y
x
t
4

t
4

t
2

t
2

3t
4

3t
4

t
t
5t
4

5t
4

3t
2

3t
2

7t
4

7t
4

2t
2t
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5

Method 2
Find key points first.
For , sin 2
1
x y = period=2t. For , 2 cos 3
2
x y = period= t.
Key points: t
t
t
t
2 ,
2
3
, ,
2
, 0 Key points:
,....... ,
4
3
,
2
,
4
, 0 t
t t t

x 0
4
t

2
t

4
3t

t
4
5t

2
3t

4
7t

t 2
1
y
0 2 2 2 0 2

-2 2 0
2
y
3 0 -3 0 3 0 -3 0 3
2 1
y y y + =
3 2 -1 2 3 2

-5 2 3













Ex 6I: Q1, 3, 5

Finding the rule for graphs of trigonometric functions
Eg 20:
A function has the rule nt A y sin = with amplitude 6 and period 10.
Find A & n and sketch the graph for . 10 0 s st













10
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
y
x
t
2

t
2

t
t
3t
2

3t
2

2t
2t
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1 2 3 4
y
t
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
t
2

t 3t
2

2t

Eg 21:
Find A, n & b if the graph below has the rule b nt A y + = sin .















Ex 6J: Q1-8

The graph of y=tanx
As mentioned earlier in this topic, since
x
x
x
cos
sin
tan = , it will be undefined when
0 cos = x
i.e. when ,.....
2
5
,
2
3
,
2
t t t
= x Therefore, the graph of x y tan = will have
vertical asymptotes there, as shown below:










Some key features of the graph are:
Period=t
Range=R
Vertical asymptotes at Z k k x e + = ,
2
) 1 2 (
t

Note: x y tan = is an odd function i.e. ) tan( ) tan( x x =

In general, if ) ( tan b x n a y = , then:
Period=
n
t

Range=R
11
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
y
x
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
y
x
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
Vertical asymptotes at Z k b
n
k
x e +
+
= ,
2
) 1 2 ( t

Eg 22:
Sketch the graph of )
3
2 tan( 3
t
= x y for
6
13
6
t t
s s x , showing all axial
intercepts.
Since 2 = n and
6
t
= b , the first vertical asymptote is at
12
5
6 4 6 2 2
1 t t t t t
= + = + = x for . 0 = k















Eg 23:
Sketch the graph of 3 )
3
2 tan( 3 + =
t
x y for
6
13
6
t t
s s x , showing all axial
intercepts.
This is the same as the previous graph in Eg 22 but with a vertical translation
of 3 .
Hence the x-intercepts will change.
Let 0 = y , 0 3 )
3
2 tan( 3 = +
t
x
3 )
3
2 tan( 3 =
t
x
3
1
3
3
)
3
2 tan(

= =
t
x
There is no need to adjust the domain as we can see from the previous graph
that there will be 4 x-intercepts.
p.a=
6
)
3
1
( tan
1
t
=

x tan is negative in quadrants 2 and 4, so
6
23
,
6
17
,
6
11
,
6
5
3
2
t t t t t
= x
12
1 1
y
x
t
2

t
2

t
t
3t
2

3t
2

2t
2t
1
1
1
1
1
2
)

1
2
)
t
4

(
,
t
4

( ,

2t

( , 1)
6
25
,
6
19
,
6
13
,
6
7
2
t t t t
= x
12
25
,
12
19
,
12
13
,
12
7 t t t t
= x
Eg 24:
Solve x x 2 cos 2 sin = for t 2 0 s s x .











Eg 25:
Sketch the graphs of x y sin = and x y cos = for t 2 0 s s x on the same axes,
showing all axial intercepts and points of intersection.

Graphs intersect at:
4
1 tan
1 tan
1
cos
sin
cos sin
1
t
= =
=
=
=

x
x
x
x
x x

x tan is positive in quadrants 1 and 3, so
)
2
1
,
4
5
(
2
1
4
5
sin
)
2
1
,
4
(
2
1
4
sin
4
5
,
4

=
=
=
t t
t t
t t
x


Eg 26:
Solve x x 3 cos
3
1
3 sin = for t t s s x .







13


Ex 6K: Q1-2(1/2), 3, 5acgj, 6, 8a, 9, 10
General solution of circular function equations
In general, if

()
if

()
if

() ( )

()



Note: An alternate way to express
()

()


Eg 27.a) Find the general solution to ()







b) Hence, find the first three positive solutions.





Eg. 28. Find the general solution to (

and hence find the first

three positive solutions.















14


Ex 6L Q1,3,4,6,7,9
The Pythagorean identity and addition formulae

v u v u v u
v u v u v u
v u v u v u
v u v u v u
x x
sin sin cos cos ) cos(
sin sin cos cos ) cos(
sin cos cos sin ) sin(
sin cos cos sin ) sin(
1 cos sin
2 2
+ =
= +
=
+ = +
= +


Eg 29:
Evaluate
0
75 cos exactly.






Absolute value of Circular functions
Eg30. x y sin = As before draw x y sin = then the
graph on the negative side of
y-axis gets reflected on the x-axis.










Eg31. x y sin = As before draw x y sin = for
0 > x then reflect this on the
y-axis.








Ex 6M: Q1-3
y
x
y
x
15
Ex 6N: Q1, 2, 4, 5
Review: odds