Radian Measure

In most applications of
Rizal National Science High School
trigonometry, angles are measured in
Senior High School | First Semester degrees. In more advanced work in
Pre-calculus: Trigonometry mathematics, radian measure of angles is
preferred. Radian measure allows us to treat
the trigonometric functions as functions
with domains of real numbers, rather than
angles.

ANGLES AND The figure above shows an angle 𝜃 in standard position along
with a circle of radius r. The vertex of 𝜃 is at the center of the circle.
Because angle 𝜃 intercepts an arc on the circle equal in length to the
radius of the circle, we say that angle 𝜃 has a measure of 1 radian.

ANGLE MEASURE Radian

An angle with its vertex at the center of a circle that intercepts an
Definition of Terms arc on the circle equal in length to the radius of the circle has a
measure of 1 radian.
The measure of an angle is a number which indicates the
amount of rotation that separates the rays of the angle.
In general, if 𝜃 is a central angle of a circle of radius r and 𝜃
𝑠
intercepts an arc of length s, then the radian measure of 𝜃 is 𝑟.
The initial position of the ray is called the initial side of the
angle and the position of the ray at the endpoint is called terminal
An arc length, 𝒔 is the distance between two points along a
side. A clockwise rotation generates a negative angle while a
circle expressed in linear units.
counterclockwise rotation generates a positive angle.

Exercise 1
Angle in Standard Position
Determine the angle (in radians) subtended at the center of a circle of
radius 3 cm by each of the following arcs:
An angle is in standard position of
its vertex is the origin and the initial side
a) arc of length 6 cm b) arc of length 3𝜋cm
coincides with the positive 𝑥-axis.
c) arc of length 15 cm d) arc of length 6𝜋cm
 Angles in standard position can be classified according to where their
Converting Between Degrees and Radians terminal side lies:

The circumference of a circle is given by 𝐶 = 2𝜋𝑟 where 𝑟 is Quadrantal Angles

the radius of the circle. An angle of 360°, which corresponds to a If the terminal side of an angle lies on one of the coordinate
complete circle, intercepts an arc equal in length to 2𝜋 times the axes, it is called a quadrantal angle. Examples of quadrantal angles
radius of the circle. Thus, an angle of 360° has a measure of 2𝜋 are 900, 1800, 2700 and 3600.
radians:
360𝑜 = 2𝜋 radians Coterminal Angles
Two angles in standard position are called coterminal angles
Since, an angle of 180𝑜 is one-half the radian measure of an if they share the same terminal side. Examples of coterminal angles are
𝑜
angle 360 , then it follows that 300 and -3300, 450 and 3950 and the like. Angles coterminal with a
given angle 𝜃 may be derived using the formula 𝜃 + 360𝑛 or 𝜃 + 2𝜋𝑛
180𝑜 = 𝜋 radians for all integers n.
Equivalently,
𝜋 180𝑜
1𝑜 = radians or 1 radian = PRACTICE AND APPLICATION
180𝑜 𝜋
A. Convert each degree measure to radians.

Converting Degrees and Radians 1. 1250 2. 2100 3. -3200 4. 4500 5. -7150

To convert degree to radian measure
Multiply a degree measure by
𝜋
radian and simplify B. Convert each radian to degree measure.
180𝑜
𝜋 3𝜋 27𝜋 15𝜋
1. 12𝜋 2. − 3. − 4. 5. −
To convert radian to degree measure 8 4 11 4
180𝑜
Multiply a radian measure by and simplify
𝜋 C. Find the measure of the smallest positive angle coterminal with:

𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋
1. 650 2. -1280 3. 4. 5. −
Exercise 2 6 8 8

Convert each degree measure to radians.

D. Solve the following word problems.
(a) 30𝑜 (b) −120𝑜 (c) 215𝑜
1. A wheel of radius 80 cm rolls along the ground without slipping
Convert each radian to degree measure. and rotates through an angle of 450. How far does the wheel move?

2𝜋 21𝜋 32𝜋
(a) (b) − (c) 2. The pendulum of a clock swings through an angle of 0.15 rad. If
3 3 5
it swings a distance of 30 cm, what is the length of the pendulum?