Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Division of Cebu Province

Name: ____________________________ Date: ____________

Section: ___________________________ Score: ____________

Precalculus
Learning Activity Sheet
Circular Function

Lesson 1: The Unit Circle

I. Unit Circle
Learning Competency: Illustrate the unit circle and the relationship between the linear and angular
measures of a central angle in a unit circle
MELC: STEM_PC11T-lla-1

A "unit circle" is a type of circle where the origin of the rectangular coordinate system is found at the
center and the radius should be always equal to 1 unit. Since the equation of a circle is denoted as 𝒙𝟐 +
𝒚𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐 then the equation of a unit circle will be 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟏. If we plot this on our Cartesian
coordinate graph, the center of our circle will be at the origin. The circle crosses the x axis on the right
side at (1, 0) and on the left side at (-1, 0). The circle also crosses the y axis on the top at (0, 1) and on
the bottom at (0, -1).

The coordinates of a unit circle must satisfy the defined equation

which is 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟏 if not then it will be consider as outside the
unit circle.

1 1
Example 1: We consider a point ( , − ), identify if the point is on, inside, or outside the unit circle.
2 2
Solution: Using the equation 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟏 we have,
𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟏
1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1
( ) + (− ) = + = , since is less than 1 then the point is inside the unit circle.
2 2 4 4 2 2

Performance Task 1:
Determine if each of the following points is on, inside, or outside the unit circle. Write A if the point
is on the unit circle, B if it is inside the unit circle, and C if it is outside the unit circle. Show solutions
to verify your answer.
1 1 √2 √2
1. (− , − ) 4. (− , )
2 2 2 2
1
2. (1 , −1 ) 5. ( , 1)
2
√3 1
3. ( , )
2 2

II. Central Angle

Learning Competency: Illustrate the unit circle and the relationship between the linear and angular
measures of a central angle in a unit circle
MELC: STEM_PC11T-lla-1

A central angle is an angle with its vertex at the center of a circle, with its sides containing two radii of
the circle.
In the figure at the left, 𝑚∠𝑃𝑍𝑄, 𝑚∠𝑄𝑍𝑅, 𝑚∠𝑅𝑍𝑃 are central angles.

Sum of Central Angles: The sum of the measures of the central angles
of a circle with no points in common is 360°.

Example 2: Using the figure shown above,

𝑚∠𝑄𝑍𝑃 + 𝑚∠𝑅𝑍𝑄 + 𝑚∠𝑃𝑍𝑅 = 360°

Example 2.1: Find the value of x:

Solution:
The sum of the measures of the central angles of a circle with no interior
points in common is 360°. So,
𝑚∠𝑀𝑂𝑁 + 𝑚∠𝑁𝑂𝑃 + 𝑚∠𝑃𝑂𝑀 = 360°
50° + 90° + 𝑥 = 360°
Simplify:
140° + 𝑥 = 360°
𝑥 = 220°

Example 2.2: What is m∠𝑃𝑆𝑄?

Solution:
Since the central angle of a circle is 360°,
𝑚∠𝑃𝑆𝑄 + 𝑀∠𝑄𝑆𝑅 + 𝑚∠𝑅𝑆𝑃 = 360°
𝑚∠𝑃𝑆𝑄 + 80° + 140° = 360°
𝑚∠𝑃𝑆𝑄 + 120° = 360°
𝑚∠𝑃𝑆𝑄 = 360° − 120°
𝑚∠𝑃𝑆𝑄 = 240°
Hence, the required angle is 240°.

Performance Task 2: Find the central angle of the following. Show your solution.

1. What is 𝑚∠𝐵𝐶𝐷? 4. Solve for 𝑚∠𝑅𝑄𝑃.

B
D
C R
140° Q
150° P
75° 135°

A
S
2. Solve for 𝑚∠𝐸𝐺𝐷 .
5) What is 𝑚∠𝑁𝑂𝑃?
D
N
G
80°

E 120° O
110°
F 130°

M P

3. What is 𝑚∠𝑋𝑌𝑍?
W

70° 140°
Y
X
Z

III. Converting Degree to Radian and Vice Versa

Learning Competency: Convert degree measure to radian measure and vice versa
MELC: STEM_PC11T-a-2

Degrees and radians are the two most commonly used units of measurement for angles. Since a unit
circle has circumference 2𝜋, a central angle that measures 360° has measure equivalent to 2𝜋 radians.
Thus, we obtain the following conversion rules.
𝜋
1. To convert a degree measure to radian, multiply it by
180°
180°
2. To convert a radian measure to degree, multiply it by
𝜋
Example 3: Convert 35° and 230° measures to radians (rad)
Solution:
𝜋 7𝜋
a. 35° = 35° × = 𝑟𝑎𝑑
180° 36
𝜋 23𝜋
b. 230° = 230° × = 𝑟𝑎𝑑
180° 18

𝜋 2𝜋
Example 3.1: Express 𝑎𝑛𝑑 radians to degree measure.
5 3
𝜋 𝜋 180°
a. = × = 36°
5 5 𝜋
2𝜋 2𝜋 180°
b. = × = 120°
3 3 𝜋

Performance Task 3:
Convert the following degree measure to radians and vice versa. Show your solution.
5𝜋
1. 45° 6. 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠
6
7𝜋
2. 225° 7. 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠
4
𝜋
3. 320° 8. − 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠
4
 11𝜋
4. −270° 9. − 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠
18
2𝜋
5. −108° 10. 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠
9

IV. Angles in the Standard Position and Coterminal Angles

Learning Competency: Illustrate angles in standard position and coterminal angles
MELC: STEM_PC11T-lla-3

The positioning of an angle is called the standard position. It is in standard position when the initial
side coincides with the positive x-axis and the vertex of the angle is located at the origin of the
rectangular coordinate. The initial side of an angle is the ray where the measurement of an angle starts.
The terminal side of an angle is the ray where the measurement of an angle ends. Two angles in
standard position are shown below.
The one on the left goes counterclockwise and is
defined to be a positive angle. The one on the right
goes clockwise and is defined to be a negative angle.
If you used a protractor to measure the angles, you
would get 50° in both cases. We refer to the first one
as a 50° angle, and we refer to the
second one as a −50° angle.

Example 4: In the following figure, identify the terminal side of an angle in standard position with given
measure.
3𝜋 𝜋
Given measure: 𝑟𝑎𝑑, −135°, − 𝑟𝑎𝑑, 405°
4 2

Solution:

3𝜋 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
1. ) 𝑟𝑎𝑑 : 𝑂𝐶 2. ) − 135° ∶ 𝑂𝐷
4

𝜋 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
3. ) − 𝑟𝑎𝑑 ∶ 𝑂𝐸 4. ) 405°: 𝑂𝐵
2

Performance Task 4: In the following figure, identify the terminal side of an angle in standard position
with given measure.
3𝜋 3𝜋
Given measure: 45°, − 𝑟𝑎𝑑, 𝑟𝑎𝑑, −90°
4 2

Coterminal Angles
Two angles in the standard position that have the same terminal side are called coterminal angles. Figure
below shows two angles that are coterminal.
 Coterminal angles of a given angle θ may be obtained by either adding
or subtracting a multiple of 360° or 2π radians. Two angles are coterminal
if the difference between them is a multiple of 360° or 2π.
Coterminal of θ = θ + 360° × k if θ is given in degrees,
Coterminal of θ = θ + 2π × k if θ is given in radians, where k is any integer

Example 4.1: Solve the following:

a. Determine if – 410°, 180° pairs of angles are coterminal
b. Find the smallest positive angle coterminal with -2016°
137𝜋
c. Find the largest negative angle coterminal with
5
d. Find the angle coterminal with −420° that has measure between −360° 𝑎𝑛𝑑 0°
Solution:
a. −410° − 180° = −590°, which is not a multiple of 360°
So, −410° and 180° are not coterminal angles.
b. Add 6 complete revolutions or 6 (360°) = 2160° to the given angle (or keep on adding 360°
until you get a positive angle).
-2016°+ 2160° = 144°
c. Subtract 14 complete revolutions or 14 (2𝜋) = 28𝜋 to the given angle (or keep on subtracting
2𝜋 until you get a negative angle).
137𝜋 3𝜋
− 28𝜋 = − rad
5 5
d. Note: A negative angle moves in a clockwise direction, so −420° will be found in the fourth
quadrant, then the angle would be,
−420° + 360° = −60°

Performance Task 4.1: Solve the following:

1. Determine if 410° , 50° pairs of angles are coterminal
2. What is the smallest positive angle coterminal with 2110°?
107𝜋
3. Find the largest negative angle coterminal with .
6
4 – 5. Find the angle coterminal with −380° that has measure
(a) between 0°𝑎𝑛𝑑 360°, and
(b) between −360° 𝑎𝑛𝑑 0°

Performance Task 5:
Matching Type: Match Column A with the correct answer on Column B. Write the letter of the correct
answer and show your solution if needed.
1. 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2 a. 360°
2. An angle obtained by either adding or b. Circle
subtracting a multiple of 360° or 2π radians. c. Coterminal Angle
3. 2𝜋 express in degrees is equal to ___ d. Unit Circle
19𝜋
4. Convert 95° in radians e. 𝑟𝑎𝑑
36
2 2 10𝜋
5. 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1 f. 𝑟𝑎𝑑
3
References:
(2016). Precalculus Learner’s Material (1st ed.) [Review of Precalculus Learner’s Material].
Department of Education.
Central Angles. (n.d). Retrieved from https://www.onlinemath4all.com/central-angles.html
Central Angles. (n.d). Retrieved from
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/central-angles
Practice Problems with Circular Trigonometric Functions. (2014, November 20). Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/practice-problems-with-circular-trigonometric-functions.html.

Prepared by:
Rolly P. Arispe
Santa Fe National High School