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Pre-Calculus
Module 9

Circular Function and

Their Graphs

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 PRE-CALCULUS MODULE 9
PART I.
Introduction
We define the six trigonometric function in such a way that the domain of each
function is the set of angles in standard position. In this lesson, we will modify
these trigonometric functions so that the domain will be real numbers rather than
set of angles.
At the end of this module, students should be able to:
1. illustrate the different circular functions;
2. use reference angles to find exact values of circular functions;
3. Illustrate the domain and range of the different circular functions;
4. Graph the six circular functions and identify their (a) amplitude, (b)
period, and (c) phase shift; and
5. solve situational problems involving circular functions

Presentation / Discussion
Circular functions which is commonly known as the trigonometric functions
because the radian measures of the angles are calculated by the length and
coordinates of the terminal point of the arc on the unit circle.
Circular functions are function whose domain and range correspond to the
measures of angles with respect to the trigonometric functions. The basic circular
functions are sine, cosine and tangent and their reciprocal functions are cosecant,
secant and cotangent respectively.
Let 𝜃 be an angle in the standard position and P(x,y) be a point on the
terminal side of the angle. Then we have the six-circular function as follows:
𝑦 1 1
sin 𝜃 = 𝑟 = 𝑦 csc 𝜃 = sin 𝜃 = 𝑦
𝑥 1 1
cos 𝜃 = =𝑥 sec 𝜃 = cos 𝜃 = 𝑥
𝑟
𝑦 1 𝑥
tan 𝜃 = ; 𝑥 ≠ 0 cot 𝜃 = = ;𝑦 ≠ 0
𝑥 tan 𝜃 𝑦
Examples:
1. Find the values of the six circular functions of 𝜃 given that the terminal point is
√2 √2
𝑃 (− , ).
2 2
√2 √2
Solution: Given 𝑥 = − and 𝑦 = . Therefore,
2 2
√𝟐 1 1 2 2 √2 2√2
sin 𝜃 = 𝑦 = 𝟐
csc 𝜃 = 𝑦 = √2
= = ( ) = = √𝟐
√2 √2 √2 2
2
√𝟐 1 1 2 2 √2 2√2
cos 𝜃 = 𝑥 = − sec 𝜃 = 𝑥 = √2
=− =− ( ) =− = −√𝟐
𝟐 − √2 √2 √2 2
2
√2
𝑦 2 1 1
tan 𝜃 = = √2
= −𝟏 cot 𝜃 = tan 𝜃 = −1 = −𝟏
𝑥 −
2
2. Give the six circular functions of the angle 𝜃 generated by an arc whose length
5𝜋
is .
6
5𝜋
Solution: Since the length of the arc generated is units, then the measure of the
6
5𝜋 5𝜋 180°
angle is also equal to or equivalent to 150°. Sol. ( ) = 150°
6 6 𝜋

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Hence, the angle is in the second quadrant so the coordinates of the terminal point
√3 1
would be (− , ). Thus, the circular functions are
2 2
𝟏 1 1 2
sin 𝜃 = 𝑦 = 𝟐 csc 𝜃 = 𝑦 = 1 =1=𝟐
2
√𝟑 1 1 2 2 √3 𝟐√𝟑
cos 𝜃 = 𝑥 = − sec 𝜃 = 𝑥 = √3
=− =− ( ) =−
𝟐 − √3 √3 √3 𝟑
2
1
𝑦 2 1 2 2 1 √3 √𝟑
tan 𝜃 = = √3
= 2 (− ) = −2 =− ( ) =
𝑥 − √3 √3 √3 √3 𝟑
2
1 1 3 3 √3 3√3
cot 𝜃 = tan 𝜃 = √3
= = ( 3) = = √𝟑
3
√ 3
√ √ 3
3
3
3. Suppose s is a real number such that sin 𝑠 = − 7 and sec 𝑠 < 0. Find tan 𝑠.
Solution: Let 𝑃 (𝑠) = (𝑥, 𝑦) be the point on the unit circle and on the terminal side
of the angle s.
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Since 𝑃(𝑠) is on the unit circle, we know that 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1 and sin 𝑠 = 𝑦 = − 7 , we get
3 2 9 40 𝟐√𝟏𝟎
𝑥 2 + (− 7) = 1 𝑥 2 = 1 − 49 𝑥 2 = 49 𝒙=± 𝟕
9 49 9 40
𝑥2 + =1 𝑥2 = − √𝑥 2 = √
49 49 49 49
𝟐√𝟏𝟎
Since sec 𝑠 < 0, we will consider 𝑥 = − 𝟕 , then
3
𝑦 −
tan 𝑠 = = 7 = − 3 (− 7 ) = 3 (√10) = 3√10 = 𝟑√𝟏𝟎
𝑥 2√10 7 2√10 2√10 √10 2(10) 𝟐𝟎
− 7

Evaluating Circular Functions using Reference Angles

A reference angle is the acute angle
formed by the terminal side of a given angle in
the standard position and the x-axis.
Nonetheless, the reference angle is always
made positive whichever quadrant and what
direction (counterclockwise and clockwise) is
the given angle. Finding the reference angle in
each quadrant we have. (Note: For negative
angle, neglect the negative sign.)
Quadrant Reference Angle for 𝜽
I Same as 𝜽
II 𝟏𝟖𝟎° − 𝜽
III 𝜽 − 𝟏𝟖𝟎°
IV 𝟑𝟔𝟎° − 𝜽

Examples: Find the reference angle of the

following given angle in standard position.
1. 204°
Solution: Since the angle is in Quadrant III, then we have
𝜃 − 180 = 204° − 180° = 𝟐𝟒° as the reference angle.
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2. −150°
Solution: Since the angle is in Quadrant II (clockwise), so regardless of the negative
sign then we have 180° − 𝜃 = 180° − 150° = 𝟑𝟎° as the reference angle.

The use of reference angles is a way to simplify the calculation of the values
of trigonometric functions at various angles. Using the rules of reference angles to
find the exact values of the circular function, the following values of the basic
circular functions of the unit circle for certain acute angles and the rule of the
signs of the circular functions will be useful.

Values of the Basic Circular Functions for Certain Acute Angles

Rule of the Signs of the Circular Functions

Q – quadrant
A – All circular functions are positive
S – only Secant and cosecant are positive
T – only Tangent and cotangent are positive
C – only Cosine and secant are positive

The Reference Angle Theorem

To find the value of a circular/trigonometric function of any angle 𝜃:
a. determine the function value for the associated reference angle 𝜃′
b. depending on the quadrant in which 𝜃 lies, the answer will either be + or −.

Examples:
3𝜋
1. Find the values of the six circular functions of 𝜃 whose terminal side is at .
4
3𝜋 3𝜋 180
Solution: Convert to degree, so ( ) = 135° and this lies in Q II.
4 4 𝜋
a. Then the reference angle will be 180° − 𝜃 = 180° − 135° = 45°.
b. Using the chart, we have
3𝜋 √2 3𝜋 2 √2 2√2
sin = sin 45° = csc = csc 45° = ( ) = 2 = √2
4 2 4 √2 √2
3𝜋 √2 3𝜋 2 √2 2√2
cos = − cos 45° = − sec = − sec 45° = − 2 ( 2) = − 2 = −√2
4 2 4 √ √
3𝜋 3𝜋
tan = − tan 45° = −1 cot = − cot 45° = −1
4 4

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2. Use reference angles to find the exact values of the six circular function given
the function cot 210°.
Solution: The reference angle is 𝜃 − 180° = 210° − 180° = 30°.
Since 210° lies in Q III, then
1 𝟏
sin 210° = − sin 30° = − (2) = − 𝟐
1 1 2
csc 210° = − csc 30° = − sin 30 = − 1 = − 1 = −𝟐
2
√3 √𝟑
cos 210° = − cos 30° = − ( 2 ) = − 𝟐
1 1 2 2 √3 𝟐√𝟑
sec 210° = − sec 30 = − cos 30 = − √3 = − =− ( ) =−
√3 √3 √3 𝟑
2
√𝟑
tan 210° = tan 30° = 𝟑
1 1 3 3 √3 3√3
cot 210° = cot 30° = tan 30° = √3
= = ( ) = = √𝟑
√3 √3 √3 3
3
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3. Find the values of the other five circular functions if sin 𝜃 = 13 and lies in Q II.
Solution: From the equation of the unit circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1, we can obtain the
equation sin2 𝜃 + cos 2 𝜃 = 1.
12
Substitute sin 𝜃 = 13, we can solve for cos 𝜃, then we have
144 25 𝟓
cos 2 𝜃 = 1 − sin2 𝜃 cos 2 𝜃 = 1 − 169 cos 2 𝜃 = 169 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 = ± 𝟏𝟑
12 2 169 144 25
cos 2 𝜃 = 1 − (13) cos 2 𝜃 = 169 − 169 √cos 2 𝜃 = √169
𝟓
Since cos 𝜃 is negative in Q II, then cos 𝜃 = − 𝟏𝟑.
The other circular functions are:
13 12 𝟏𝟑 5
csc 𝜃 = 12 tan 𝜃 = − sec 𝜃 = − cot 𝜃 = − 12
5 𝟓

Solve Situational Problems Involving Circular Functions

On a unit circle, each length of arc starting at the x-axis corresponds to a
point (x,y) on the circle. Let s be the arc length to locate a point (x,y), we denote
the following functions:
𝑦
sin 𝑠 = 𝑦 cos 𝑠 = 𝑥 tan 𝑠 = 𝑥 ; 𝑥 ≠ 0
1 1 𝑥
csc 𝑠 = 𝑦 ; 𝑦 ≠ 0 sec 𝑠 = 𝑥 ; 𝑥 ≠ 0 cot 𝑠 = 𝑦 ; 𝑦 ≠ 0
Since the elements in the domain of these new functions are measures of
angles in radians and since the radius measures of angles are determined by the
length of the arcs on a circle, these functions are referred as circular functions.

Examples:
1. How long is an arc of a unit circle which is subtended by an angle of 120°?
𝜋 2𝜋
Solution: Changing 120° to radian: 120° (180) = 𝑟𝑎𝑑. So, the length of the
3
2𝜋 𝟐𝝅
corresponding arc is 𝑠 = 𝑟 ∙ 𝑎 = 1 ( 3 ) = units. (Note: The unit of the arc length is
𝟑
the same as the unit of the radius.)

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2. An ant P moves counter clockwise along the circumference of a radius 3 cm one
and one-half times. Find the directed distance travelled by the ant along the circle.
Solution: The length of the arc traversed by the ant is 𝑠 = 𝑟 ∙ 𝑎 = 3(1.5)(2𝜋) = 𝟗𝝅 𝒄𝒎

3. On a circle of radius 108 centimeters, find the length of an arc subtend by a

central angle of 150°.
Solution: Given a radius 𝑟 = 108𝑐𝑚 and 𝜃 = 150°, we need to express 𝜃 in terms of
radians.
𝜋 5𝜋
𝜃 = 150° = 150 (180) = 𝑟𝑎𝑑
6
Then we obtain the arc length s, we get
5𝜋
𝑠 = 𝑟𝜃 = 108° ( 6 ) = 𝟐𝟖𝟐. 𝟕𝟒𝒄𝒎

4. Suppose a planet’s radius is 5000 miles and its complete revolution is 36 hours.
Determine the linear speed of a point on the equator in miles per hour (mph) and
also in feet per second (ft/sec). What is the angular speed in radians per hour
(rad/hr)?
Solution: The given information are 𝑟 = 5000𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠, 𝜃 = 2𝜋, 𝑡 = 36ℎ𝑟𝑠. To determine
the linear speed, we get
𝑠 𝑟𝜃 5000(2𝜋)
𝑣=𝑡= = = 872.66𝑚𝑝ℎ
𝑡 36
Since 1𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒 = 5280𝑓𝑡 and 1ℎ𝑟 = 3600𝑠𝑒𝑐, to solve for v in terms of ft/sec, we get
𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠 5280𝑓𝑡 1ℎ𝑟
𝑣 = 872.66 ( 1𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒 ) (3000𝑠𝑒𝑐) = 𝟏𝟐𝟕𝟗. 𝟗𝟎 𝒇𝒕/𝒔𝒆𝒄
ℎ𝑟
𝜃 2𝜋 𝝅
The angular speed is given by: 𝜔 = = = 𝟏𝟖
𝑡 36

5. A motorcycle is travelling at 60 miles per hour. If its tires have radius of 15

inches, how many revolutions per second do the tires make?
Solution: First, we need to convert the speed of the motorcycle in terms of
revolutions per second. Note that 1𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒 = 63360 𝑖𝑛.
𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠 1ℎ𝑟 63,360𝑖𝑛
𝑣 = 60 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 (36000𝑠𝑒𝑐) ( ) = 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝟔 𝒊𝒏/𝒔𝒆𝒄
1𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒
𝑣 1056
Then, we solve for the angular speed: 𝜔 = 𝑟 = = 𝟕𝟎. 𝟒 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔/𝒔𝒆𝒄
15

6. A weight is suspended from a spring, and is moving up and down in a simple

harmonic motion. At start, the weight is pulled down 5 cm below the resting
position, and then released. After 8 seconds, the weight reaches its highest location
for the first time. Find the equation of the motion.
Solution: We are given that the weight is located at its lowest position 𝑡 = 0; that
is, 𝑦 = −5 when 𝑡 = 0. Therefore, the equation is 𝑦 = −5 cos 𝑏𝑡.
Because it took the weight 8 seconds from the lowest point to its immediate point,
half period is 8 seconds.
1 2𝜋
(𝑏) =8 If 𝑦 = −5 cos 𝑏𝑡
2
𝜋 𝝅𝒕
=8 Then, 𝑦 = −𝟓 𝐜𝐨𝐬
𝑏 𝟖
𝜋
=𝑏
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SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
A. Multiple Choice: Write the letter of your answer on your answer sheet.
For numbers 1-10, find the six circular functions of the standard angle 𝜃
11𝜋
generated by an arc with a length equal to 6
11𝜋
1. The arc length is equal to .
6
A. 330° B. 33° C. 30° D. 300°
2. In what quadrant does your answer in #1 lies?
A. Quadrant I B. Quadrant II C. Quadrant III D. Quadrant IV
3. What circular function is positive based from your answer in #2?
A. all circular functions C. cosine and secant
B. sine and cosecant D. tangent and cotangent
4. What is the reference angle?
A. 30° B. 150° C. −150° D. 330°
11𝜋
5. Using the reference angle, sin is equal to .
6
1 1 √3 √3
A. B. − 2 C. D. −
2 2 2
11𝜋
6. Using the reference angle, csc is equal to .
6
2√3 2√3
A. 3
B. 3
C. 2 D. −2
11𝜋
7. Using the reference angle, cos 6
is equal to .
1 1 √3 √3
A. B. − 2 C. D. −
2 2 2
11𝜋
8. Using the reference angle, sec is equal to .
6
2√3 2√3
A. B. C. 2 D. −2
3 3
11𝜋
9. Using the reference angle, tan is equal to .
6
√3 √3
A. B. − C. √3 D. −√3
3 3
11𝜋
10. Using the reference angle, cot 6
is equal to .
√3 √3
A. −√3 B. √3 C. − 3 D. 3
B. Problem Solving: Solve the following. Show your complete solution.
1. The radius of the wheel of a car is 15 inches. If the wheel is turning at the
rate of 3 revolutions per second, how fast is the car moving? Express your
answer in miles per hour.

2. The diameter of a bicycle is 26 inches. If you are travelling at a speed of

35 miles per hour on the bicycle, through how many revolutions per minute
are the wheel turning?