Chapter 3.

Radian Measure and the Unit

Circle

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Introduction
Radian measure is another way to measure angles. Using radian measure allows us to
write trigonometric functions as functions with domains of real numbers, rather than
angles. In geometry and most everyday applications, angles are measured in degrees. In
calculus, the trigonometric or circular functions are always understood to have real
number domains.

In the previous lessons, we define the trigonometric functions in terms of ratios of

sides of right triangles and in terms of terms of ratios of x- and y-coordinates of a
point and the distance from the origin to that point (right triangle on Cartesian Plane).

In this lesson, we define the trigonometric functions in terms of the unit circle (right
triangle inscribed into the unit circle in the Cartesian plane).
What to Learn?
The chapter includes:
 Radian Measure
 Applications of Radian Measure
 The Unit Circle and Circular Functions
 Linear and Angular Speed
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the chapter/lesson you should be able to:

 Correctly convert degree measure to radian measure and vice versa;

 Use the radian measure appropriately to solve applied problems;
 Use linear and angular speed to describe motion on a circular path;
 Accurately solve problem involving arc length and area of circular sector.
Radian Measure
The amount of rotation from the initial side to the
terminal side determines the measure of an angle.
One way to measure angles is in radians. This type s=r
of measure is especially useful in calculus. To define
a radian, use a central angle of a circle, which is an
angle whose vertex is the center of the circle.

An angle with its vertex at the center of a circle that

intercepts an arc on the circle equal in length to the
Figure 1
radius of the circle has a measure of 1 radian.
Figure 2
Equivalent Angle Measures

These are the eight most important equivalences between degrees and radians.

Figure 3a Figure 3b
Agreement on Angle Measurement Units

 Radians is not a unit of measurement like degrees, feet, or centimeters.

 If no unit of angle measure is specified, then the angle is understood to

be measured in radians.
Applications of Radian Measure
1. Arc Length on a Circle

The length s of the arc intercepted on a circle of radius r by a central angle

of measure θ radians is given by the product of the radius and the radian
measure of the angle.

s = rθ, where θ is in radians

Figure 4
Figure 5
Learning Activity 3. Solve the following problems.

1. Find the area of the sector of a circle of radius 2 feet formed by an angle
of 30°.

2. Find the area of the sector associated with a single slice of pizza if the
entire pizza has a 14-inch diameter and the pizza is cut into eight equal
pieces.

3. Sprinkler heads come in all different sizes depending on the angle of

rotation desired. If a sprinkler head rotates 90° and has enough pressure to
keep a constant 25-foot spray, what is the area of the sector of the lawn
that gets watered?
The Unit Circle
A unit circle is a circle centered at the origin
(0,0) with radius 1. In a unit circle, the length
of the intercepted arc is equal to the radian
measure of the central angle.

Let (x,y) be the endpoint on the unit circle of

an arc of arc length s. The (x,y) coordinates
of this point can be described as functions Figure 6
of the angle.

Note: The circle is not a function (it does not pass the vertical line test). Hence, we form a central
angle θ in the unit circle such that the terminal side lies in QI.
Notice that the point (x, y) on the unit circle can be written as (cos θ, sin θ).
Using the unit circle relationship, (x,y) = (cos θ, sin θ) where θ is the central angle
whose terminal side intersects the unit circle at the point (x,y), we can now define
the remaining trigonometric functions using this unit circle approach and the
quotient and reciprocal identities. Because the trigonometric functions are
defined in terms of the unit circle, the trigonometric functions are often called
circular functions.
Circular Functions
The Unit Circle

Figure 7b
Figure 7a

The unit circle is symmetric with respect to the x-axis, the y-axis, and the origin. If a
point (a, b) lies on the unit circle, so do (a, -b), (-a, b ), and (-a, -b).Furthermore, each
of these points has a reference arc of equal magnitude.
Finding Values of the Trigonometric Functions
Linear and Angular Speed

The formula for the length of a circular arc can be used to analyze the motion
of a particle moving at a constant speed along a circular path.
Learning Activity 5. Solve the following problems.

1. The second hand of a clock is 10.2 centimeters long, as shown at the right.
Find the linear speed of the tip of the second hand as it passes around the
clock face.

2. The blades of a wind turbine are 116 feet long. The propeller
rotates at 15 revolutions per minute.
a. Find the angular speed of the propeller in radians
per minute.
b. Find the linear speed of the tips of the blades.
References
A. Books
[1] Ayres, F. and Moyer, R. (2018) Schaum's Outline of Trigonometry. McGraw-Hill Education
[2] Blitzer, Robert. (2017). Algebra and Trigonometry. Pearson Education Inc. Sixth Edition
[3] Larson, R. (2017). Trigonometry. Cengage Learning. Tenth Edition
[4] Lial, Margaret L. et. al. (2016). College Algebra & Trigonometry. Pearson Education Limited. Sixth
Edition. Global Edition
B. Suggested Readings
[1] Radian Measure and the Unit Circle. Accessed on March 15, 2022 from
https://www.saddleback.edu/faculty/fgonzalez/Math_124_Notes/M124_Sec3.1_Radian_Measure.pdf
[2] Radian Measure and the Unit Circle. Accessed on March 15, 2022 from
https://studylib.net/doc/5879040/ch-3-radian-measure-and-the-unit-circle

C. Videos
[1] Radian Measure and the Unit Circle. Accessed on March 15, 2022 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQMMeMWeC28