Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

7.4: Trigonometric Functions of General Angles

Objectives:
1- Finding the quadrant in which an angle Lies.
2- Finding the exact values of the six trigonometric functions of 𝜽, Given a point on
the terminal side
3- Finding the exact values of the six trigonometric functions of Quadrantal angles.
4- Finding the exact values of the six trigonometric functions of 𝜽, Given information
about the function.
5- Using a coterminal angle to find the exact value of a trigonometric function.
6- Finding refrence angles and using them to find the exact value of trigonometric
functions.

1- Finding the Quadrant in Which an Angle Lies.

Example 1: determine the Signs of Trigonometric Functions.

Give the sign of the following
a) 𝑠𝑖𝑛120° (b) 𝑡𝑎𝑛300°
3𝜋
𝑐) 𝑠𝑒𝑐210° (d) 𝑐𝑠𝑐
4

Example 2: Find the Quadrant in Which an Angle Lies.

a) If 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 < 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 < 0, name the quadrant in which the angle 𝜃lies.

b) If 𝑐𝑠𝑐𝜃 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃 > 0, name the quadrant in which the angle 𝜃lies.

c) If 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 < 0, name the quadrant in which the angle 𝜃lies.

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

2-Finding the exact values of the six trigonometric functions of θ,

Given a point on the terminal side.
To extend the definition of the trigonometric
functions to include angles that are not acute. We
employ a rectangular coordinate system and place
the angle in standard position so that its vertex is
at the origin and its initial side is along the positive
x-axis. See the figure.

Example 3: Find the exact value of each of the six trigonometric functions of a
positive angle 𝜃 if (4,-3) is a point on its terminal side.

Example 4: Find the exact value of each of the six trigonometric functions of a positive
angle 𝜃 if (-6,-8) is a point on its terminal side.

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

3-Finding the exact values of the six trigonometric functions of

Quadrantal Angles.

Example 5: Find the exact value of each of the six trigonometric functions of

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

4-Finding the exact values of the six trigonometric functions of θ,

given information about the function.
Example 6: Finding the Exact Value of Trigonometric Functions.
2 𝜋
Given that 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = − , < 𝜃 < 𝜋, find the exact value of each of the remaning
3 2
trigonometric functions.

Example 7: Finding the Exact Value of Trigonometric Functions.

If 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = −4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 < 0, find the exact value of each of the remaning trigonometric
functions of 𝜃.

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

5-Use Coterminal Angles to Find the Exact Value of a Trigonometric

Function.

For Example, the angles 60° and 420° are coterminal, because60° + 360° = 420° .
Also, the angles −40° and 320° are coterminal, because−40° + 360° = 320°
Note:- To find a coterminal angle we add or subtract 360° or 2𝜋 or their multiples to the
original angle.
𝜽𝒄 = 𝜽 ± 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝒏, 𝒏 ∈ 𝒛
or
𝜽𝒄 = 𝜽 ± 𝟐𝝅𝒏, 𝒏∈𝒛
𝜽𝒄 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆

Example 8: Finding Coterminal angles.

Find two positive coterminal angle for each of the following angles
𝜋
a) 70° (b)
6

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

Example 9: Finding Coterminal angles.

Find one positive and one negative coterminal angles for each of the following angles
𝜋
a) 53° : Positive = b) − : positive =
5
Negative = negative =

Example 10: Using Coterminal Angle to Find the Exact Value of a Trigonometric
Function.
Find the exact value of each of the following:
a) sin (390° ) (b) 𝑐𝑜s (420° )

c) csc (−315° ) (d) 𝑐𝑜t (750° )

9𝜋 −11𝜋
e) tan ( ) (b) sec ( )
4 6

6- Finding Reference Angles and Using them to Find the exact Value
of Trigonometric Functions.

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

Remark: to find the reference angle ( 𝜃𝑟 ) for any angle ( 𝜃 ).

1) If 𝜃 ∈ 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐼 then Ref. angle = 𝜃𝑟 = 𝜃.

2) If 𝜃 ∈ 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐼𝐼 then Ref. angle = 𝜃𝑟 = 180 − 𝜃.

3) If 𝜃 ∈ 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐼𝐼𝐼 then Ref. angle = 𝜃𝑟 = 𝜃 − 180.

4) If 𝜃 ∈ 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐼V then Ref. angle = 𝜃𝑟 = 360 − 𝜃.

Example 11: Finding Reference Angles.

Find the reference angle (𝜃𝑟 ) for each of the following angles:

(𝑎) 𝜃 = 150° (𝑏) 𝜃 = 290°

(𝑐 ) 𝜃 = 210° (𝑑 ) 𝜃 = −70°

(𝑒) 𝜃 = 910° 𝜋
(𝑓 ) 𝜃=
5

2𝜋 −5𝜋
(𝑔) 𝜃= (ℎ) 𝜃 =
3 6

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

Example 12: Using the Reference Angle to Find the Exact Value of a Trigonometric
Function.
Find the exact value of each of the following trigonometric functions using their
reference angles.

a) 𝑠𝑖𝑛135° b) 𝑐𝑜𝑠600°

17𝜋 𝜋
c) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 d) 𝑡𝑎𝑛 (− )
6 3

For More Examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ9K4eupKkI

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

Extra Exercises for students from the textbook

11) A point on the terminal side of an angle 𝜃 in standard position is given. Find the
exact value of each of the six trigonometric functions of 𝜃.
a) (−3,4) √3 1 c)(−
√2 √2
,− 2 )
b) ( , ) 2
2 2

12) Use a coterminal angle to find the exact value of each expression.
33𝜋
a) 𝑠𝑖𝑛405° b) 𝑐𝑠𝑐450° c)𝑐𝑜𝑠 4

13) Name the quadrant in which the angle 𝜃lies.

14) Find the reference angle of each angle.

a) 60° b) 330°
5𝜋 d) −240°
c)
6
7𝜋 19𝜋
e) − f)
6 6
15) Use the reference angle to find the exact value of each expression.
a) 𝑠𝑖𝑛510° b) 𝑐𝑜𝑡330°
c) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝜋4 d) 𝑐𝑠𝑐(−315°)
e) sec (−3𝜋)

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Pre-Calculus _ Chapter 7

16) Find the exact value of each of the remaining trigonometric functions of 𝜃.
a)

b)

c)

17) Find the exact value of 𝑠𝑖𝑛40° + 𝑠𝑖𝑛130° + 𝑠𝑖𝑛220° + 𝑠𝑖𝑛310°

18) If 𝐺 (𝜃 ) = 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝜃 = −2, 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑔(𝜃 + 𝜋)

1
19) If 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 5 , 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑠𝑐 (𝜃 + 𝜋)

2
20) If 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 3 , 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑐 (𝜃 + 𝜋)

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