Using Reference

Angles to Find Exact

Values of Circular
Functions
 Objectives:
1.Use the unit circle to determine the coordinates
of the circular functions or the special angles.
2.Use reference angles to find exact values of
circular functions.
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
Formulas for Angle θ Reciprocal Identities
sin θ = Opposite Side/Hypotenuse sin θ = 1/cosec θ

cos θ = Adjacent Side/Hypotenuse cos θ = 1/sec θ

tan θ = Opposite Side/Adjacent tan θ = 1/cot θ

cot θ = Adjacent Side/Opposite cot θ = 1/tan θ

sec θ = Hypotenuse/Adjacent Side sec θ = 1/cos θ

cosec θ = Hypotenuse/Opposite cosec θ = 1/sin θ

Coordinates of
the circular
functions
A table of Special Angles Chart is also use to find the exact value of special angles.
 Examples: Use reference angle and appropriate sign
to find the exact value of each expression.

1. sin and cos

Solution:
Step 1: Find the reference angle of . The
reference angle of is .
 Step 2
Determine which quadrant does lie
and take note of the signs The
location of is in Quadrant IV.
The signs of the coordinates are x is
positive and y is negative or (+ , - ).
Step 3
Using the definition of trigonometric functions,
sin 𝜃 = y and cos 𝜃 = x The coordinates of are (, - )

Therefore:
sin = - sin = -
cos = cos =
2. cos (- 7𝜋 6 )
Solution: The angle lies in Quadrant
II wherein cosine is negative, and its
reference angle is .
cos () = -cos = -
3. sin 150 Solution:
0

sin 150 = sin 30 = 1 /2

O 0
4. tan 8𝜋 3
Solution: tan 8𝜋/ 3 = -
tan 𝜋 /3 = - sin𝜋 /3 cos
𝜋/ 3 = - √3 /2 /1 /2 = - √3