Use unit circle to define trig relationships across 4 quadrants for any angle (deg)

In right-angled triangle trigonometry, we can only deal with angles whose sizes are between $0^\circ$0° and $90^\circ$90°. In the chapter on Angles of Any Magnitude, it is explained how the sine, cosine and tangent functions are given a more general definition so that they can be applied to angles that are impossible in right-angled triangle trigonometry. The functions are defined in terms of the coordinates of a point that is free to move on the unit circle, in the following way.

The radius, drawn to the point on the circle, makes an angle with the positive horizontal axis. By convention, the angle is measured counterclockwise from the axis. It can have any real value, positive or negative.

We define the cosine of the angle to be the horizontal coordinate of the point, and we define the sine of the angle to be the vertical coordinate of the point. Then, the tangent of the angle $\alpha$α is defined to be the fraction $\frac{\sin\alpha}{\cos\alpha}$sinαcosα​.

By considering the coordinates of a point as it moves around the unit circle, we see that the sine and cosine functions have either a positive or a negative sign depending on which quadrant the angle is in. The signs depend on the signs of the coordinates involved.

Have a look at the following applet, you can make settings for degrees or radians, and whether you want to rotate positively (counterclockwise) or negatively (clockwise). As you explore, see if you can determine where sine, cosine and tangent are positive or negative.

 

The sine function is positive in the first and second quadrants and negative in the others while the cosine function is positive in the first and fourth quadrants. Consequently, the tangent function is positive in the first and third quadrants.

These can be remembered by having a mental picture of the unit circle diagram or by means of the mnemonic ASTC: 'All Stations To Central: All-Sine-Tangent-Cosine' that shows which functions are positive in each quadrant. These facts become important when trigonometric equations are being solved for all the solutions within a given range.

 

 

Example 1

Express $\cos117^\circ$cos117° in terms of a first quadrant angle.

The angle $117^\circ$117° is between $90^\circ$90° and $180^\circ$180°, so it is in the second quadrant. The point representing $117^\circ$117° on the unit circle diagram, where the radius cuts the circle, must have a negative horizontal coordinate. Therefore, $\cos117^\circ$cos117° must be the same as $-\cos\left(180^\circ-117^\circ\right)=-\cos63^\circ$−cos(180°−117°)=−cos63°.

Example 2

Express the sine, cosine and tangent functions of the angle $512^\circ$512° in terms of an angle in the first quadrant written in radian form.

The angle $512^\circ$512° is more than once around the full circle. So, it is equivalent to $512^\circ-360^\circ=152^\circ$512°−360°=152°, which is in the second quadrant. We subtract the angle from $180^\circ$180° to find

$\sin512^\circ=\sin28^\circ$sin512°=sin28°

$\cos512^\circ=-\cos28^\circ$cos512°=−cos28°

$\tan512^\circ=-\tan28^\circ$tan512°=−tan28°

 

More Worked Examples

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

QUESTION 3