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India
Class XI

Identifying quadrants from given conditions

Lesson

Consistent with the periodic nature of the trigonometric functions, we find that as the domain variable rotates from $0$0 to $2\pi,$2π, each function takes on positive values in two quadrants and negative values in two quadrants. This is explained more fully in the chapter on the Unit Circle definitions of sine, cosine and tangent.

Hence, if we are given a function value only, it is not possible to know which of two possible domain values led to that range value unless further information is available. For example, if $\sin\theta=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$sinθ=12, it is not possible to tell whether $\theta=\frac{\pi}{4}$θ=π4 or $\theta=\frac{3\pi}{4}$θ=3π4. However, if we are given the additional piece of information that $\cos\theta<0$cosθ<0, then the angle must be in the second quadrant, since this is the only one in which sine is positive and cosine is negative.

Example 1

In which quadrant is the angle $\frac{7\pi}{6}$7π6 and what are the values of $\sin\frac{7\pi}{6}$sin7π6, $\cos\frac{7\pi}{6}$cos7π6 and $\tan\frac{7\pi}{6}$tan7π6 in terms of a first quadrant argument?

Since $\pi<\frac{7\pi}{6}<\frac{3\pi}{2}$π<7π6<3π2, the angle is in the third quadrant.

Hence, 

$\sin\frac{7\pi}{6}$sin7π6 $=$= $-\sin\frac{\pi}{6}$sinπ6
$\cos\frac{7\pi}{6}$cos7π6 $=$= $-\cos\frac{\pi}{6}$cosπ6
$\tan\frac{7\pi}{6}$tan7π6 $=$= $\tan\frac{\pi}{6}$tanπ6

Example 2

If $\sec\theta=-\sqrt{2}$secθ=2 and $\tan\theta=-1$tanθ=1, what is $\theta$θ?

We have $$. Hence, $\cos\theta=-\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$cosθ=12 and so, $\theta=\frac{3\pi}{4}$θ=3π4 or $\theta=\frac{5\pi}{4}$θ=5π4. The fact that $\tan\theta=-1$tanθ=1 implies that $\theta=\frac{3\pi}{4}$θ=3π4 or $\theta=\frac{7\pi}{4}$θ=7π4. On comparing these results we see that the solution is $\theta=\frac{3\pi}{4}$θ=3π4.

More Worked Examples

QUESTION 1

If $\theta$θ is an angle such that $\sin\theta$sinθ$>$>$0$0 and $\cos\theta$cosθ$<$<$0$0, which quadrant(s) does it lie in?

  1. quadrant $I$I

    A

    quadrant $II$II

    B

    quadrant $IV$IV

    C

    quadrant $III$III

    D

QUESTION 2

If $\theta$θ is an angle such that $\tan\theta$tanθ$>$>$0$0 and $\cot\left(\theta\right)$cot(θ)$>$>$0$0, which quadrant(s) does it lie in?

  1. quadrant $IV$IV

    A

    quadrant $III$III

    B

    quadrant $II$II

    C

    quadrant $I$I

    D

QUESTION 3

If $P$P$\left(x,y\right)$(x,y) corresponds to a point on the unit circle at a rotation of $\left(\theta\right)$(θ) such that $\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5}$sinθ=35 and $\cos\theta=-\frac{4}{5}$cosθ=45, which quadrant is $\left(x,y\right)$(x,y) located in?

  1. quadrant $II$II

    A

    quadrant $IV$IV

    B

    quadrant $III$III

    C

    quadrant $I$I

    D

Outcomes

11.SF.TF.1

Positive and negative angles. Measuring angles in radians and in degrees and conversion from one measure to another. Definition of trigonometric functions with the help of unit circle. Truth of the identity sin^2 x + cos^2 x = 1, for all x. Signs of trigonometric functions and sketch of their graphs. Expressing sin (x + y) and cos (x + y) in terms of sin x, sin y, cos x and cos y. Deducing the identities like following: cot(x + or - y), sin x + sin y, cos x + cos y, sin x - sin y, cos x - cos y (see syllabus document)

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