Circular Functions and their Graphs

(0,1)
The radius of a unit circle is 1. Consider the
origin – centered unit circle shown at the right P(x, y)
together with an angle  in standard position r=
drawn on the same coordinate plane. The initial (-1,0) 𝜃
 (1,0)
side of the angle intersects the circle at (1, 0) and
the terminal side intersects the circle at point P(x, y).

If the terminal side of  is rotated counterclockwise about (0,-1)

the origin, the values of x and y associated with point P
will change. For each value of , however, there is exactly ((
one corresponding value for x. Because of this correspondence,
the set of ordered pairs (, x) is a function. Also, for each value of , there is exactly one value of y.
Therefore, the set of ordered pairs (, y) is also a function. These two functions are called the cosine
and the sine functions, respectively.

If  is an angle in standard position whose terminal side intersects the unit circle at (x, y), then

x = cosine  abbreviated as x = cos 

and
y = sine  abbreviated as y = sin 

The ordered pair (x, y) can be written as (cos , sin ) which are the coordinates of point P in the
figure.

Since the unit circle has radius 1, the values of x and y can range from – 1 to 1. That is,
– 1  cos   1 and – 1  sin   1
Let  be an angle in standard position and let the point P(x, y) be on the terminal side of .
Then,

𝑦
sin 𝜃 = =𝑦 where 𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
𝑟

𝑥
cos 𝜃 = =𝑥
𝑟

𝑦
tangent ∶ tan 𝜃 = ; 𝑥≠0
𝑥

𝑥
cotangent: cot 𝜃 = ; 𝑦≠0
𝑦

𝑟 1
cosecant: csc 𝜃 = = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ; 𝑦 ≠ 0
𝑦

𝑟 1
secant ∶ sec 𝜃 = = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 ; 𝑥 ≠ 0
𝑥

3𝜋 3𝜋 3𝜋
Ex. 1. Find the exact value of sin , 𝑐𝑜𝑠 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑛 .
2 2 2
Sol.
3𝜋
Let P( 2 ) be the point on the unit circle and on the terminal side of the angle in
3𝜋 3𝜋
standard position with measure radian. Then P( 2 ) = (0, −1) so
2
3𝜋
3𝜋 3𝜋 sin −1
sin = −1 ; and 𝑡𝑎𝑛 = 2
3𝜋 = = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
2 2 cos 0
2
3𝜋
𝑐𝑜𝑠 = 0;
2

1
Ex. 2. The terminal side of angle  in standard position passes through the point P(- 3, - 4). Draw  and
find the values of the six circular functions.
Solution:
If P has the coordinates (-3, -4)
Then x = -3 and y = - 4 and
𝑟 = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
= √(−3)2 + (−4)2
= √9 + 16
= √25
𝑟=5

Therefore,
𝑦 −4 4 𝑟 5 5
sin 𝜃 = = = −5 ; csc 𝜃 = 𝑦 = −4 = − 4
𝑟 5

𝑥 −3 3 𝑟 5 5
cos 𝜃 = = = −5 ; sec 𝜃 = = −3 = − 3
𝑟 5 𝑥

𝑦 −4 4 𝑥 −3 3
tan 𝜃 = 𝑥 = −3 = 3 ; cot 𝜃 = 𝑦 = −4 = 4

Ex. 3 Let  be in standard position. Find the values of the other five circular functions given that
5
sin 𝜃 = − 13 ; 𝜃 𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑄𝐼𝑉

Solution:
5
Since sin 𝜃 = − 13 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜃 𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑄𝐼𝑉

𝑦 = −5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟 = 13. 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑥.

To find the value of x, use
𝑟2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = ±√𝑟 2 − 𝑦 2
𝑥 = ±√(13)2 − (−5)2
= ±√169 − 25
= ±√144
𝑥 = ±12
Since  lies in QIV, x  0. Therefore x = 12.
So the other five circular functions of  are
𝑥 12 𝑟 13
cos 𝜃 = = 13 ; sec 𝜃 = = 12
𝑟 𝑥
𝑦 −5 5 𝑟 13 13
tan 𝜃 = 𝑥 = = − 12 ; csc 𝜃 = 𝑦 = −5 = −
12 5
𝑥 12 12
cot 𝜃 = 𝑦 = −5 = − 5

For further readings:

https://www.varsitytutors.com/precalculus-help/trigonometric-functions/circular-functions

http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/~mcquarrb/teachingarchive/Precalculus/Lectures/TrigCircularFunctions.pdf