The Unit Circle and Circular
Functions
Objective: use the unit circle to determine circular functions.
Circular Functions
A unit circle has its center at the origin and a
radius of 1 unit.
The trigonometric functions of
angle θ in radians are found by
choosing a point (x, y) on the
unit circle can be rewritten as
functions of the arc length s.
When interpreted this way, they
are called circular functions.
Circular Functions
For any real number s represented by a
directed arc on the unit circle,
Since we use the Unit Circle we can replace θ with s (arc length) because r = 1!
The Unit Circle
Evaluating A Circular Function
Circular function values of real numbers are
obtained in the same manner as
trigonometric function values of angles
measured in radians.
This applies both to methods of finding
exact values (such as reference angle
analysis) and to calculator approximations.
Calculators must be in radian mode
when finding circular function values.
FINDING EXACT CIRCULAR FUNCTION VALUES
Find the exact values of:
• Evaluating a circular function
at the real number is equivalent to
evaluating it at
• An angle of intersects the circle at the
radians.
point (0, –1).
Since sin s = y, cos s = x, and
FINDING EXACT CIRCULAR FUNCTION VALUES
•Use the figure to find the exact values of
The real number
corresponds to the unit
circle point
FINDING EXACT CIRCULAR FUNCTION VALUES
Use the figure and the definition of tangent to find the exact
value of
Moving around the unit
circle units in the
negative direction
yields the same ending
point as moving around
the circle units in the
positive direction.
FINDING EXACT CIRCULAR FUNCTION VALUES
Cntd.
• corresponds to
FINDING EXACT CIRCULAR FUNCTION VALUES
Use reference angles and degree/radian or your
unit circle conversion to find the exact value of
Caution
A common error in trigonometry is
using a calculator in degree mode
when radian mode should be used.
Remember, if you are finding a
circular function value of a real
number, the calculator must be in
radian mode.
APPROXIMATING CIRCULAR FUNCTION
VALUES
Find a calculator approximation for each circular
function value.
(c) cot 1.3209 ≈ .2552 (d) sec –2.9234 ≈ –1.0243