<img src="https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=iA1Pi1a8Dy00ym" style="display:none" height="1" width="1" alt="" />

# 1.19: Trigonometric Functions of Negative Angles

Difficulty Level: At Grade Created by: CK-12
Estimated9 minsto complete
%
Progress
Practice Trigonometric Functions of Negative Angles
Progress
Estimated9 minsto complete
%

While practicing for the track team, you regularly stop to consider the values of trig functions for the angle you've covered as you run around the circular track at your school. Today, however, is different. To keep things more interesting, your coach has decided to have you and your teammates run the opposite of the usual direction on the track. From your studies at school, you know that this is the equivalent of a "negative angle".

You have run \begin{align*}-45^\circ\end{align*} around the track, and want to fine the value of the cosine function for this angle. Is it still possible to find the values of trig functions for these new types of angles?

At the completion of this Concept, you'll be able to calculate the values of trig functions for negative angles, and find the value of cosine for the \begin{align*}-45^\circ\end{align*} you have traveled.

### Guidance

Recall that graphing a negative angle means rotating clockwise. The graph below shows \begin{align*}-30^\circ\end{align*}.

Notice that this angle is coterminal with \begin{align*}330^\circ\end{align*}. So the ordered pair is \begin{align*}\left ( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, -\frac{1}{2} \right )\end{align*}. We can use this ordered pair to find the values of any of the trig functions of \begin{align*}-30^\circ\end{align*}. For example, \begin{align*}\cos (-30^\circ) = x = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\end{align*}.

In general, if a negative angle has a reference angle of \begin{align*}30^\circ\end{align*}, \begin{align*}45^\circ\end{align*}, or \begin{align*}60^\circ\end{align*}, or if it is a quadrantal angle, we can find its ordered pair, and so we can determine the values of any of the trig functions of the angle.

#### Example A

Find the value of the expression: \begin{align*}\sin(-45^\circ)\end{align*}

Solution:

\begin{align*}\sin (-45^\circ) = -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\end{align*}

\begin{align*}-45^\circ\end{align*} is in the \begin{align*}4^{th}\end{align*} quadrant, and has a reference angle of \begin{align*}45^\circ\end{align*}. That is, this angle is coterminal with \begin{align*}315^\circ\end{align*}. Therefore the ordered pair is \begin{align*}\left ( \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \right )\end{align*} and the sine value is \begin{align*}-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\end{align*}.

#### Example B

Find the value of the expression: \begin{align*}\sec(-300^\circ)\end{align*}

Solution:

\begin{align*}\sec(-300^\circ) = 2\end{align*}

The angle \begin{align*}-300^\circ\end{align*} is in the \begin{align*}1^{st}\end{align*} quadrant and has a reference angle of \begin{align*}60^\circ\end{align*}. That is, this angle is coterminal with \begin{align*}60^\circ\end{align*}. Therefore the ordered pair is \begin{align*}\left ( \frac{1}{2}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \right )\end{align*} and the secant value is \begin{align*}\frac{1}{x} = \frac{1}{\frac{1}{2}} = 2\end{align*}.

#### Example C

Find the value of the expression: \begin{align*}\cos(-90^\circ)\end{align*}

Solution:

\begin{align*}\cos(-90^\circ) = 0\end{align*}

The angle \begin{align*}-90^\circ\end{align*} is coterminal with \begin{align*}270^\circ\end{align*}. Therefore the ordered pair is (0, -1) and the cosine value is 0.

We can also use our knowledge of reference angles and ordered pairs to find the values of trig functions of angles with measure greater than 360 degrees.

### Vocabulary

Negative Angle: A negative angle is an angle measured by rotating clockwise (instead of counter-clockwise) from the positive 'x' axis.

### Guided Practice

1. Find the value of the expression: \begin{align*}\cos -180^\circ\end{align*}

2. Find the value of the expression: \begin{align*}\sin -90^\circ\end{align*}

3. Find the value of the expression: \begin{align*}\tan -270^\circ\end{align*}

Solutions:

1. The angle \begin{align*}-180^\circ\end{align*} is coterminal with \begin{align*}180^\circ\end{align*}. Therefore the ordered pair of points is (-1, 0). The cosine is the "x" coordinate, so here it is -1.

2. The angle \begin{align*}-90^\circ\end{align*} is coterminal with \begin{align*}270^\circ\end{align*}. Therefore the ordered pair of points is (0, -1). The sine is the "y" coordinte, so here it is -1.

3. The angle \begin{align*}-270^\circ\end{align*} is coterminal with \begin{align*}90^\circ\end{align*}. Therefore the ordered pair of points is (0, 1). The tangent is the "y" coordinate divided by the "x" coordinate. Since the "x" coordinate is 0, the tangent is undefined.

### Concept Problem Solution

What you want to find is the value of the expression: \begin{align*}\cos(-45^\circ)\end{align*}

Solution:

\begin{align*}\cos (-45^\circ) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\end{align*}

\begin{align*}-45^\circ\end{align*} is in the \begin{align*}4^{th}\end{align*} quadrant, and has a reference angle of \begin{align*}45^\circ\end{align*}. That is, this angle is coterminal with \begin{align*}315^\circ\end{align*}. Therefore the ordered pair is \begin{align*}\left ( \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \right )\end{align*} and the cosine value is \begin{align*}\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\end{align*}.

### Practice

Calculate each value.

1. \begin{align*}\sin -120^\circ\end{align*}
2. \begin{align*}\cos -120^\circ\end{align*}
3. \begin{align*}\tan -120^\circ\end{align*}
4. \begin{align*}\csc -120^\circ\end{align*}
5. \begin{align*}\sec -120^\circ\end{align*}
6. \begin{align*}\cot -120^\circ\end{align*}
7. \begin{align*}\csc -45^\circ\end{align*}
8. \begin{align*}\sec -45^\circ\end{align*}
9. \begin{align*}\tan -45^\circ\end{align*}
10. \begin{align*}\cos -135^\circ\end{align*}
11. \begin{align*}\csc -135^\circ\end{align*}
12. \begin{align*}\sec -135^\circ\end{align*}
13. \begin{align*}\tan -210^\circ\end{align*}
14. \begin{align*}\sin -270^\circ\end{align*}
15. \begin{align*}\cot -90^\circ\end{align*}

### Vocabulary Language: English

Negative Angle

Negative Angle

A negative angle is an angle measured by rotating clockwise (instead of counterclockwise) from the positive $x$ axis.

Show Hide Details
Description
Difficulty Level:
Tags:
Subjects:
Search Keywords:

Date Created:
Sep 26, 2012