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

# Unit Circle

## Determine exact values of trig ratios for common radian measures

Estimated10 minsto complete
%
Progress
Practice Unit Circle

MEMORY METER
This indicates how strong in your memory this concept is
Progress
Estimated10 minsto complete
%
Trigonometric Ratios on the Unit Circle

What are the exact values of the following trigonometric functions?

1. \begin{align*}\cos 495^\circ\end{align*}
2. \begin{align*}\tan \frac{5\pi}{3}\end{align*}

### Trigonometric Ratios on the Unit Circle

Recall special right triangles from Geometry. In a \begin{align*}(30^\circ - 60^\circ - 90^\circ)\end{align*} triangle, the sides are in the ratio \begin{align*}1:\sqrt{3}:2\end{align*}.

In an isosceles triangle \begin{align*}(45^\circ - 45^\circ - 90^\circ)\end{align*}, the congruent sides and the hypotenuse are in the ratio \begin{align*}1:1:\sqrt{2}\end{align*}.

In a \begin{align*}(30^\circ - 60^\circ - 90^\circ)\end{align*} triangle, the sides are in the ratio \begin{align*}1:\sqrt{3}:2\end{align*}.

Now let’s make the hypotenuse equal to 1 in each of the triangles so we’ll be able to put them inside the unit circle. Using the appropriate ratios, the new side lengths are:

Using these triangles, we can evaluate sine, cosine and tangent for each of the angle measures.

\begin{align*}& \sin 45^\circ = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \qquad \quad \sin 60^\circ = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \qquad \qquad \quad \ \ \sin 30^\circ = \frac{1}{2} \\ & \cos 45^\circ = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \qquad \ \ \cos 60^\circ = \frac{1}{2} \qquad \qquad \qquad \ \ \cos 30^\circ = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \\ & \tan 45^\circ = 1 \qquad \quad \ \ \tan 60^\circ = \frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}{\frac{1}{2}}=\sqrt{3} \qquad \quad \tan 30^\circ = \frac{\frac{1}{2}}{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\end{align*}

These triangles can now fit inside the unit circle.

Putting together the trigonometric ratios and the coordinates of the points on the circle, which represent the lengths of the legs of the triangles, \begin{align*}(\Delta x, \Delta y)\end{align*}, we can see that each point is actually \begin{align*}(\cos \theta, \sin \theta)\end{align*}, where \begin{align*}\theta\end{align*} is the reference angle. For example, \begin{align*}\sin 60^\circ=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\end{align*} is the \begin{align*}y\end{align*} – coordinate of the point on the unit circle in the triangle with reference angle \begin{align*}60^\circ\end{align*}. By reflecting these triangles across the axes and finding the points on the axes, we can find the trigonometric ratios of all multiples of \begin{align*}0^\circ, 30^\circ\end{align*} and \begin{align*}45^\circ\end{align*} (or \begin{align*}0, \frac{\pi}{6}, \frac{\pi}{4}\end{align*} radians).

Let's solve the following problems using the unit circle.

1. Find \begin{align*}\sin \frac{3 \pi}{2}\end{align*}.

Find \begin{align*}\frac{3 \pi}{2}\end{align*} on the unit circle and the corresponding point is \begin{align*}(0, -1)\end{align*}. Since each point on the unit circle is \begin{align*}(\cos \theta, \sin \theta), \sin \frac{3 \pi}{2}=-1\end{align*}.

1. Find \begin{align*}\tan \frac{7 \pi}{6}\end{align*}.

This time we need to look at the ratio \begin{align*}\frac{\sin \theta}{\cos \theta}\end{align*}. We can use the unit circle to find \begin{align*}\sin \frac{7 \pi}{6}=-\frac{1}{2}\end{align*} and \begin{align*}\cos \frac{7 \pi}{6}=-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\end{align*}. Now, \begin{align*} \tan \frac{7 \pi}{6}=\frac{-\frac{1}{2}}{-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\end{align*}.

### Quadrants in a Unit Circle

Another way to approach these exact value problems is to use the reference angles and the special right triangles. The benefit of this method is that there is no need to memorize the entire unit circle. If you memorize the special right triangles, can determine reference angles and know where the ratios are positive and negative you can put the pieces together to get the ratios. Looking at the unit circle above, we see that all of the ratios are positive in Quadrant I, sine is the only positive ratio in Quadrant II, tangent is the only positive ratio in Quadrant III and cosine is the only positive ratio in Quadrant IV.

Keeping this diagram in mind will help you remember where cosine, sine and tangent are positive and negative. You can also use the pneumonic device - All Students Take Calculus, or ASTC, to recall which is positive (all the others would be negative) in which quadrant.

The coordinates on the vertices will help you determine the ratios for the multiples of \begin{align*}90^\circ\end{align*} or \begin{align*}\frac{\pi}{2}\end{align*}.

Now, let's find the exact values for the following trigonometric functions using the alternative method.

1. \begin{align*}\cos 120^\circ\end{align*}

First, we need to determine in which quadrant the angles lies. Since \begin{align*}120^\circ\end{align*} is between \begin{align*}90^\circ\end{align*} and \begin{align*}180^\circ\end{align*} it will lie in Quadrant II. Next, find the reference angle. Since we are in QII, we will subtract from \begin{align*}180^\circ\end{align*} to get \begin{align*}60^\circ\end{align*}. We can use the reference angle to find the ratio, \begin{align*}\cos 60^\circ=\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}. Since we are in QII where only sine is positive, \begin{align*}\cos 120^\circ=-\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}.

1. \begin{align*}\sin \frac{5 \pi}{3}\end{align*}

This time we will need to work in terms of radians but the process is the same. The angle \begin{align*}\frac{5 \pi}{3}\end{align*} lies in QIV and the reference angle is \begin{align*}\frac{\pi}{3}\end{align*}. This means that our ratio will be negative. Since \begin{align*}\sin \frac{\pi}{3}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \sin \frac{5 \pi}{3}=-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\end{align*}.

1. \begin{align*}\tan \frac{7 \pi}{2}\end{align*}

The angle \begin{align*}\frac{7 \pi}{2}\end{align*} represents more than one entire revolution and it is equivalent to \begin{align*}2 \pi + \frac{3 \pi}{2}\end{align*}. Since our angle is a multiple of \begin{align*}\frac{\pi}{2}\end{align*} we are looking at an angle on an axis. In this case, the point is \begin{align*}(0, -1)\end{align*}. Because \begin{align*}\tan \theta=\frac{\sin \theta}{\cos \theta}, \tan \frac{7 \pi}{2}=\frac{-1}{0}\end{align*}, which is undefined. Thus, \begin{align*}\tan \frac{7 \pi}{2}\end{align*} is undefined.

### Examples

#### Example 1

Earlier, you were asked to find the exact values of the following trigonometric ratios.

1. \begin{align*}\cos 495^\circ\end{align*}

First, we need to determine in which quadrant the angle lies. Since \begin{align*}495^\circ - 360^\circ = 135^\circ\end{align*} is between \begin{align*}90^\circ\end{align*} and \begin{align*}180^\circ\end{align*} it will lie in Quadrant II. Next, find the reference angle. Since we are in QII, we will subtract from \begin{align*}180^\circ\end{align*} to get \begin{align*}45^\circ\end{align*}. We can use the reference angle to find the ratio, \begin{align*}\cos 45^\circ=\frac{\sqrt {2}}{2}\end{align*}. Since we are in QII where only sine is positive, \begin{align*}\cos 495^\circ=-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\end{align*}.

1. \begin{align*}\tan \frac{5\pi}{3}\end{align*}

In problem #2 above we established that the angle \begin{align*}\frac{5 \pi}{3}\end{align*} lies in QIV and the reference angle is \begin{align*}\frac{\pi}{3}\end{align*}. This means that the tangent ratio will be negative. Since \begin{align*}\tan \frac{\pi}{3}=\sqrt{3}, \tan \frac{5 \pi}{3}=-\sqrt{3}\end{align*}.

Find the exact trigonometric ratios. You may use either method.

#### Example 2

\begin{align*}\cos \frac{7 \pi}{3}\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\frac{7 \pi}{3}\end{align*}  has a reference angle of \begin{align*}\frac{\pi}{3}\end{align*} in QI. \begin{align*}\cos \frac{\pi}{3}=\frac{1}{2}\end{align*} and since cosine is positive in QI, \begin{align*}\cos \frac{7 \pi}{3}=\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}.

#### Example 3

\begin{align*}\tan \frac{9 \pi}{2}\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\frac{9 \pi}{2}\end{align*} is coterminal to \begin{align*}\frac{\pi}{2}\end{align*} which has coordinates (0, 1). So \begin{align*}\tan \frac{9 \pi}{2}=\frac{\sin \frac{9 \pi}{2}}{\cos \frac{9 \pi}{2}}=\frac{1}{0}\end{align*} which is undefined.

#### Example 4

\begin{align*}\sin 405^\circ\end{align*}

\begin{align*}405^\circ\end{align*} has a reference angle of \begin{align*}45^\circ\end{align*} in QI. \begin{align*}\sin 45^\circ=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\end{align*} and since sine is positive in QI, \begin{align*}\sin 405^\circ=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\end{align*}.

#### Example 5

\begin{align*}\tan \frac{11 \pi}{6}\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\frac{11 \pi}{6}\end{align*} is coterminal to \begin{align*}\frac{\pi}{6}\end{align*} in QIV. \begin{align*}\tan \frac{\pi}{6}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\end{align*} and since tangent is negative in QIV, \begin{align*}\tan \frac{11 \pi}{6}=-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\end{align*}.

#### \begin{align*}\cos \frac{2 \pi}{3}\end{align*}

\begin{align*}\frac{2 \pi}{3}\end{align*} is coterminal to \begin{align*}\frac{\pi}{3}\end{align*} in QII. \begin{align*}\cos \frac{\pi}{3}=\frac{1}{2}\end{align*} and since cosine is negative in QII, \begin{align*}\cos \frac{2 \pi}{3}=\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}.

### Review

Find the exact values for the following trigonometric functions.

1. \begin{align*}\sin \frac{3 \pi}{4}\end{align*}
2. \begin{align*}\cos \frac{3 \pi}{2}\end{align*}
3. \begin{align*}\tan 300^\circ\end{align*}
4. \begin{align*}\sin 150^\circ\end{align*}
5. \begin{align*}\cos \frac{4 \pi}{3}\end{align*}
6. \begin{align*}\tan \pi\end{align*}
7. \begin{align*}\cos \left(-\frac{15 \pi}{4}\right)\end{align*}
8. \begin{align*}\sin 225^\circ\end{align*}
9. \begin{align*}\tan \frac{7 \pi}{6}\end{align*}
10. \begin{align*}\sin 315^\circ\end{align*}
11. \begin{align*}\cos 450^\circ\end{align*}
12. \begin{align*}\sin \left(-\frac{7 \pi}{2}\right)\end{align*}
13. \begin{align*}\cos \frac{17 \pi}{6}\end{align*}
14. \begin{align*}\tan 270^\circ\end{align*}
15. \begin{align*}\sin(-210^\circ)\end{align*}

To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 13.7.

### Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes

### Vocabulary Language: English

Coterminal

Two angles are coterminal if they are drawn in the standard position and both have terminal sides that are at the same location.

Coterminal Angles

A set of coterminal angles are angles with the same terminal side but expressed differently, such as a different number of complete rotations around the unit circle or angles being expressed as positive versus negative angle measurements.

A quadrant is one-fourth of the coordinate plane. The four quadrants are numbered using Roman Numerals I, II, III, and IV, starting in the top-right, and increasing counter-clockwise.

unit circle

The unit circle is a circle of radius one, centered at the origin.