GRADE 11- TRIGONOMETRY
Reduction formulae
NOTATION:
An angle can be measured in the CARTESIAN PLANE where the initial ray is at 0 on the positive side of
the x-axis and the terminal ray rotates in an anticlockwise direction.
EXAMPLE
OP, the terminal ray, rotates from 0 to its terminal position, anticlockwise.
Vocabulary: If is rotated in each quadrant then the:
Terminal Ray in Quadrant 1 forms acute angles. i.e. 0<<90
Terminal Ray in Quadrant 2 forms acute angles. i.e. 90<<180
Terminal Ray in Quadrant 3 forms acute angles. i.e. 180<<270
Terminal Ray in Quadrant 4 forms acute angles. i.e. 270<<360
What is the connection between the following?
sin 30° → sin 150° → sin 360° → sin(−330°)
One of the challenges in trigonometry is to express in the trig function (sin/ cos/ tan) of non-acute angle
as the equivalent trig function of an acute angle. When we do this we can recognize special relationships
and evaluate our answers much more easily. (Things will cancel or we can evaluate functions with
special angles, but more about this later.)
INVESTIGATION
DETERMINE THE SIGNS OF THE RESPECTIVE TRIG FUNCTIONS IN EACH OF THE 4 QUADRANTS.
THINK CAREFULLY HOW YOU WOULD DO THIS.
VERIFY YOUR ANSWERS USING A CALCULATOR
Using our knowledge of the signs in the respective quadrants (& some other creative stuffs) it is possible
to convert the trig function of a non-acute angle to an equivalent trig function of an acute angle.
EXAMPLE
A. NORMAL REDUCTION FORMULAE – Moving from horizontal
1.
What is the connection between 150 and 30?
150 is the difference between 180 and 30, i.e. 150=180-30
150 has its terminal ray in Quad II, and 30 is the associated Acute angle.
ALL ANGLES IN QUAD II can be written as 180 - ACCUTE ANGLE.
For example:
120° = 180° − 60° ; 170° = 180° − 10°; 135° = 180° − 45° ; 100° = 180° − 80°
In general, we say Quad II angle = 180 - , where is the ACUTE.
QUAD II
Terminal ray OP is in Quad II obtuse angle is 𝟏𝟖𝟎° − 𝜽
sin(180 − ) = sin
cos(180 − ) = −cos
tan(180 − ) = −tan
2.
What is the connection between 240 and 60?
240 is the sum of 180 and 60, i.e. 240=180+60
240 has its terminal ray in Quad III, and 60 is the associated Acute angle.
ALL ANGLES IN QUAD III can be written as 180 + ACCUTE ANGLE.
For example:
210° = 180° + 30° ; 250° = 180° − 70°; 225° = 180° + 45° ; 200° = 180° + 20°
In general, we say Quad II angle = 180 + , where is the ACUTE.
QUAD III
Terminal ray OP is in Quad III reflex angle is 𝟏𝟖𝟎° + 𝜽
sin(180 + ) = −sin
cos(180 + ) = −cos
tan(180 + ) = tan
3.
What is the connection between 315 and 45?
315 is the difference between 360 and 45, i.e. 315=360-45
315 has its terminal ray in Quad IV, and 45 is the associated Acute angle.
ALL ANGLES IN QUAD IV can be written as 360 - ACCUTE ANGLE.
For example:
300° = 360° + 60° ; 280° = 360° − 80°; 330° = 360° − 30° ; 350° = 360° − 10°
In general, we say Quad IV angle = 360 - , where is the ACUTE.
QUAD IV
Terminal ray OP is in Quad IV reflex angle is 𝟑𝟔𝟎° − 𝜽
sin(360 − ) = −sin
cos(360 − ) = cos
tan(360 − ) = −tan
CAST DIAGRAM
The ASTC or CAST or unit circle method for finding two angles having a given
sin, cos or tan
In this method you draw a set of axes and label the quadrants 1, 2, 3 and 4 with the
letters A, S, T and C respectively as shown in the diagrams below. The letters mean:
A: all three functions, sin, cos and tan are positive in this quadrant
S: only the sin function is positive in this quadrant
T: only the tan function is positive in this quadrant
C: only the cos function is positive in this quadrant
Next you draw two triangles in standard position on the diagram. The two triangles
are congruent (identical) and must be drawn in the two quadrants that have the correct
sign for your function. The various diagrams below show all the possible
combinations. Make sure that you understand each of them. Then you use your
calculator to get the first angle, θPV , and finally you use the symmetry of the diagram
to get the second angle, θ2 .
