is inscribed within the circle. Coordinates
measured from 0 along the x axis to thc right are
positive; coordinates measured from 0 along the
x axis to the left are negative. Coordinates
measured along the y axis from 0 upward are
positive; coordinates measured along the y axis
from 0 downward are negative.
Angles are generated by the motion of a point
P counterclockwise along the circumference of the
circle. The initial leg of any angle is the positive
leg of the x axis. The other leg is the radius r, at
the end of which the point P is located; this radius
always has a value of 1. The unit radius (r = OC)
is subdivided into 10 equal parts, so the value of
each of the 10 subdivisions shown is 0.1.
For any angle,
the point P has three
coordinates: the x coordinate, the y coordinate,
and the r coordinate (which always has a value
of 1 in this case). The functions of any angle are,
collectively, various ratios that prevail between
these coordinates.
The ratio between y and r (that is, y/r) is
called the sine of an angle. In figure 1-21, AP
seems to measure about 0.7 of y; therefore, the
sine 8, which is equal to 45° in this case, would
seem to be 0.7/1, or about 0.7. Actually, the sine
of 45° is 0.70711. Graphically, the sine is indicated
in figure 1-21 by the line AP, which measures 0.7
to the scale of the drawing.
The ratio between x and r (that is, x/r) is
called the cosine of the angle. You can see that
for 45°, x and y are equal, and the fact that they
are can be proven geometrically. Therefore, the
cosine of 45° is the same as the sine of 45°, or
0.70711. Graphically, the length of line OA
represents the cosine of angle 0 when the radius
(r) is equal to 1.
The ratio between y and x (that is, y/x) is
known as the tangent of an angle. Since y and x
for an angle of 45° are equal, it follows that the
tangent of an angle of 45° equals 1. The tangent
is also indicated graphically by the line BC, drawn
tangent to the circle at C and intersecting the
extended r at B and DB, which is also drawn
tangent at D. As you examine figure 1-21, you
can deduce that BC is equal to OC. OC is equal
to the unit radius, r.
The three functions shown in figure 1-21 are
called the direct functions. For each direct
function there is a corresponding reciprocal
functionmeaning a function that results when
you divide 1 by the direct function. You know
that the reciprocal of any fraction is simply the
fraction inverted. Therefore, for the direct
function sine, which is y/r, the reciprocal
function (called the cosecant) is divided by y/r,
which is r/y.
Since y at sine 45° equals about 0.7, the
cosecant for 45° is r/y, which is equal to 1/0.7,
or about 1.4. The cosecant is indicated graphically
by the line OB in figure 1-21. If you measure this
line, you will find that it measures just about 1.4
units to the scale of the drawing.
For the direct function cosine, which is x/r,
the reciprocal function (called the secant) is r/x.
Since x for cosine 45° also measures about 0.7,
it follows that the secant for 45°, r/x, is the same
as the cosecant, or also about 1.4. The secant is
indicated graphically in figure 1-21 by the line OB
also.
For the direct function tangent, which is y/x
the reciprocal function (called the cotangent) is
x/y. Since x and y at tangent 45° are equal, it
follows that the value for cotangent 45° is the
same as that for the tangent, or 1. The cotangent
is shown graphically in figure 1-21 by the line DB,
drawn tangent to the circle at D.
FUNCTIONS AND COFUNCTIONS
The functions cosine, cosecant, and cotangent
are cofunctions of the functions sine, secant, and
tangent, respectively. A cofunction of an angle
A has the same value as the corresponding
function of (90° A); that is, the same value as
the corresponding function of the complement of
the angle. The sine of 30°, for example, is
0.50000. The cosine of 60° (the complement of
30°) is likewise 0.50000. The tangent of 30° is
0.57735. The cotangent of 60° (the complement
of 30°) is likewise 0.57735.
Commonly used functions and cofunctions are
as follows:
sin A = cos (90° A)
sec A = csc (90° A)
tan A = cot (90° A)
FUNCTIONS OF
OBTUSE ANGLES
In figure 1-22, the point P has generated an
obtuse (larger than 90°) angle of 135°. This angle
is the supplement of 45° (two angles are
supplementary when they total 180°). We have
left a dotted image of the reference angle A, which
is equal to the supplementary angle of 135°. You
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