Learning Objectives
In this section you will:
7.3.1 – Find function values for sine and cosine for special angles.
7.3.1 – Finding Sines and Cosines of Special Angles
We have already learned some properties of the special angles, such as the conversion from radians to degrees, and we found their sines and cosines using right triangles. We can also calculate sines and cosines of the special angles using the Pythagorean Identity.
Finding Sines and Cosines of [latex]\,45^{\circ}\,[/latex] Angles
First, we will look at angles of [latex]\,45^{\circ}\,[/latex] or [latex]\,\frac{\pi }{4},[/latex] as shown in (Figure). A [latex]\,45^{\circ}–45^{\circ}–90^{\circ}\,[/latex] triangle is an isosceles triangle, so the x- and y-coordinates of the corresponding point on the circle are the same. Because the x- and y-values are the same, the sine and cosine values will also be equal.
At [latex]\,t=\frac{\pi }{4},[/latex] which is 45 degrees, the radius of the unit circle bisects the first quadrantal angle. This means the radius lies along the line [latex]\,y=x.\,[/latex] A unit circle has a radius equal to 1 so the right triangle formed below the line [latex]\,y=x\,[/latex] has sides [latex]\,x\,[/latex] and [latex]\,y\text{ }\left(y=x\right),[/latex] and radius = 1. See (Figure).
From the Pythagorean Theorem we get
We can then substitute [latex]\,y=x.[/latex]
Next we combine like terms.
And solving for [latex]\,x,[/latex] we get
In quadrant I, [latex]\,x=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}.[/latex]
At [latex]\,t=\frac{\pi }{4}\,[/latex] or 45 degrees,
If we then rationalize the denominators, we get
Therefore, the [latex]\,\left(x,y\right)\,[/latex] coordinates of a point on a circle of radius [latex]\,1\,[/latex] at an angle of [latex]\,45^{\circ}\,[/latex] are [latex]\,\left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2},\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right).[/latex]
Finding Sines and Cosines of [latex]\,30^{\circ}\,[/latex] and [latex]\,60^{\circ}\,[/latex] Angles
Next, we will find the cosine and sine at an angle of [latex]\,30^{\circ},[/latex] or [latex]\,\frac{\pi }{6}.\,[/latex] First, we will draw a triangle inside a circle with one side at an angle of [latex]\,30^{\circ},[/latex] and another at an angle of [latex]\,-30^{\circ},[/latex] as shown in (Figure). If the resulting two right triangles are combined into one large triangle, notice that all three angles of this larger triangle will be [latex]\,60^{\circ},[/latex] as shown in (Figure).
Because all the angles are equal, the sides are also equal. The vertical line has length [latex]\,2y,[/latex] and since the sides are all equal, we can also conclude that [latex]\,r=2y\,[/latex] or [latex]\,y=\frac{1}{2}r.\,[/latex] Since [latex]\,\mathrm{sin}\,t=y,[/latex]
And since [latex]\,r=1\,[/latex] in our unit circle,
Using the Pythagorean Identity, we can find the cosine value.
The [latex]\,\left(x,y\right)\,[/latex] coordinates for the point on a circle of radius [latex]\,1\,[/latex] at an angle of [latex]\,30^{\circ}\,[/latex] are [latex]\,\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2