Finding Reference Angles

It is necessary to be able to make larger angles smaller.

We do this by finding reference angles:
Determine the reference angle
for 140 degree angle.

Step:
1. Start by drawing the given angle
2. Now, we determine how many
degrees it is until we get to the
x-axis (horizon)

40

140

3. This is your reference angle

4. A reference angle is always
positive
40 degrees is the reference angle
for 140 degrees

180 140 40

A reference angle must be an

ACUTE angle!!

Determine the reference angle

for a 240 degree angle.

Determine the reference angle

for a 323 degree angle.

240

323

60

240 180 60

360 323 37
In the first quadrant, the
angles are acute, so no need
to find a reference angle.

37

Determine the reference angle

for a 470 degree angle.

Determine the reference angle

for a -125 degree angle.

470
70
55
125
470 360 110
180 110 70

180 125 55

Homework
Page 8 & 9
#16,28

Applications of reference angles:

Express as a function of
a positive acute angle:

tan 100
80

100

Step:
1. Start by drawing the given angle
2. Find the reference angle
3. Rewrite the function using reference
angle
4. Determine SIGN of function in
quadrant where it was drawn

tan 80

What is tan in quadrant II?

tan 80
180 100 80

tan 100 tan 80

Express as a function of
a positive acute angle:

Express as a function of
a positive acute angle:

cos 241

sin 492
492

241

48

61

492 360 132

241 180 61
cos 61
cos 61

180 132 48
sin 48

Applications of reference angles:

Find the exact value of
each expression:
Reference
angle

cos 120

60

120

Step:
1. Start by drawing the given angle
2. Find the reference angle
Since
cos is negative
in
3. Rewrite
the function
using reference
angle quadrant II, then the exact
value is negative as well
4. Determine SIGN of function in
quadrant where it was drawn
5. Now find exact value using exact
value chart

180 120 60
cos 60

1
cos 60
2
Cos in quad II is negative

1
2

2
2

3
2

3
2

2
2

1
2

3
3

undefined

Find the exact value of each expression:

tan 315

45

315

360 315 45
tan 45
tan 45 1

1
2

2
2

3
2

3
2

2
2

1
2

3
3

undefined

Find the exact value of each expression:

sin 120
60

cos 210
120

210
30

180 120 60

3
sin 60
2

210 180 30
cos 30

3
cos 30
2

Find the exact value of each expression:

sin 600

tan 30

600
30
60

600 360 240

240 180 60
sin 60

3
sin 60
2

tan 30

3
tan 30
3

30

Exact Values of quadrantal angles:

We are going to graph four points and use
our knowledge of the unit circle to help us!

P cos , sin
sin

0,1

cos

y-value is sin

1,0

1,0
0,1

Just use these points to find the sin or cos

of any angle falling on that line.

sin 90 1
cos 180 1

sin 360 0

Exact Values of quadrantal angles:

How do we find tan of these angles?

0,1
1,0

Remember:

tan 180

0
sin 180
0

1
cos 180

tan 270

0,1

sin
cos

1
sin 90
undefined
0
cos 90

tan 90

1,0

tan

tan 360

undefined

Homework

Page 8 & 9
#8-14,21,24