The Unit Circle (DP IB Maths: AI HL)

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Defining Sin, Cos and Tan

What is the unit circle?

  • The unit circle is a circle with radius 1 and centre (0, 0)
  • Angles are always measured from the positive x-axis and turn:
    • anticlockwise for positive angles
    • clockwise for negative angles
  • It can be used to calculate trig values as a coordinate point (x, y) on the circle
    • Trig values can be found by making a right triangle with the radius as the hypotenuse
    • θ is the angle measured anticlockwise from the positive x-axis
    • The x-axis will always be adjacent to the angle, θ
  • SOHCAHTOA can be used to find the values of sinθ, cosθ and tanθ easily
  • As the radius is 1 unit
    • the x coordinate gives the value of cosθ
    • the y coordinate gives the value of sinθ
  • As the origin is one of the end points - dividing the y coordinate by the x coordinate gives the gradient
    • the gradient of the line gives the value of tanθ
  • It allows us to calculate sin, cos and tan for angles greater than 90° (begin mathsize 16px style straight pi over 2 end stylerad)

ib-aa-sl-the-unit-circle-diagram-1

How is the unit circle used to construct the graphs of sine and cosine?

  • On the unit circle the y-coordinates give the value of sine
    • Plot the y-coordinate from the unit circle as the y-coordinate on a trig graph for x-coordinates of θ = 0, π/2, π, 3π/2 and 2π
    • Join these points up using a smooth curve
      • To get a clearer idea of the shape of the curve the points for x-coordinates of θ = π/4, 3π/4, 5π/4 and 7π/4 could also be plotted

3-4-1-ib-ai-hl-unit-circle-sine-graph-diagram-1

  • On the unit circle the x-coordinates give the value of cosine
    • Plot the x-coordinate from the unit circle as the y-coordinate on a trig graph for x-coordinates of θ = 0, π/4, π/2, 3π/4 and 2π
    • Join these points up using a smooth curve
      • To get a clearer idea of the shape of the curve the points for x-coordinates of θ = π/4, 3π/4, 5π/4 and 7π/4 could also be plotted

3-4-1-ib-ai-hl-unit-circle-cosine-graph-diagram-2

  • Looking at the unit circle alongside of the sine or cosine graph will help to visualise this clearer

Worked example

The coordinates of a point on a unit circle, to 3 significant figures, are (0.629, 0.777). Find θ° to the nearest degree.

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Using The Unit Circle

What are the properties of the unit circle?

  • The unit circle can be split into four quadrants at every 90° (begin mathsize 16px style straight pi over 2 end style rad)
    • The first quadrant is for angles between 0 and 90° 
      • All three of Sinθ, Cosθ and Tanθ are positive in this quadrant
    • The second quadrant is for angles between 90° and 180° (begin mathsize 16px style straight pi over 2 end style rad and begin mathsize 16px style straight pi end style rad)
      • Sinθ is positive in this quadrant
    • The third quadrant is for angles between 180° and 270° (begin mathsize 16px style straight pi end style rad and begin mathsize 16px style fraction numerator 3 straight pi over denominator 2 end fraction end style)
      • Tanθ is positive in this quadrant
    • The fourth quadrant is for angles between 270° and 360° (begin mathsize 16px style fraction numerator 3 straight pi over denominator 2 end fraction end style rad and begin mathsize 16px style 2 straight pi end style)
      • Cosθ is positive in this quadrant
    • Starting from the fourth quadrant (on the bottom right) and working anti-clockwise the positive trig functions spell out CAST
      • This is why it is often thought of as the CAST diagram
      • You may have your own way of remembering this
      • A popular one starting from the first quadrant is All Students Take Calculus
    • To help picture this better try sketching all three trig graphs on one set of axes and look at which graphs are positive in each 90° section

How is the unit circle used to find secondary solutions?

  • Trigonometric functions have more than one input to each output
    • For example sin 30° = sin 150° = 0.5
    • This means that trigonometric equations have more than one solution
    • For example both 30° and 150° satisfy the equation sin x = 0.5
  • The unit circle can be used to find all solutions to trigonometric equations in a given interval
    • Your calculator will only give you the first solution to a problem such as x = sin-1(0.5)
      • This solution is called the primary value
    • However, due to the periodic nature of the trig functions there could be an infinite number of solutions
      • Further solutions are called the secondary values
    • This is why you will be given a domain in which your solutions should be found
      • This could either be in degrees or in radians
      • If you see π or some multiple of π then you must work in radians
  • The following steps may help you use the unit circle to find secondary values

STEP 1: Draw the angle into the first quadrant using the x or y coordinate to help you

  • If you are working with sin x = k, draw the line from the origin to the circumference of the circle at the point where the y coordinate is k
  • If you are working with cos x = k, draw the line from the origin to the circumference of the circle at the point where the x coordinate is k
  • If you are working with tan x = k, draw the line from the origin to the circumference of the circle such that the gradient of the line is k
    • Note that whilst this method works for tan, it is complicated and generally unnecessary, tan x repeats every 180° (π radians) so the quickest method is just to add or subtract multiples of 180° to the primary value
  • This will give you the angle which should be measured from the positive x-axis…
      • … anticlockwise for a positive angle
      • … clockwise for a negative angle

STEP 2: Draw the radius in the other quadrant which has the same...

  • ... x-coordinate if solving cos x = k
    • This will be the quadrant which is vertical to the original quadrant
  • ... y-coordinate if solving sin x = k
    • This will be the quadrant which is horizontal to the original quadrant
  • ... gradient if solving tan x = k
    • This will be the quadrant diagonally across from the original quadrant

STEP 3: Work out the size of the second angle, measuring from the positive x-axis

  • … anticlockwise for a positive angle
  • … clockwise for a negative angle
    • You should look at the given range of values to decide whether you need the negative or positive angle

STEP 4: Add or subtract either 360° or 2π radians to both values until you have all solutions in the required range

aa-sl-3-4-1-using-the-unit-circle-diagram-1

Examiner Tip

  • Being able to sketch out the unit circle and remembering CAST can help you to find all solutions to a problem in an exam question

Worked example

Given that one solution of cosθ = 0.8 is θ = 0.6435 radians correct to 4 decimal places, find all other solutions in the range -2π ≤ θ ≤ 2π.  Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.

aa-sl-3-4-1-using-the-unit-circle-we-solution-2

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Amber

Author: Amber

Expertise: Maths

Amber gained a first class degree in Mathematics & Meteorology from the University of Reading before training to become a teacher. She is passionate about teaching, having spent 8 years teaching GCSE and A Level Mathematics both in the UK and internationally. Amber loves creating bright and informative resources to help students reach their potential.