Calculus Volume 1

Chapter 1 | Functions and Graphs

63

Degrees Radians Degrees Radians

2 π /3

0

0

120

π /6

3 π /4

30

135

π /4

5 π /6

45

150

π /3

π

60

180

π /2

90

Table 1.8 Common Angles Expressed in Degrees and Radians

Example 1.22 Converting between Radians and Degrees a. Express 225° using radians. b. Express 5 π /3 rad using degrees.

Solution Use the fact that 180° is equivalent to π radians as a conversion factor: 1= π rad 180° =

180° π rad

.

a. 225° = 225° · π

5 π 4

rad

180° =

b. 5 π 3

rad = 5 π

180°

π =300°

3 ·

Express 210° using radians. Express 11 π /6 rad using degrees.

1.17

The Six Basic Trigonometric Functions Trigonometric functions allow us to use angle measures, in radians or degrees, to find the coordinates of a point on any circle—not only on a unit circle—or to find an angle given a point on a circle. They also define the relationship among the sides and angles of a triangle. To define the trigonometric functions, first consider the unit circle centered at the origin and a point P = ( x , y ) on the unit circle. Let θ be an angle with an initial side that lies along the positive x -axis and with a terminal side that is the line segment OP . An angle in this position is said to be in standard position ( Figure 1.31 ). We can then define the values of the six trigonometric functions for θ in terms of the coordinates x and y .

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