Sin, Cos and Tan

Summary

  • sin\theta \quad =\quad \frac { opposite }{ hypotenuse }
  • cos\theta \quad =\quad \frac { adjacent }{ hypotenuse }
  • tan\theta \quad =\quad \frac { opposite }{ adjacent }
  • First Quadrant: All are positive in this quadrant.
  • Second Quadrant: Only sin is positive in this quadrant.
  • Third Quadrant: Only tan is positive in this quadrant.
  • Fourth Quadrant: Only cos is positive in this quadrant.

sin\theta \quad =\quad \frac { opposite }{ hypotenuse }

cos\theta \quad =\quad \frac { adjacent }{ hypotenuse } tan\theta \quad =\quad \frac { opposite }{ adjacent }

 

We now consider angles in cartesian plane. We divide the plane into four quadrants in the anticlockwise sense as shown in the diagram. An angle formed, when the line OA rotates anticlockwise is taken to be positive, while clockwise rotation gives negative angles.

The angle  \alpha   is always acute regardless of the value of  \theta   and is called the ”associated acute angle”.

i) First Quadrant:

In the first quadrant,  \theta is acute and all values of x, y and r are positive, therefore all the trigonometric ratios are positive.

cos\theta \quad =\quad \frac { x }{ r } \quad >\quad 0,

cos\theta \quad =\quad \frac { x }{ r } \quad >\quad 0,

tan\theta \quad =\quad \frac { y }{ x } \quad >\quad 0

ii) Second Quadrant:

Acute angle \alpha \quad =\quad 180\quad -\quad \theta

Hence:

sin\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { +y }{ r } \quad >\quad 0,\quad (+)

cos\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { -x }{ r } \quad <\quad 0,\quad (-)

tan\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { y }{ -x } \quad <\quad 0,\quad (-)

iii) Third Quadrant:

In this quadrant angle  \alpha   and  \theta   are related by  \theta \quad =\quad 180\quad +\quad \alpha

Hence:

sin\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { -y }{ r } \quad <\quad 0,\quad (-)

cos\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { -x }{ r } \quad <\quad 0,\quad (-)

tan\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { -y }{ -x } \quad >\quad 0,\quad (+)

iv) Fourth Quadrant:

In this quadrant angle  \alpha   and  \theta   are related by  \theta \quad =\quad 360\quad -\quad \alpha

Hence:

sin\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { -y }{ r } \quad <\quad 0,\quad (-)

cos\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { x }{ r } \quad >\quad 0,\quad (+)

tan\alpha \quad =\quad \frac { -y }{ x } \quad <\quad 0,\quad (-)

The signs of the trigonometric ratios in the four quadrants can be summarised in the following “ACTS” diagram.

Graphs of sin, cos and tan

  • sin  \theta

  • cos  \theta

  • tan  \theta

Reference
  1. https://www.intmath.com/trigonometric-graphs/4-graphs-tangent-cotangent-secant-cosecant.php
  2. https://www.intmath.com/trigonometric-graphs/4-graphs-tangent-cotangent-secant-cosecant.php