When drawing angles expressed in radians, it can be helpful to convert the angle to degrees first. This is especially helpful when writing trigonometric ratios in terms of reference angles, as we usually need to determine which quadrant the angle lies in.

Let's express the following trigonometric ratio in terms of a reference angle:

\sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right)

You might find it tricky to visualize this angle straight off the bat. So, let's start by converting the angle measure into degrees.

To convert the measure of an angle in radians to an equivalent measure in degrees, we multiply the measure in radians by \dfrac{180^\circ}{\pi}. This gives

\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right) \cdot \left(\dfrac {180^\circ} {\pi}\right) = 120^\circ.

Therefore \dfrac{2\pi}{3} is equivalent to 120^\circ, which lies in the 2 nd quadrant.

Now, to express \sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right) in terms of \sin\theta_R, we follow three steps:

  1. Find its reference angle \theta_R.

  2. Calculate the value of the function for \theta_R.

  3. Determine whether the resulting value is positive or negative.

Step 1: Since \theta = \dfrac{2\pi}{3} is in the 2 nd quadrant, the reference angle \theta_R is

\begin{align*} \theta_R &= \pi - \theta\\[5pt] &= \pi - \dfrac{2\pi}{3} \\[5pt] &= \dfrac{3\pi}{3} - \dfrac{2\pi}{3} \\[5pt] &= \dfrac{\pi}{3}. \end{align*}

Step 2: The given ratio is \sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right) , and therefore we're interested in \sin\theta_R = \sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right).

Step 3: The ratio \sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right) must be positive because the sine ratio is always positive in the 2 nd quadrant. Therefore,

\sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right) = \sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right).

And we're done!

Let's see another example.

FLAG

Express \sin\left(\dfrac{8\pi}{5}\right) in terms of a reference angle.

EXPLANATION

To help us to visualize the angle, we first convert the measure of the angle into degrees.

To convert the measure of an angle in radians to an equivalent measure in degrees, we multiply the measure in radians by \dfrac{180^\circ}{\pi}. This gives

\left(\dfrac{8\pi}{5}\right) \cdot \left(\dfrac {180^\circ} {\pi}\right) = 288^\circ.

Therefore \dfrac{8\pi}{5} is equivalent to 288^\circ, which lies in the 4 th quadrant.

To express \sin\left(\dfrac{8\pi}{5}\right) in terms of \sin\theta_R, we follow three steps:

  1. Find its reference angle \theta_R.

  2. Calculate the value of the function for \theta_R.

  3. Determine whether the resulting value is positive or negative.

Step 1: Since \theta = \dfrac{8\pi}{5} is in the 4 th quadrant, the reference angle \theta_R is

\begin{align*} \theta_R &= 2\pi - \theta\\[5pt] &= 2\pi - \dfrac{8\pi}{5}\\[5pt] &= \dfrac{10\pi}{5} - \dfrac{8\pi}{5}\\[5pt] &= \dfrac{2\pi}{5}. \end{align*}

Step 2: The given ratio is \sin\left(\dfrac{8\pi}{5}\right) , and therefore we're interested in \sin\theta_R = \sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{5}\right).

Step 3: The ratio \sin\left(\dfrac{8\pi}{5}\right) must be negative because the sine ratio is always negative in the 4 th quadrant. Therefore,

\sin\left(\dfrac{8\pi}{5}\right) = -\sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{5}\right).

FLAG

Express $\sin\left(\dfrac{3\pi}{5}\right)$ in terms of a reference angle.

a
$\sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{5}\right)$
b
$\sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{5}\right)$
c
$-\sin\left(\dfrac{3\pi}{5}\right)$
d
$-\sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{5}\right)$
e
$-\sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{5}\right)$

Express $\sin\left(\dfrac{4\pi}{3}\right)$ in terms of a reference angle.

a
$ \sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right)$
b
$-\sin\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right)$
c
$ -\sin\left(\dfrac{4\pi}{3}\right)$
d
$ \sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$
e
$ -\sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$

Express \cos\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{5}\right) in terms of a reference angle.

EXPLANATION

To help us to visualize the angle, we first convert the measure of the angle into degrees.

To convert the measure of an angle in radians to an equivalent measure in degrees, we multiply the measure in radians by \dfrac{180^\circ}{\pi}. This gives

\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{5}\right) \cdot \left(\dfrac {180^\circ} {\pi}\right) = 252^\circ.

Therefore \dfrac{7\pi}{5} is equivalent to 252^\circ, which lies in the 3\textrm{rd} quadrant.

To express \cos\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{5}\right) in terms of \cos\theta_R, we follow three steps:

  1. Find its reference angle \theta_R.

  2. Calculate the value of the function for \theta_R.

  3. Determine whether the resulting value is positive or negative.

Step 1: Since \theta = \dfrac{7\pi}{5} is in the 3 rd quadrant, the reference angle \theta_R is

\begin{align*} \theta_R &= \theta-\pi\\[5pt] &= \dfrac{7\pi}{5}-\pi\\[5pt] &= \dfrac{2\pi}{5}. \end{align*}

Step 2: The given ratio is \cos\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{5}\right) , and therefore we're interested in \cos\theta_R = \cos\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{5}\right).

Step 3: The ratio \cos\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{5}\right) must be negative because the cosine ratio is always negative in the 3 rd quadrant. Therefore,

\cos\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{5}\right) = -\cos\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{5}\right).

FLAG

Express $\cos\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{4}\right)$ in terms of a reference angle.

a
$-\cos\left(\dfrac{\pi}{4}\right)$
b
$-\cos\left(\dfrac{3\pi}{4}\right)$
c
$\cos\left(\dfrac{\pi}{4}\right)$
d
$\cos\left(\dfrac{3\pi}{4}\right)$
e
$\cos\left(\dfrac{\pi}{2}\right)$

Express $\cos\left(\dfrac{4\pi}{3}\right)$ in terms of a reference angle.

a
$-\cos\left(\dfrac{\pi}{6}\right)$
b
$\sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$
c
$\cos\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$
d
$-\sin\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$
e
$-\cos\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$

Express \tan\left(\dfrac{4\pi}{3}\right) in terms of \theta_R.

EXPLANATION

To help us to visualize the angle, we first convert the measure of the angle into degrees.

To convert the measure of an angle in radians to an equivalent measure in degrees, we multiply the measure in radians by \dfrac{180^\circ}{\pi}. This gives

\left(\dfrac{4\pi} {3}\right) \cdot \left(\dfrac {180^\circ} {\pi}\right) = 240^\circ.

Therefore \dfrac{4\pi} {3} is equivalent to 240^\circ, which lies in the 3\textrm{rd} quadrant.

To express \tan\left(\dfrac{4\pi}{3}\right) in terms of \tan\theta_R, we follow three steps:

  1. Find its reference angle \theta_R.

  2. Calculate the value of the function for \theta_R.

  3. Determine whether the resulting value is positive or negative.

Step 1: Since \theta = \dfrac{4\pi}{3} is in the 3 rd quadrant, the reference angle \theta_R is

\begin{align*} \theta_R &= \theta-\pi\\[5pt] &= \dfrac{4\pi}{3}-\pi\\[5pt] &= \dfrac{\pi}{3}. \end{align*}

Step 2: The given ratio is \tan\left(\dfrac{4\pi}{3}\right), and therefore we're interested in \tan\theta_R = \tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right).

Step 3: The ratio \tan\left(\dfrac{4\pi}{3}\right) must be positive because the tangent ratio is always positive in the 3 rd quadrant. Therefore,

\tan\left(\dfrac{4\pi}{3}\right) = \tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right).

FLAG

Express $\tan\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{6}\right)$ in terms of a reference angle.

a
$-\tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{6}\right)$
b
$-\tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$
c
$\tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$
d
$\tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{4}\right)$
e
$\tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{6}\right)$

Express $\tan\left(\dfrac{5\pi}{3}\right)$ in terms of a reference angle.

a
$-\tan\left(\dfrac{5\pi}{3}\right)$
b
$\tan\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right)$
c
$-\tan\left(\dfrac{\pi}{3}\right)$
d
$\tan\left(\dfrac{5\pi}{3}\right)$
e
$-\tan\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right)$

Express \cot\left(\dfrac{13\pi}{20}\right) in terms of a reference angle.

EXPLANATION

To help us to visualize the angle, we first convert the measure of the angle into degrees.

To convert the measure of an angle in radians to an equivalent measure in degrees, we multiply the measure in radians by \dfrac{180^\circ}{\pi}. This gives \left(\dfrac{13\pi}{20}\right) \cdot \left(\dfrac{180^\circ}{\pi}\right) = 117^\circ.

Therefore \dfrac{13\pi}{20} is equivalent to 117^\circ, which lies in the 2\textrm{nd} quadrant.

To express \cot\left(\dfrac{13\pi}{20}\right) in terms of \cot\theta_R, we follow three steps:

  1. Find its reference angle \theta_R.

  2. Calculate the value of the function for \theta_R.

  3. Determine whether the resulting value is positive or negative.

Step 1: Since \theta = \dfrac{13\pi}{20} is in the 2 nd quadrant, the reference angle \theta_R is

\begin{align*} \theta_R & = \pi - \theta\\[5pt] & = \pi - \dfrac{13\pi}{20}\\[5pt] & = \dfrac{7\pi}{20}. \end{align*}

Step 2: The given ratio is \cot\left(\dfrac{13\pi}{20}\right) , and therefore we're interested in \cot\theta_R = \cot\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{20}\right).

Step 3: The ratio \cot\left( \dfrac{13\pi}{20}\right) must be negative because tangent (and therefore cotangent) is always negative in the 2nd quadrant. Therefore, \cot\left( \dfrac{13\pi}{20}\right) = -\cot\left(\dfrac{7\pi}{20}\right).

FLAG

Express $\sec\left(\dfrac{9\pi}{5}\right)$ in terms of a reference angle.

a
$-\sec\left(\dfrac{\pi}{9}\right)$
b
$-\sec\left(\dfrac{\pi}{5}\right)$
c
$\sec\left(\dfrac{\pi}{5}\right)$
d
$\sec\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{5}\right)$
e
$\sec\left(\dfrac{\pi}{9}\right)$

Express $\csc\left(\dfrac{13\pi}{8}\right)$ in terms of a reference angle.

a
$\csc\left(\dfrac{13\pi}{8}\right)$
b
$-\csc\left(\dfrac{3\pi}{8}\right)$
c
$-\csc\left(\dfrac{5\pi}{8}\right)$
d
$\csc\left(\dfrac{5\pi}{8}\right)$
e
$\csc\left(\dfrac{3\pi}{8}\right)$
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