For quadrantal angles that lie outside [0^\circ,360^\circ), we first find a coterminal angle in the interval [0^\circ,360^\circ), and then we proceed as usual.

For example, if the angle is 540^\circ, then we write 540^\circ - 360^\circ = 180^\circ.\quad{\color{green}{\checkmark}} So 180^\circ is coterminal with 540^\circ, and we need to look at the point on the unit circle that corresponds to 180^\circ, which is (-1,0).

We can do a similar thing when working with negative angles. For example, if the angle is -\dfrac{7\pi}{2}, we can write \begin{align*} -\dfrac{7\pi}{2} +2\pi &= -\dfrac{3\pi}{2} \\[5pt] -\dfrac{3\pi}{2} +2\pi &= \dfrac{\pi}{2}. \quad{\color{green}{\checkmark}} \end{align*} So, we need to look at the point that corresponds to \dfrac{\pi}2, that is, (0,1).

FLAG

\sin \left(\dfrac{7\pi}{2}\right) =

EXPLANATION

First, we find an angle that's coterminal with \dfrac{7\pi}{2} and lies in the range [0,2\pi).

\begin{align} \dfrac{7\pi}{2} - 2\pi &= \dfrac{3\pi}{2}\quad{\color{green}{\checkmark}} \end{align}

Therefore, \sin \left(\dfrac{7\pi}2\right) = \sin \left(\dfrac{3\pi}2\right).

The angle \dfrac{3\pi}{2} is a quadrantal angle. Let's draw out the quadrantal angles on the unit circle.

From the unit circle, we see that the angle \dfrac{3\pi}{2} corresponds to the point (0,-1).

Since the sine of the angle corresponds to the y -coordinate, we have \sin{\left(\dfrac{3\pi}{2}\right)} = -1.

Therefore, \sin \left(\dfrac{7\pi}2\right) = -1.

FLAG

Find the value of $\cos \left(\dfrac{9\pi}{2}\right) .$

a
$-\dfrac{1}{2}$
b
$-1$
c
$\dfrac{1}{2}$
d
$1$
e
$0$

Find the value of $\sec 2\pi .$

a
$-1$
b
$\dfrac \pi 2$
c
Undefined
d
$0$
e
$1$

\cot (-270^\circ) =

EXPLANATION

First, we find an angle that's coterminal with -270^\circ that lies in the range [0^\circ, 360^\circ).

-270^\circ + 360^\circ = 90^\circ\quad{\color{green}{\checkmark}}

Therefore, \cot\left(-270^\circ\right) = \cot{90^\circ}.

The angle 90^\circ is a quadrantal angle. Let's draw out the quadrantal angles on the unit circle.

From the unit circle, we see that the angle 90^\circ corresponds to the point (0,1).

  • Since the cosine of the angle corresponds to the x -coordinate, we have \cos{90^\circ} = 0.

  • Since the sine of the angle corresponds to the y -coordinate, we have \sin{90^\circ} = 1.

So, using the fact that \cot{\theta} = \dfrac{\cos\theta}{\sin\theta}, we have

\cot{90^\circ} = \dfrac{\cos{90^\circ}}{\sin{90^\circ}} = \dfrac{0}{1}.

Therefore, \cot(-270^\circ) =0.

FLAG

$\sec\left(-270^\circ\right) =$

a
$1$
b
$-{\sqrt{3}}$
c
$-1$
d
undefined
e
$0$

$\csc \left(-90^\circ\right) =$

a
$\dfrac 2 {3}$
b
$ -1$
c
$-2$
d
$\dfrac {2\sqrt{3}} {3}$
e
$1$
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