Trigonometric Functions

Trivium

  1. Know the exact algebraic representation of the output value of any trigonometric function evaluated at any integer multiple of \(\frac{\pi}{6}\) (30°) or \(\frac{\pi}{4}\) (45°).
  2. Sketch the graph of any composite of a trigonometric function with linear functions, and conversely recognize the graph of such a function and write down its formula.

Problems

  1. What’s the smallest positive value \(t\) such that \(\cos(t) = \frac{1}{2}?\)
  2. What’s the smallest positive value \(t\) such that \(\cos(t) = -\frac{1}{2}?\)
  3. What’s the smallest positive value \(t\) such that \(\tan(t) = \sqrt{3}?\)
  4. Suppose that \(\sin(t) = \frac{3}{4}\) for some value of \(t.\) What are all the possible positive values of \(\cos(t)?\) What are all the possible positive values of \(\tan(t)?\)
  5. Suppose that \(\tan(t) = 5\) for some value of \(t.\) What are all the possible positive values of \(\sin(t)?\) What are all the possible positive values of \(\cos(t)?\)
  6. Does there exist a value of \(t\) such that \(\cos(t) = 2?\) If so, approximately what is it? If not, why not?
  7. a unit circle featuring colored line segments that represent the lengths of many different trigonometric functions Typically only the sine and cosines functions are taught to be lengths in the context of the “unit circle,” while other trig functions are defined algebraically in terms of sine and cosine. However, many these functions can also be thought of as lengths on the “unit circle.” The diagram here shows some of these functions, as well as a few antiquated functions like versine and exsecant, as lengths. Recalling some basic geometric knowledge, confirm that the definitions of tangent and secant and cotangent and cosecant in terms of sine and cosine agree with the lengths of the line segments labelled with those trig functions in this diagram.