Learning Outcomes
- Use reference angles to evaluate trigonometric functions.
- Use even-odd properties to find the exact values of the trigonometric functions.
- Use periodic properties to find the exact values of the trigonometric functions.
Reference Angles
An angle’s reference angle is the measure of the smallest, positive, acute angle tt formed by the terminal side of the angle tt and the horizontal axis. Thus positive reference angles have terminal sides that lie in the first quadrant and can be used as models for angles in other quadrants. See Figure 1 for examples of reference angles for angles in different quadrants.

Figure 1
A GENERAL NOTE: REFERENCE ANGLES
An angle’s reference angle is the size of the smallest acute angle, t′t′, formed by the terminal side of the angle tt and the horizontal axis.
How To: Given an angle between 00 and 2π2π, find its reference angle.
- An angle in the first quadrant is its own reference angle.
- For an angle in the second or third quadrant, the reference angle is |π−t||π−t| or |180∘−t||180∘−t|.
- For an angle in the fourth quadrant, the reference angle is 2π−t2π−t or 360∘−t360∘−t.
- If an angle is less than 00 or greater than 2π2π, add or subtract 2π2π as many times as needed to find an equivalent angle between 00 and 2π2π.
Example 1: Finding a Reference Angle
Find the reference angle of 225∘225∘ as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2
Try It
Find the reference angle of 5π35π3.
Using Reference Angles
Reference angles make it possible to evaluate trigonometric functions for angles outside the first quadrant. They can also be used to find (x,y)(x,y) coordinates for those angles. We will use the reference angle of the angle of rotation combined with the quadrant in which the terminal side of the angle lies. We can find the exact trig value of any angle in any quadrant if we apply the trig function to the reference angle. The sign depends on the quadrant of the original angle.
The trigonometric function values for the original angle will be the same as those for the reference angle, except for the positive or negative sign, which is determined by x– and y-values in the original quadrant. Figure 3 shows which functions are positive in which quadrant.
To help us remember which of the six trigonometric functions are positive in each quadrant, we can use the mnemonic phrase “All Students Take Calculus” Each of the four words in the phrase corresponds to one of the four quadrants, starting with quadrant I and rotating counterclockwise. In quadrant I, which is “A,” all of the six trigonometric functions are positive. In quadrant II, “Students,” only sine and its reciprocal function, cosecant, are positive. In quadrant III, “Take,” only tangent and its reciprocal function, cotangent, are positive. Finally, in quadrant IV, “Calculus” only cosine and its reciprocal function, secant, are positive.

Figure 3
How To: Find the trigonometric value for any angle
- Measure the angle between the terminal side of the given angle and the horizontal axis. This is the reference angle.
- Apply the trig function to the reference angle.
- Apply the appropriate sign using the table above.
Example 2: Using Reference Angles to Find Sine and Cosine
- Using a reference angle, find the exact value of cos(150∘)cos(150∘) and sin(150∘)sin(150∘).
- Using the reference angle, find cos5π4cos5π4 and sin5π4sin5π4.
Example 3: Using Reference Angles to Find Tangent and Cotangent
- Using a reference angle, find the exact value of tan(240∘)tan(240∘)
- Using the reference angle, find cot7π4cot7π4
Example 4: Using Reference Angles to Find Secant and Cosecant
- Using a reference angle, find the exact value of sec(210∘)sec(210∘) and csc(210∘)csc(210∘).
- Using the reference angle, find sec3π4sec3π4 and csc3π4csc3π4.
Try It
a. Use the reference angle of 315∘315∘ to find cos(315∘)cos(315∘) and tan(315∘)tan(315∘).
b. Use the reference angle of 2π32π3 to find sec(2π3)sec(2π3) and cot(2π3)cot(2π3).
Try It
Example 5: Using Reference Angles to Find Trigonometric Functions
Use reference angles to find all six trigonometric functions of −5π6−5π6.
Try It
Use reference angles to find all six trigonometric functions of −7π4−7π4.
Example 6: Using Reference Angles to Find Trigonometric Functions
Use reference angles to find all six trigonometric functions of −585∘−585∘.
Try It
Example 7: Using the Unit Circle to Find Coordinates
Find the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 7π67π6.
Try It
Find the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 5π35π3.
Example 8: Finding the Exact Value Involving Tangent
Given that tanθ=−34tanθ=−34 and θθ is in quadrant II, find the following:
- sin(θ)sin(θ)
- csc(θ)csc(θ)
- cos(θ)cos(θ)
- sec(θ)sec(θ)
- cot(θ)cot(θ)
Try It
Given that tanθ=512tanθ=512 and θθ is in quadrant III, find the following:
- sin(θ)sin(θ)
- csc(θ)csc(θ)
- cos(θ)cos(θ)
- sec(θ)sec(θ)
- cot(θ)cot(θ)
Using Even and Odd Trigonometric Functions
To be able to use our six trigonometric functions freely with both positive and negative angle inputs, we should examine how each function treats a negative input. As it turns out, there is an important difference among the functions in this regard.
Consider the function f(x)=x2f(x)=x2, shown in Figure 5. The graph of the function is symmetrical about the y-axis. All along the curve, any two points with opposite x-values have the same function value. This matches the result of calculation: (4)2=(−4)2(4)2=(−4)2, (−5)2=(5)2(−5)2=(5)2, and so on. So f(x)=x2f(x)=x2 is an even function, a function such that two inputs that are opposites have the same output. That means f(−x)=f(x)f(−x)=f(x).
Figure 5. The function f(x)=x2f(x)=x2 is an even function.
Now consider the function f(x)=x3f(x)=x3, shown in Figure 6. The graph is not symmetrical about the y-axis. All along the graph, any two points with opposite x-values also have opposite y-values. So f(x)=x3f(x)=x3 is an odd function, one such that two inputs that are opposites have outputs that are also opposites. That means f(−x)=−f(x)f(−x)=−f(x).
Figure 6. The function f(x)=x3f(x)=x3 is an odd function.
We can test whether a trigonometric function is even or odd by drawing a unit circle with a positive and a negative angle, as in Figure 7. The sine of the positive angle is yy. The sine of the negative angle is −y. The sine function, then, is an odd function. We can test each of the six trigonometric functions in this fashion. The results are shown in in the table below.

Figure 7
sint=ysin(−t)=−ysint≠sin(−t)sint=ysin(−t)=−ysint≠sin(−t) | cost=xcos(−t)=xcost=cos(−t)cost=xcos(−t)=xcost=cos(−t) | tan(t)=yxtan(−t)=−yxtant≠tan(−t)tan(t)=yxtan(−t)=−yxtant≠tan(−t) |
sect=1xsec(−t)=1xsect=sec(−t)sect=1xsec(−t)=1xsect=sec(−t) | csct=1ycsc(−t)=1−ycsct≠csc(−t)csct=1ycsc(−t)=1−ycsct≠csc(−t) | cott=xycot(−t)=x−ycott≠cot(−t)cott=xycot(−t)=x−ycott≠cot(−t) |
A General Note: Even and Odd Trigonometric Functions
An even function is one in which f(−x)=f(x)f(−x)=f(x).
An odd function is one in which f(−x)=−f(x)f(−x)=−f(x).
Cosine and secant are even:
cos(−t)=costsec(−t)=sectcos(−t)=costsec(−t)=sect
Sine, tangent, cosecant, and cotangent are odd:
sin(−t)=−sinttan(−t)=−tantcsc(−t)=−csctcot(−t)=−cottsin(−t)=−sinttan(−t)=−tantcsc(−t)=−csctcot(−t)=−cott
Example 7: Using Even and Odd Properties of Trigonometric Functions
If the sect=2sect=2, what is the sec(−t)sec(−t)?
Try It
If the cott=√3cott=√3, what is cot(−t)cot(−t)?
Periodic Properties
If you add or subtract one revolution (360∘ or 2π)(360∘ or 2π) to an angle, the result will be the same because going around one full revolution will result in the same place on the unit circle. We will let kk be any integer, and this represents kk revolution in the equations below. These formulas are presented in radians, however they can also be expressed in degrees if we use 360∘k360∘k.
A General Note: Periodic Properties
Let kk be an integer, and tt represent an angle.
sin(t±2πk)=sin(t)cos(t±2πk)=cos(t)tan(t±2πk)=tan(t)csc(t±2πk)=csc(t)sec(t±2πk)=sec(t)cot(t±2πk)=cot(t)sin(t±2πk)=sin(t)cos(t±2πk)=cos(t)tan(t±2πk)=tan(t)csc(t±2πk)=csc(t)sec(t±2πk)=sec(t)cot(t±2πk)=cot(t)
Example 8: Simplifying using Even-Odd Properties and Periodic Properties
Use the Even-Odd Properties and Periodic Properties to simplify:
7cos(−2t)+4sin(−2t)−3cos(2t−2π)7cos(−2t)+4sin(−2t)−3cos(2t−2π)
Key Equations
Cosine | cost=xcost=x |
Sine | sint=ysint=y |
Pythagorean Identity | cos2t+sin2t=1cos2t+sin2t=1 |
Key Concepts
- The sine and cosine of an angle have the same absolute value as the sine and cosine of its reference angle.
- The signs of the sine and cosine are determined from the x– and y-values in the quadrant of the original angle.
- An angle’s reference angle is the size angle, tt, formed by the terminal side of the angle tt and the horizontal axis.
- Reference angles can be used to find the sine and cosine of the original angle.
- Reference angles can also be used to find the coordinates of a point on a circle.
Section 6.3 Homework Exercises
1. Discuss the difference between a coterminal angle and a reference angle.
2. Explain how the cosine of an angle in the second quadrant differs from the cosine of its reference angle in the unit circle.
3. Explain how the sine of an angle in the second quadrant differs from the sine of its reference angle in the unit circle.
4. What is the purpose of a reference angle?
For the following exercises, state the reference angle for the given angle.
5. 240∘240∘
6. −170∘−170∘
7. 460∘460∘
8. −675∘−675∘
9. 135∘135∘
10. 5π45π4
11. 2π32π3
12. 17π617π6
13. −17π3−17π3
14. −7π4−7π4
15. −π8−π8
For the following exercises, find the reference angle, the quadrant of the terminal side, and the sine, cosine of each angle.
16. 225∘225∘
17. 300∘300∘
18. 315∘315∘
19. 135∘135∘
20. 570∘570∘
21. 480∘480∘
22. −120∘−120∘
23. −210∘−210∘
24. 5π45π4
25. 7π67π6
26. 5π35π3
27. 3π43π4
28. 4π34π3
29. 2π32π3
30. −19π6−19π6
31. −9π4−9π4
For the following exercises, find the reference angle, the quadrant of the terminal side, and the exact value of the trigonometric function.
32. tan5π6tan5π6
33. sec7π6sec7π6
34. csc11π6csc11π6
35. cot13π6cot13π6
36. tan15π4
37. sec3π4
38. csc5π4
39. cot11π4
40. tan(−4π3)
41. sec(−2π3)
42. csc(−10π3)
43. cot(−7π3)
44. tan225∘
45. sec300∘
46. csc510∘
47. cot600∘
48. tan(−30∘)
49. sec(−210∘)
50. csc(−510∘)
51. cot(−405∘)
In the following exercises, use a right triangle to find the exact value.
52. If sint=34, and t is in quadrant II, find cost,sect,csct,tant,cott.
53. If cost=−13, and t is in quadrant III, find sint,sect,csct,tant,cott.
54. If tant=125, and 0≤t<π2, find sint,cost,sect,csct, and cott. 55. If sint=√32 and cost=12, find sect,csct,tant, and cott. For the following exercises, find the exact value using reference angles. 56. sin(11π3)cos(−5π6) 57. sin(3π4)cos(5π3) 58. sin(−4π3)cos(π2) 59. sin(−9π4)cos(−π6) 60. sin(π6)cos(−π3) 61. sin(7π4)cos(−2π3) 62. cos(5π6)cos(2π3) 63. cos(−π3)cos(π4) 64. sin(−5π4)sin(11π6) 65. sin(π)sin(π6)