Find the angle of least positive measure (not equal to the given measure) that is coterminal with each angle. See Example 5. ―541°

Key Concepts

Coterminal Angles

Coterminal angles are angles that share the same terminal side when drawn in standard position, differing only by full rotations of 360 degrees. To find a coterminal angle, you can add or subtract multiples of 360° from the given angle. For example, -541° can be made coterminal by adding 360° until the angle is positive.

Finding Positive Angles

When tasked with finding the least positive angle coterminal with a given angle, the goal is to ensure the result is greater than zero. This often involves adding 360° repeatedly to a negative angle until a positive angle is achieved. The smallest positive angle is the desired result, ensuring it is not equal to the original angle.

Angle Measurement

Angles can be measured in degrees or radians, with degrees being the more common unit in basic trigonometry. A full rotation is 360°, and angles can be positive (counterclockwise) or negative (clockwise). Understanding how to convert between these measurements and how they relate to the unit circle is essential for solving problems involving angles.