Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles39m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
3. Unit Circle
Reference Angles
4:13 minutes
Problem 77
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionIn Exercises 61–86, use reference angles to find the exact value of each expression. Do not use a calculator. sec 495°
Verified Solution
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
4mPlay a video:
Was this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Reference Angles
A reference angle is the acute angle formed by the terminal side of a given angle and the x-axis. It is always measured as a positive angle and is used to simplify the calculation of trigonometric functions. For angles greater than 360°, the reference angle can be found by subtracting multiples of 360° until the angle is within the range of 0° to 360°.
Recommended video:
5:31
Reference Angles on the Unit Circle
Secant Function
The secant function, denoted as sec(θ), is the reciprocal of the cosine function. It is defined as sec(θ) = 1/cos(θ). Understanding the secant function is crucial for evaluating expressions involving angles, especially when using reference angles to find exact values without a calculator.
Recommended video:
6:22
Graphs of Secant and Cosecant Functions
Unit Circle
The unit circle is a circle with a radius of one centered at the origin of a coordinate plane. It is a fundamental tool in trigonometry, as it allows for the visualization of angles and their corresponding sine, cosine, and tangent values. The coordinates of points on the unit circle directly relate to the values of these trigonometric functions, making it essential for finding exact values of trigonometric expressions.
Recommended video:
06:11
Introduction to the Unit Circle
Watch next
Master Reference Angles on the Unit Circle with a bite sized video explanation from Callie Rethman
Start learningRelated Videos
Related Practice