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
Defining the Unit Circle
Problem 3.79
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionSuppose an arc of length s lies on the unit circle x² + y² = 1, starting at the point (1, 0) and terminating at the point (x, y). (See Figure 12, repeated below.) Use a calculator to find the approximate coordinates for (x, y) to four decimal places.
s = 2.5
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
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 concept in trigonometry, as it provides a geometric representation of the sine and cosine functions. Any point on the unit circle can be represented as (cos(θ), sin(θ)), where θ is the angle formed with the positive x-axis. Understanding the unit circle is essential for solving problems involving angles and arc lengths.
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Arc Length
Arc length is the distance along the curved line of a circle between two points. For a unit circle, the arc length s can be calculated using the formula s = rθ, where r is the radius and θ is the angle in radians. Since the radius of the unit circle is 1, the arc length simplifies to s = θ. This relationship is crucial for determining the angle corresponding to a given arc length, which is necessary for finding the coordinates of the endpoint on the circle.
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Radians and Degrees
Radians and degrees are two units for measuring angles. One complete revolution around a circle is 360 degrees or 2π radians. Radians are often preferred in trigonometry because they provide a direct relationship between the angle and the arc length on the unit circle. To convert between these units, the formula is θ (radians) = θ (degrees) × (π/180). Understanding this conversion is essential for accurately calculating angles when given arc lengths.
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