THE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

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DEFINITIONS tangent, cotangent, secant, cosecant Let $\,t\,$ be a real number (restrictions are noted individually below). Think of $\,t\,$, if desired, as the radian measure of an angle. Then: $\displaystyle \tan t := \frac{\sin t}{\cos t}$     (‘$\,\tan t\,$’ is formally pronounced ‘tangent of $\,t\,$’) The tangent function isn't defined where the cosine is zero; this happens at the terminal points $\,(0,1)\,$ and $\,(0,-1)\,$. Thus, tangent is not defined for $\displaystyle \,t = \frac{k\pi}{2}\,$ for odd integers $\,k\,$:   $\,k = \ldots, -5, -3, -1, 1, 3, 5,\, \ldots\,$ $\displaystyle \cot t := \frac{\cos t}{\sin t}$     (‘$\,\cot t\,$’ is formally pronounced ‘cotangent of $\,t\,$’) The cotangent function isn't defined where the sine is zero; this happens at the terminal points $\,(1,0)\,$ and $\,(-1,0)\,$. Thus, cotangent is not defined for $\displaystyle \,t = k\pi\,$ for integers $\,k\,$:   $\,k = \ldots, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,\, \ldots\,$ $\displaystyle \sec t := \frac{1}{\cos t}$     (‘$\,\sec t\,$’ is formally pronounced ‘secant (see-cant) of $\,t\,$’) The secant function has the same restrictions as the tangent. $\displaystyle \csc t := \frac{1}{\sin t}$     (‘$\,\csc t\,$’ is formally pronounced ‘cosecant of $\,t\,$’) The cosecant function has the same restrictions as the cotangent.

Notes on the Definitions:

• Using Function Notation with Trig Functions:
  
  The number $\,\tan t\,$ is the output from the tangent function when the input is $\,t\,$.
  In other words, ‘$\,\tan\,$’ is the name of the function; $\,t\,$ is the input; $\,\tan t\,$ is the corresponding output.
  
  Recall the convention: for multi-letter function names, parentheses are usually omitted from function notation.
  That is, $\,\tan(t)\,$ is usually written without parentheses, as $\,\tan t\,$, when there is no confusion about order of operations.
  
  However, don't ever write something like ‘$\,\tan t + 2\,$’!
  Clarify as either $\,(\tan t) + 2\,$ (better written as $\,2 + \tan t\,$) or $\,\tan(t+2)\,$.
  
  Similar comments hold for all six trigonometric functions.
• Is Cotangent the Reciprocal of the Tangent? Almost!
  
  The cotangent function is almost the reciprocal of the tangent function (but not quite).
  So, what's the difference between $\displaystyle\,\frac{1}{\tan t}\,$ and $\displaystyle\,\frac{\cos t}{\sin t}\,$ ?
  
  First of all, they're equal for all values of $\,t\,$ for which both are defined.
  However:
  $\displaystyle\frac{1}{\tan t}\,$ isn't defined at two types of places: where the tangent isn't defined, and where the tangent is zero.
  
  $\displaystyle\frac{\cos t}{\sin t}\,$ isn't defined at one type of place: where the sine is zero.
  
  
  For example, $\displaystyle\,\frac{1}{\tan t}\,$ isn't defined at $\displaystyle\,t = \frac{\pi}{2}\,$, since tangent isn't defined there.
  
  However, $\displaystyle\,\frac{\cos t}{\sin t}\,$ is defined (and equal to zero) at $\displaystyle\,t = \frac{\pi}{2}\,$.
  
  This is a subtle difference, and is usually overlooked in casual discussions.
  (For example, it is overlooked in the memory device given next.)

Memory Device for the Six Trigonometric Functions

Cosecant is the reciprocal of the sine. Secant is the reciprocal of the cosine. Cotangent is the reciprocal of the tangent. How might you remember these relationships? The memory device at right should help! Write the trig functions vertically, with function followed immediately by cofunction: sine,   cosine,     tangent,   cotangent,     secant, cosecant Then, connect the functions as shown—they're reciprocals!

Where Do the Names ‘Tangent’ and ‘Secant’ Come From?

Consider an acute angle $\,\theta\,$ laid off in the unit circle.
Its terminal point is shown in black below.

Only one auxiliary triangle (in yellow below—it overlaps the green triangle)
is needed to explain the significance of the names ‘tangent’ and ‘secant’, as follows:

The green and (overlapping) yellow triangles below are similar. Why? They share the angle $\,\theta\,$ and they both have a right angle.

The word ‘tangent’ derives from the Latin tangens, meaning ‘touching’. The tangent gives the length of a segment that is tangent to the unit circle.   bottom of triangle right side of triangle green triangle: $\cos\theta$ $\sin\theta$ yellow triangle: $1$ $y$ (initially unknown) By similarity: $$ \cssId{s82}{\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta} = \frac{y}{1}} $$ Therefore: $$ \cssId{s84}{\color{blue}{y = \frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta} := \tan\theta}} $$

The word ‘secant’ derives from the Latin secare, meaning ‘to cut’. The secant gives the length of a segment that cuts the circle.   bottom of triangle hypotenuse green triangle: $\cos\theta$ $1$ yellow triangle: $1$ $h$ (initially unknown) By similarity: $$ \cssId{s94}{\frac{1}{\cos\theta} = \frac{h}{1}} $$ Therefore: $$ \cssId{s96}{\color{blue}{h = \frac{1}{\cos\theta} := \sec\theta}} $$

What is the ‘co’ in COsine, COtangent, and COsecant?

In English, to complement (not compliment!) is to fill out or to complete.

By definition, the complement of an angle $\,\theta\,$ (given in degree measure) is $\,90^\circ - \theta\,$.
Similarly, the complement of an angle $\,\theta\,$ (given in radian measure) is $\,\frac{\pi}2 - \theta\,$.
Thus, an (acute) angle and its complement, together, fill out a right angle.

The ‘co’ in cosine, cotangent, and cosecant refers to ‘complement’.
The following relationships (when they're defined) are true for all real numbers $\,\theta\,$ (not just those in the first quadrant):

• cosine is the sine of the complementary angle: $\,\cos\theta = \sin(\frac{\pi}2 - \theta)\,$
• cotangent is the tangent of the complementary angle: $\,\cot\theta = \tan(\frac{\pi}2 - \theta)\,$
• cosecant is the secant of the complementary angle: $\,\csc\theta = \sec(\frac{\pi}2 - \theta)\,$

Here are sketches/explanations to illustrate these relationships in the first quadrant:

By definition: $$\cssId{s109}{\cos\theta = \ell}$$ Using the right triangle definition: $$ \displaystyle \cssId{s111}{\sin(\frac{\pi}2 - \theta) = \frac{\text{OPP}}{\text{HYP}} = \frac{\ell}{1} = \ell} $$ Comparing: $$ \cssId{s113}{\cos\theta = \sin(\frac{\pi}{2} - \theta)} $$

By definition: $$ \begin{gather} \cssId{s115}{\cos\theta = \ell}\cr \cssId{s116}{\sin\theta = m}\cr \cssId{s117}{\cot\theta := \frac{\cos\theta}{\sin\theta} = \frac{\ell}{m}} \end{gather} $$ Using the right triangle definition: $$ \displaystyle \cssId{s119}{\tan(\frac{\pi}2 - \theta) = \frac{\text{OPP}}{\text{ADJ}} = \frac{\ell}{m}} $$ Comparing: $$ \cssId{s121}{\cot\theta = \tan(\frac{\pi}{2} - \theta)} $$

By definition: $$ \begin{gather} \cssId{s123}{\sin\theta = m}\cr \cssId{s124}{\csc\theta := \frac{1}{\sin\theta} = \frac{1}{m}} \end{gather} $$ Using the definition of secant and the right triangle definition of cosine: $$ \displaystyle \cssId{s126}{\sec(\frac{\pi}2 - \theta) := \frac{1}{\cos(\frac{\pi}2 - \theta)} = \frac{1}{m/1} = \frac{1}{m}} $$ Comparing: $$\cssId{s128}{\csc\theta = \sec(\frac{\pi}{2} - \theta)}$$

Here is an excellent reference for historical and cultural information on the trigonometric functions: Dave's Short Trig Course, Clark University

Master the ideas from this section
by practicing the exercise at the bottom of this page.

When you're done practicing, move on to:
signs of all the trigonometric functions