Properties of Even and Odd Trigonometric Functions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 54 views

Introduction

The unit circle is a powerful tool in trigonometry, allowing us to find the values of trigonometric functions for any angle. In this article, we will use the unit circle to find the value of $\tan \frac{5 \pi}{3}$ and then use the properties of even and odd trigonometric functions to find the value of $\tan \left(-\frac{5 \pi}{3}\right)$ .

The Unit Circle

The unit circle is a circle with a radius of 1, centered at the origin of the coordinate plane. The unit circle is used to define the trigonometric functions sine, cosine, and tangent. The unit circle is divided into four quadrants, each with a different sign for the sine and cosine functions.

**Finding $\tan \frac{5 \pi}{3}$

To find the value of $\tan \frac{5 \pi}{3}$ , we need to find the values of sine and cosine of $\frac{5 \pi}{3}$ . We can do this by using the unit circle.

First, we need to find the coordinates of the point on the unit circle that corresponds to the angle $\frac{5 \pi}{3}$ . Since the angle is in the fourth quadrant, the x-coordinate will be positive and the y-coordinate will be negative.

Using the unit circle, we can find the coordinates of the point as follows:

The x-coordinate is given by $\cos \frac{5 \pi}{3} = \frac{1}{2}$ .
The y-coordinate is given by $\sin \frac{5 \pi}{3} = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ .

Now that we have the values of sine and cosine, we can find the value of tangent as follows:

\tan \frac{5 \pi}{3} = \frac{\sin \frac{5 \pi}{3}}{\cos \frac{5 \pi}{3}} = \frac{-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}{\frac{1}{2}} = -\sqrt{3}

Properties of Even and Odd Trigonometric Functions

Even and odd trigonometric functions have the following properties:

Even functions: $\sin (-x) = \sin x$ and $\cos (-x) = \cos x$ .
Odd functions: $\tan (-x) = -\tan x$ .

We can use these properties to find the value of $\tan \left(-\frac{5 \pi}{3}\right)$ .

**Finding $\tan \left(-\frac{5 \pi}{3}\right)$

Using the property of odd trigonometric functions, we can find the value of $\tan \left(-\frac{5 \pi}{3}\right)$ as follows:

\tan \left(-\frac{5 \pi}{3}\right) = -\tan \frac{5 \pi}{3} = -(-\sqrt{3}) = \sqrt{3}

Conclusion

In this article, we used the unit circle to find the value of $\tan \frac{5 \pi}{3}$ and then used the properties of even and odd trigonometric functions to find the value of $\tan \left(-\frac{5 \pi}{3}\right)$ . We found that $\tan \frac{5 \pi}{3} = -\sqrt{3}$ and $\tan \left(-\frac{5 \pi}{3}\right) = \sqrt{3}$ .

Key Takeaways

The unit circle is a powerful tool in trigonometry, allowing us to find the values of trigonometric functions for any angle.
Even and odd trigonometric functions have the following properties: $\sin (-x) = \sin x$ and $\cos (-x) = \cos x$ for even functions, and $\tan (-x) = -\tan x$ for odd functions.
We can use the properties of even and odd trigonometric functions to find the values of trigonometric functions for negative angles.

Practice Problems

Find the value of $\tan \frac{7 \pi}{4}$ using the unit circle.
Find the value of $\tan \left(-\frac{7 \pi}{4}\right)$ using the properties of even and odd trigonometric functions.
Find the value of $\sin \frac{3 \pi}{2}$ using the unit circle.
Find the value of $\cos \left(-\frac{3 \pi}{2}\right)$ using the properties of even and odd trigonometric functions.

Solutions

$\tan \frac{7 \pi}{4} = \frac{\sin \frac{7 \pi}{4}}{\cos \frac{7 \pi}{4}} = \frac{-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}}{-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}} = 1$
$\tan \left(-\frac{7 \pi}{4}\right) = -\tan \frac{7 \pi}{4} = -1$
$\sin \frac{3 \pi}{2} = -1$
$\cos \left(-\frac{3 \pi}{2}\right) = \cos \frac{3 \pi}{2} = 0$

References

"Trigonometry" by Michael Corral
"Calculus" by Michael Spivak
"Mathematics for Computer Science" by Eric Lehman and Tom Leighton
Q&A: Using the Unit Circle to Find Trigonometric Values =====================================================

Q: What is the unit circle and how is it used in trigonometry?

A: The unit circle is a circle with a radius of 1, centered at the origin of the coordinate plane. It is used to define the trigonometric functions sine, cosine, and tangent. The unit circle is divided into four quadrants, each with a different sign for the sine and cosine functions.

Q: How do I find the values of sine and cosine using the unit circle?

A: To find the values of sine and cosine using the unit circle, you need to find the coordinates of the point on the unit circle that corresponds to the angle. The x-coordinate is given by $\cos \theta$ and the y-coordinate is given by $\sin \theta$ .

Q: What is the relationship between the unit circle and the trigonometric functions?

A: The unit circle is used to define the trigonometric functions sine, cosine, and tangent. The values of sine and cosine are given by the coordinates of the point on the unit circle that corresponds to the angle. The value of tangent is given by the ratio of the values of sine and cosine.

Q: How do I find the value of tangent using the unit circle?

A: To find the value of tangent using the unit circle, you need to find the values of sine and cosine and then divide the value of sine by the value of cosine.

Q: What are even and odd trigonometric functions?

A: Even trigonometric functions are functions that are unchanged when the angle is negated. Examples of even trigonometric functions include sine and cosine. Odd trigonometric functions are functions that change sign when the angle is negated. Examples of odd trigonometric functions include tangent.

Q: How do I use the properties of even and odd trigonometric functions to find the values of trigonometric functions for negative angles?

A: To use the properties of even and odd trigonometric functions to find the values of trigonometric functions for negative angles, you need to apply the following rules:

Even functions: $\sin (-x) = \sin x$ and $\cos (-x) = \cos x$ .
Odd functions: $\tan (-x) = -\tan x$ .

Q: Can I use the unit circle to find the values of trigonometric functions for any angle?

A: Yes, you can use the unit circle to find the values of trigonometric functions for any angle. The unit circle is a universal tool that can be used to find the values of trigonometric functions for any angle.

Q: What are some common angles that I can use to find the values of trigonometric functions using the unit circle?

A: Some common angles that you can use to find the values of trigonometric functions using the unit circle include:

$\frac{\pi}{6}$ , $\frac{\pi}{4}$ , $\frac{\pi}{3}$ , $\frac{\pi}{2}$ , $\frac{2\pi}{3}$ , $\frac{3\pi}{4}$ , $\frac{5\pi}{6}$ , $\pi$ , $\frac{7\pi}{6}$ , $\frac{5\pi}{4}$ , $\frac{4\pi}{3}$ , $\frac{3\pi}{2}$ , $\frac{5\pi}{3}$ , $\frac{7\pi}{4}$ , and $2\pi$ .

Q: How do I practice using the unit circle to find the values of trigonometric functions?

A: You can practice using the unit circle to find the values of trigonometric functions by working through a series of problems that involve finding the values of sine, cosine, and tangent for different angles. You can also use online resources and trigonometry software to help you practice.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using the unit circle to find the values of trigonometric functions?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when using the unit circle to find the values of trigonometric functions include:

Failing to identify the quadrant of the angle.
Failing to find the correct coordinates of the point on the unit circle.
Failing to apply the correct rules for even and odd trigonometric functions.
Failing to check the units of the answer.

Q: How do I know if I am using the unit circle correctly to find the values of trigonometric functions?

A: You can check if you are using the unit circle correctly to find the values of trigonometric functions by:

Checking that you have identified the correct quadrant of the angle.
Checking that you have found the correct coordinates of the point on the unit circle.
Checking that you have applied the correct rules for even and odd trigonometric functions.
Checking that your answer has the correct units.

Q: What are some real-world applications of the unit circle in trigonometry?

A: The unit circle has many real-world applications in trigonometry, including:

Navigation: The unit circle is used to find the direction and distance of objects in navigation.
Physics: The unit circle is used to describe the motion of objects in physics.
Engineering: The unit circle is used to design and analyze systems in engineering.
Computer Science: The unit circle is used to develop algorithms and models in computer science.

Q: How do I learn more about the unit circle and its applications in trigonometry?

A: You can learn more about the unit circle and its applications in trigonometry by:

Reading books and articles on trigonometry and the unit circle.
Watching videos and online tutorials on trigonometry and the unit circle.
Practicing problems and exercises on trigonometry and the unit circle.
Joining online communities and forums on trigonometry and the unit circle.