Chapters

Trigonometric Functions

NCERT Class 11 Mathematics — Chapter 3

Trigonometry is a smuggler, a free-trader in mathematics. — Augustus De Morgan

3.1 Angles

An angle is formed by rotating a ray about its endpoint. Anticlockwise is positive.

Degree and radian:

π radians=180,1=π180 rad\pi\text{ radians}=180^\circ,\qquad 1^\circ=\frac{\pi}{180}\text{ rad}

A full rotation is 2π2\pi radians.


3.2 Trigonometric Functions

For a real number xx (radians), sinx\sin x, cosx\cos x, tanx=sinx/cosx\tan x=\sin x/\cos x (where cosx0\cos x\mathrel{\htmlClass{course-neq}{\char"2260}} 0), and the reciprocals csc\csc, sec\sec, cot\cot are defined using the unit circle (or wrapping of the real line).

Signs follow the quadrant of the terminal side.

Standard values (selected)

sinπ6=12,sinπ4=12,sinπ3=32,sinπ2=1\sin\frac{\pi}{6}=\frac12,\quad \sin\frac{\pi}{4}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}},\quad \sin\frac{\pi}{3}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2},\quad \sin\frac{\pi}{2}=1

Cosine of the same angles: 3/2\sqrt{3}/2, 1/21/\sqrt{2}, 1/21/2, 00.


3.3 Identities

sin2x+cos2x=1\sin^2 x+\cos^2 x=1

1+tan2x=sec2x,1+cot2x=csc2x1+\tan^2 x=\sec^2 x,\qquad 1+\cot^2 x=\csc^2 x

Compound angles:

sin(x±y)=sinxcosy±cosxsiny\sin(x\pm y)=\sin x\cos y\pm\cos x\sin y

cos(x±y)=cosxcosysinxsiny\cos(x\pm y)=\cos x\cos y\mp\sin x\sin y

tan(x±y)=tanx±tany1tanxtany\tan(x\pm y)=\frac{\tan x\pm\tan y}{1\mp\tan x\tan y}

Double angle: sin2x=2sinxcosx\sin 2x=2\sin x\cos x, cos2x=cos2xsin2x\cos 2x=\cos^2 x-\sin^2 x.


Chapter Summary

  • Radian measure: π\pi rad =180=180^\circ
  • sin,cos,tan\sin,\cos,\tan and reciprocals as functions of a real variable
  • Pythagorean identities; compound-angle and double-angle formulae

Exercises (NCERT)

  • Exercise 3.1 — degree/radian
  • Exercise 3.2 onwards — values and identities
  • Miscellaneous Exercise