Chapter 1

PRELIMINARY CONCEPTS
Trigonometry which literally means “triangle measurement” is a branch of
mathematics which treats of the solutions of triangles.
This preliminary chapter provides a substantial review material for proper
background in the study of trigonometry. The topics contained in this chapter are not
related to each other but carefully chosen to serve as tools for developing skills and
competency in the study of the concepts in trigonometry.

1.1 Angles *
This section aims to:
1. state the kinds of angles and demonstrate their properties;
2. distinguish special angles and state their significance; and
3. express angle measures in terms of revolution and vice-versa.

terminal side
An angle is the union of two rays meeting at
a common point called the vertex. The two rays are
called the terminal and the initial sides of an angle º
as indicated in Fig. 1.1.1. The degree measure is 0 initial side
indicated by a tiny circle placed in the upper right origin for determining
corner of the number. The size of a n angle is degree
indicated by the amount of rotating the terminal side measures
from the initial side. Fig. 1.1.1

A horizontal line is sometimes called the 90º

real line. This line is divided into two equal rays by
a point called the origin denoted as 0. The right ray
II 90º to 180º I 0º to 90º
of the horizontal line is usually the start of
measuring angles. Angles between 0º to 90º is said 0º
180º
to terminate in quadrant I; 90º to 180º in quadrant 360º
II; 180º to 270º in quadrant III; and 270º to 360º in
quadrant IV; 360º to 450º in quadrant I; etc. Some III 180º to 270º IV 270º to 360º
illustrations are given in Fig. 1.1.2.

270º
Kinds of Angles Fig. 1.1.2
1. Acute angle – an angle between 0º to 90º
2. Right angle – an angle measuring exactly 90º
3. Obtuse angle – an angle measuring between 90º to 180º
4. Straight angle – an angle measuring exactly 180º
5. Reflex angle – an angle measuring between 180º and 360º
2 Chap 1 Preliminary Concepts

Special Angles
There are certain measures of angles whose trigonometric functions produce
special values. We shall refer to these as special angles indicated in Fig. 1.1.3.
Counterclockwise (positive angle)
Multiples of 30º Multiples of 60º Multiples of 45º
y y
120º 60º 135º
150º 30º 45º

x 0º
0º x
x
210º 330º
225º
315º
300º 270º
240º
Clockwise (negative angle)
y -240º -300º y
-225º
-210º -330º -315º

x 0º
0º
x x

-150º -30º
-135º
-60º -45º
-120º -90º

Fig. 1.1.3
The most common measures of angles lie in the range of 0 to 360º. To
determine the quadrant for an indicated angle, use the following property:
P (360º k +  º) = P( º), 0   º < 360º
Examples:
a. P (435º) = P (360º + 75º) = P(75º), which lies in quadrant I.
b. P (-815º) = P [ 360 (-2) + (-95º)] = P (-95º), which lies in quadrant III.
Properties of Angles
1. An angle measured in counterclockwise direction is said to have a positive
measure; if the direction is clockwise, the measure is negative. The following give angles
in clockwise direction:
y y y

-180º -360º x x
x
-50º 0º 0º
-280º
-185º

-90º Fig. 1.1.4 -90º

2. One revolution or one complete round is equivalent to 360º. The following

illustrates the conversion of of revolution to degree measures:
a. 450  450  1 rev  1.25 or 1 1 revolution, and
360 4
2.5 rev  2.5 rev  360  900
1 rev
 Chap 1 Angles 3

b. 1.25 rev  1.25 rev  360º  5 (360º )  450º

1 rev 4
Name Score
Section Professor Date

Exercises 1.1
Angles
I. Locate the following angles and state the quadrant on the space provided:
Use Fig. 1.1.5 to locate the following:
1a. -240º

b. 300º

Fig. 1.1.5
Use Fig. 1.1.6 to locate the following:
2a. 450º

b. -630º

Fig. 1.1.6
Use Fig. 1.1.7 to locate the following:
3a. 315º

b. -225º

Fig. 1.1.7

Use Fig. 1.1.8 to locate the following:

4a. 330º

b. -390º

Fig. 1.1.8

Use Fig. 1.1.9 to locate the following:

5a. -450º

b. 630º
Fig. 1.1.9

Use Fig. 1.1.10 to locate the following:

6a. -390º

b. 510º

Fig. 1.1.10
4 Chap 1 Preliminary Concepts

II. State the quadrant of the following angles:

1a. 905º b. 1355º
2a. -1355º b. -905º
3a. 610º b. -920º
4a. -1100º b. 1000º
5a. -1515º b. -1745º

III. Convert the following in degree measures:

1a. 2.5 revolutions b. 3.5 revolutions

2a. 1/3 revolution b. ¼ revolution

3a. 1 1/8 revolutions b. 1 1/12 revolutions

IV. Convert the following in terms of revolutions:

1a. 405º b. 765º

2a. 540º b. 480º

3a. 840º b. 600º

4a. 1440º b. 1080º

V. Fill in the blanks:

1. If a pair of angles are complementary and equal in measure, then each angle has a
measure of .
 Chap 1 Angles 5
2. If a pair of angles are supplementary and equal in measure, then each angle has a
measure of .