This precalculus unit circle worksheet answer key solves all 23 problems of the angles, radians and the unit circle worksheet step by step.
Complete worked solutions for the radians and unit circle worksheet. Exact answers are in bold. For every trigonometric value, name the quadrant, the reference angle and the sign, because that three-step habit prevents most errors.
Precalculus Unit Circle Worksheet Answer Key: problems 1–5
Problem 1: Degrees to radians
- \(30^{\circ}\cdot\frac{\pi}{180}=\)\(\frac{\pi}{6}\)
- \(135^{\circ}\cdot\frac{\pi}{180}=\)\(\frac{3\pi}{4}\)
- \(270^{\circ}\cdot\frac{\pi}{180}=\)\(\frac{3\pi}{2}\)
- \(-210^{\circ}\cdot\frac{\pi}{180}=\)\(-\frac{7\pi}{6}\)
- \(15^{\circ}\cdot\frac{\pi}{180}=\)\(\frac{\pi}{12}\)
Problem 2: Radians to degrees
- \(\frac{5\pi}{6}\cdot\frac{180^{\circ}}{\pi}=\)\(150^{\circ}\)
- \(\frac{7\pi}{4}\cdot\frac{180^{\circ}}{\pi}=\)\(315^{\circ}\)
- \(\frac{2\pi}{3}\cdot\frac{180^{\circ}}{\pi}=\)\(120^{\circ}\)
- \(\frac{11\pi}{6}\cdot\frac{180^{\circ}}{\pi}=\)\(330^{\circ}\)
- \(3\cdot\frac{180^{\circ}}{\pi}\approx\) \(171.89^{\circ}\)
Problem 3: Coterminal angles
- \(\frac{17\pi}{6}-2\pi=\)\(\frac{5\pi}{6}\)
- \(-\frac{\pi}{3}+2\pi=\)\(\frac{5\pi}{3}\)
- \(\frac{25\pi}{4}-6\pi=\)\(\frac{\pi}{4}\)
- \(-\frac{11\pi}{4}+4\pi=\)\(\frac{5\pi}{4}\)
Problem 4: Reference angles
- Quadrant II, reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{6}\)
- Quadrant IV, reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{4}\)
- Quadrant IV, reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{6}\)
- Coterminal angle \(\frac{\pi}{3}\); Quadrant I, reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{3}\)
- Coterminal angle \(\frac{4\pi}{3}\); Quadrant III, reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{3}\)
Problem 5: Special angle values
Read the coordinates \((\cos\theta,\sin\theta)\) and divide for the tangent.
| \(\theta\) | \(\sin\theta\) | \(\cos\theta\) | \(\tan\theta\) |
|---|---|---|---|
| \(\frac{\pi}{6}\) | \(\frac{1}{2}\) | \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\) | \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\) |
| \(\frac{\pi}{4}\) | \(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\) | \(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\) | \(1\) |
| \(\frac{\pi}{3}\) | \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\) | \(\frac{1}{2}\) | \(\sqrt{3}\) |
Precalculus Unit Circle Worksheet Answer Key: problems 6–10
Problem 6: Point on the unit circle
- The reference angle satisfies \(\sin\frac{\pi}{6}=\frac{1}{2}\). In Quadrant II, \(\theta=\pi-\frac{\pi}{6}=\)\(\frac{5\pi}{6}\)
- \(\sin\theta=\)\(\frac{1}{2}\), \(\cos\theta=\)\(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\), \(\tan\theta=\frac{1/2}{-\sqrt{3}/2}=\)\(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\)
Problem 7: Exact values by symmetry
- \(\sin(\frac{5\pi}{6})=\)\(\frac{1}{2}\). Reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{6}\), Quadrant II, sine is positive there.
- \(\cos(\frac{7\pi}{4})=\)\(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\). Reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{4}\), Quadrant IV, cosine is positive there.
- \(\tan(\frac{2\pi}{3})=\)\(-\sqrt{3}\). Reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{3}\), Quadrant II, tangent is negative there.
- \(\sin(\frac{11\pi}{6})=\)\(-\frac{1}{2}\). Reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{6}\), Quadrant IV, sine is negative there.
- \(\cos(\frac{4\pi}{3})=\)\(-\frac{1}{2}\). Reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{3}\), Quadrant III, cosine is negative there.
Problem 8: Reading a point from an angle
- The terminal side is \(\frac{5\pi}{4}-\pi=\)\(\frac{\pi}{4}\) past the negative x-axis.
- Both coordinates have magnitude \(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\) and are negative in Quadrant III: \(P(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2},-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})\)
- \(\tan\frac{5\pi}{4}=\frac{-\sqrt{2}/2}{-\sqrt{2}/2}=\)1
Problem 9: Even and odd identities
- \(\sin(-\frac{\pi}{3})=-\sin(\frac{\pi}{3})=\)\(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\).
- \(\cos(-\frac{\pi}{4})=\cos(\frac{\pi}{4})=\)\(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\).
- \(\tan(-\frac{\pi}{6})=-\tan(\frac{\pi}{6})=\)\(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\).
- \(\sin(-\frac{5\pi}{6})=-\sin(\frac{5\pi}{6})=\)\(-\frac{1}{2}\).
- \(\cos(-\frac{2\pi}{3})=\cos(\frac{2\pi}{3})=\)\(-\frac{1}{2}\).
Problem 10: Coordinates on the unit circle
- \(\sin^{2}\theta=1-\frac{9}{25}=\frac{16}{25}\), and sine is negative in Quadrant IV, so \(\sin\theta=-\frac{4}{5}\). Then \(\tan\theta=\frac{-4/5}{3/5}=-\frac{4}{3}\)
- \(\frac{25}{169}+y^{2}=1\) gives \(y^{2}=\frac{144}{169}\). In Quadrant III, \(y=-\frac{12}{13}\)
Precalculus Unit Circle Worksheet Answer Key: problems 11–15
Problem 11: Periodicity
- \(\sin(\frac{25\pi}{6})=\sin(\frac{25\pi}{6}-4\pi)=\sin(\frac{\pi}{6})=\)\(\frac{1}{2}\).
- \(\cos(-\frac{13\pi}{3})=\cos(-\frac{13\pi}{3}+6\pi)=\cos(\frac{5\pi}{3})=\)\(\frac{1}{2}\).
- \(\tan(\frac{9\pi}{4})=\tan(\frac{9\pi}{4}-2\pi)=\tan(\frac{\pi}{4})=\)\(1\).
- \(\sin(-\frac{17\pi}{4})=\sin(-\frac{17\pi}{4}+6\pi)=\sin(\frac{7\pi}{4})=\)\(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\).
- \(\tan(-\frac{11\pi}{6})=\tan(-\frac{11\pi}{6}+2\pi)=\tan(\frac{\pi}{6})=\)\(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}\).
Problem 12: Solving trigonometric equations
- The reference angle is \(\frac{\pi}{6}\). The value is positive, so the terminal side is in Quadrant I or II: \(\theta=\)\(\frac{\pi}{6}\) and \(\theta=\pi-\frac{\pi}{6}=\)\(\frac{5\pi}{6}\).
- The reference angle is \(\frac{\pi}{4}\). The value is negative, so the terminal side is in Quadrant II or III: \(\theta=\pi-\frac{\pi}{4}=\)\(\frac{3\pi}{4}\) and \(\theta=\pi+\frac{\pi}{4}=\)\(\frac{5\pi}{4}\).
- The reference angle is \(\frac{\pi}{4}\). The value is negative, so the terminal side is in Quadrant II or IV: \(\theta=\pi-\frac{\pi}{4}=\)\(\frac{3\pi}{4}\) and \(\theta=2\pi-\frac{\pi}{4}=\)\(\frac{7\pi}{4}\).
- The reference angle is \(\frac{\pi}{3}\). The value is negative, so the terminal side is in Quadrant III or IV: \(\theta=\pi+\frac{\pi}{3}=\)\(\frac{4\pi}{3}\) and \(\theta=2\pi-\frac{\pi}{3}=\)\(\frac{5\pi}{3}\).
Problem 13: Even or odd functions
- \(f(-x)=(-x)\sin(-x)=(-x)(-\sin x)=x\sin x=f(x)\), so even
- \(g(-x)=(-x)\cos(-x)=-x\cos x=-g(x)\), so odd
- \(h(\frac{\pi}{4})=\sqrt{2}\) but \(h(-\frac{\pi}{4})=-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}+\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}=0\), which equals neither \(h(\frac{\pi}{4})\) nor \(-h(\frac{\pi}{4})\), so neither
Problem 14: Solutions from a graph
On \([0,2\pi)\), \(\sin x=\frac{1}{2}\) at \(x=\frac{\pi}{6}\) and \(x=\frac{5\pi}{6}\). Sine has period \(2\pi\), so add \(2\pi\): \(\frac{\pi}{6}+2\pi=\frac{13\pi}{6}\) and \(\frac{5\pi}{6}+2\pi=\frac{17\pi}{6}\).
\(x=\frac{\pi}{6},\ \frac{5\pi}{6},\ \frac{13\pi}{6},\ \frac{17\pi}{6}\)
Problem 15: Arc length
- \(150^{\circ}=\)\(\frac{5\pi}{6}\)
- \(s=r\theta=12\cdot\frac{5\pi}{6}=\)\(10\pi\approx 31.42\) in
- \(s=8\cdot 2.5=\)\(20\text{ ft}\)
Precalculus Unit Circle Worksheet Answer Key: problems 16–20
Problem 16: Central angle from arc length
\(\theta=\frac{s}{r}=\frac{9}{6}=\)1.5 radians.
\(1.5\cdot\frac{180^{\circ}}{\pi}\approx\) \(85.94^{\circ}\).
Problem 17: Ferris wheel height
\(\sin\frac{4\pi}{3}=-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\) (reference angle \(\frac{\pi}{3}\), Quadrant III).
\(h=35+30(-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2})=\)\(35-15\sqrt{3}\approx 9.02\) ft.
Problem 18: Bicycle wheel speed
\(\omega=3\cdot 2\pi=6\pi\approx 18.85\) rad/s.
The radius is 13 in, so \(v=r\omega=13\cdot 6\pi=78\pi\approx\) 245.04 in/s.
\(245.04\cdot\frac{3600}{12\cdot 5280}\approx\) 13.92 mph.
Problem 19: Turntable speed
\(\omega=\frac{100}{3}\cdot 2\pi=\frac{200\pi}{3}\approx\) 209.44 rad/min.
\(v=5\cdot\frac{200\pi}{3}=\frac{1000\pi}{3}\approx\) 1047.20 in/min for a point 5 in from the center.
Problem 20: Windshield wiper
\(140^{\circ}=140\cdot\frac{\pi}{180}=\frac{7\pi}{9}\).
\(s=r\theta=18\cdot\frac{7\pi}{9}=\)\(14\pi\approx 43.98\) in.
Precalculus Unit Circle Worksheet Answer Key: problems 21–23
Problem 21: Lighthouse beam
\(\omega=2\cdot 2\pi=4\pi\approx 12.57\) rad/min.
\(v=5\cdot 4\pi=20\pi\approx 62.83\) mi/min, and \(62.83\cdot 60\approx\) 3769.91 mph.
Problem 22: Running track curve
\(\theta=\frac{s}{r}=\frac{300}{100}=\)3 radians.
\(3\cdot\frac{180^{\circ}}{\pi}\approx\) \(171.89^{\circ}\).
Problem 23: Minute hand travel
Twenty minutes is one third of a turn, so \(\theta=\frac{2\pi}{3}\).
\(s=6\cdot\frac{2\pi}{3}=\)\(4\pi\approx 12.57\) in.
Average speed: \(\frac{4\pi}{20}=\frac{\pi}{5}\approx\) 0.63 in/min.
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Precalculus Angles, Radians and the Unit Circle worksheet answer key
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