Measurement of Trigonometric Angles

In measurement of trigonometric angles the particular branch of mathematics is mainly based on the ratios of sides of a right-angled triangle with respect to the two acute angles, we should have a full discussion, about the angle what an angle is.

What is an angle?

(i) An angle is formed at a point when two rays emerge from it.

As in the above figure we can see that two rays OA and OB emerging from the point O form ∠AOB. We shall call it a geometric angle.

(ii) If the initial point of a ray (the point from which the ray emerges) is kept fixed and the ray is rotated in a plane in the anticlockwise direction, then the subsequent positions of the ray make angles with the initial position at that fixed point.

These angles are called trigonometric angles.

(1) It is clear from the figure that, in geometry, only the magnitude of an angle is the main thing we consider. An angle in geometry can assume any value from 0° to 360°, but it can never be more than 360°.

(2) In trigonometry, we not only consider the angle made by a rotating ray with its initial position, but also the direction (i.e, clockwise or anti-clockwise) in which the ray is rotating. If a ray rotates in the anticlockwise direction, then, angles produced by it are defined as positive. On the other hand, if a ray rotates in the clockwise direction, the angles thus produced are taken as negative.

Now we shall discuss if a rotating ray after completing a full revolution further rotates through some angles, then how the angle finally produced is measured.

In case of geometric angles, if a ray completes a full revolution and coincides with its initial position, then it makes an angle of 360°. Now if it further starts to rotate, then the angle is again measured afresh from 0°. The angle will never be more than 360°. Here, we again mention that in case of geometric angles we do not take into consideration whether the ray is rotating in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

A trigonometric angle starting from 0° can assume any value, even it can be negative. The number of times a ray makes a complete revolution in the anticlockwise direction from its initial position, say an angle θ, the number of times the angle 360° is added to the angle θ.

Similarly, the number of times a ray makes complete revolution in the clockwise direction, the angle 360° is decreased that number of times.

In the above figure (i), ∠POP₁ = θ°. In figure (ii), the ray OP₁ has made a complete revolution in the anticlockwise direction from its initial position (i.e. it has further made an angle 360°) and then has come to the position OP₁. In the second case if we represent the position of the ray by OP₂ (in fact, OP₂ lies on OP₁), then ∠POP₂ = 360° + θ°.

For example, if a ray revolves in the anticlockwise direction to make two complete revolutions and further makes an angle 30°, then the total angle formed is 2 × 360° + 30° = 750°

If a ray rotates in the clockwise direction, we can give analogous explanation for negative angles.

In the above figure (i), ∠NON₁ = -θ°. In figure (ii) after rotating a full revolution the ray ON₁ has come to the position ON₂ (in fact, ON₂ lies on ON₁). In this case ∠NON₂ = -(360° + θ°).

In this way we can explain a negative angle in trigonometry.

Basic Trigonometry 

Trigonometry

Measurement of Trigonometric Angles

Circular System

Radian is a Constant Angle

Relation between Sexagesimal and Circular

Conversion from Sexagesimal to Circular System

Conversion from Circular to Sexagesimal System

9th Grade Math

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