Coordinate Points on the Unit Circle

Last updated over 2 years ago
30 questions

The unit circle is called the "unit" circle because it has a radius of 1.

1

What is the length of the radius of the unit circle?

1

When the unit circle is drawn over an x- and y-axis it has some important coordinate points (x,y) along the edge of the circle.
What is the coordinate point at 90\degree?
Hint: Look at the image above.
Type your answer as an ordered pair (x,y).

1

What is the coordinate point at 180° ?

Type your answer as an ordered pair (x,y).

1

What is the coordinate point at 270° ?

Type your answer as an ordered pair (x,y).

1

What is the coordinate point at 2\pi radians ?

Type your answer as an ordered pair (x,y).

1
What's the coordinate point at 30\degree? __________

To find the coordinate point at 30° we can create a right triangle with the 30° reference angle.
Keep scrolling to see how!
1

We're going to be drawing triangles inside the unit circle, using the special angles of the unit circle.

These are the special angles of the unit circle:

Where else have you seen these angles?

1

Let's take a closer look at ONLY the 30\degree angle in Quadrant I.


If we draw a vertical line from the edge of the circle down to the x-axis it creates a right triangle:

What is the measure of the missing angle at the top of the triangle?

1

If the radius of the unit circle is 1, what is the length of the hypotenuse of this triangle?

Now we need to find the two missing side lengths x and y using the 30-60-90 special right triangle ratios.
You cannot use sin or cos because we need exact fractions, no decimals!


Recall how to set up the table for 30-60-90

1

What is the exact value of x?

No decimal answers so you must use the table above!

1

What is the exact value of y?

No decimal answers so you must use the table above!

1
The x-value and y-value you just found make up the coordinate point (x,y) for the 30\degree angle on the unit circle.


Notice how the __________ of the triangle represents the x-value of the point and the __________ of the triangle represents the y-value of the point on the circle.

Since the __________ of the triangle is the radius of the circle, that will always be __________
1

Looks like we found 3 of the 5 coordinate points in Quadrant 1.


Let's find the other two! Which reference angle does the middle point in Q1 represent?

1

If we create a right triangle with the 45\degree reference angle, what is the measure of the missing angle at the top of the triangle?

1

Use the 45-45-90 table to find exact value of x.



No decimals and remember to rationalize the denominator!

1

Use the same table to find exact value of y.

No decimals and remember to rationalize the denominator!

1
The x-value and y-value you just found make up the coordinate point (x,y) for the 45\degree angle on the unit circle.

Notice how the __________ of the triangle represents the x-value of the point and the __________ of the triangle represents the y-value of the point on the circle.

Since the __________ of the triangle is the radius of the circle, that will always be __________
1

We have ONE more coordinate point to find in Quadrant 1.

Which reference angle does the last missing point represent?

1

If we create a right triangle with the 60\degree reference angle, what is the measure of the missing angle at the top of the triangle?

1

Notice that we have another 30-60-90 triangle, except the 30\degree and 60\degree angles switched places. How do you think that will effect the base (x) and height (y) of the triangle?

1
If you were to find x and y using the 30-60-90 table,

you would find that the values do in fact __________ from the 30\degree reference angle

1

List the values in order from least to greatest.

1
Start at 0\degree and rotate up counter-clockwise.

As the angles in the unit circle increase:

- the x-value starts at 1 and gets __________ until x=0 at 90\degree. This is because the __________ of the right triangles we drew got smaller and smaller.

- the y-value starts a 0 and gets __________ until y=__________ at 90°. This is because the __________ of the right triangles we drew got taller and taller.

On the unit circle on your Radians worksheet, write in the coordinate points for Quadrants 1 and 2.


Notice how the reference angle (denominator) determines the coordinate points.

For example, the \frac{\pi }{3} reference angles in Q1 and Q2 have similar values.
1
Notice how the coordinate points in Quadrant 2 are the same as Quadrant 1, except now all of the __________ are negative.
1

The coordinate point for \frac{\pi }{6} in Q1 is

What is the coordinate point for \frac{5\pi }{6} in Q2?

1

When you list out the coordinate points in Quadrant III, what do you think will happen to the signs of the values?

1

The coordinate point for \frac{\pi }{4} in Q1 is

What is the coordinate point for \frac{5\pi }{4} in Q3?

1

The coordinate point for \frac{\pi }{4} in Q1 is

What is the coordinate point for \frac{7\pi }{4} in Q4?
Hint: think about if the x-value or y-value would be negative in Quadrant IV

1

Match the correct signs of each coordinate point (x,y) for each Quadrant.

  • (+,-)
  • (-,-)
  • (+,+)
  • (-,+)
  • Quadrant I
  • Quadrant II
  • Quadrant III
  • Quadrant IV
1

The coordinate point for \frac{\pi }{3} in Q1 is

What is the coordinate point for \frac{5\pi }{3} in Q4?

Fill in the rest of the coordinate points all around the unit circle on your worksheet. Raise your hand when you're done so I can check your work!