Education Technology


TAS: Unit Circle Sine

by Peter Fox

Objectives

Explore the connection between the unit circle and periodic patterns in the sine ratio and align these with the graph of sin(x).

Vocabulary

Unit circle, exact value, sine,

About the Lesson

Students start by passively observing an animation of the unit circle with a view to identifying some of the periodic patterns that occur in the sine ratio. These observations turn a literal response into a rule with the assistance of CAS. Patterns from the unit circle are then applied to a basic graph of sin(x) that is broken up into the respective quadrants followed by practicing calculations with exact angles and the material learnt to date.