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Exact value of trig functions calculator

Get radical and fraction forms for all six functions at multiples of 15°. Enter an angle with units or an integer fraction of π.

Calculator

Coterminal angle
15
Reference angle
15
Exact sin
(√6 - √2)/4
Exact cos
(√6 + √2)/4
Exact tan
2 - √3
Exact cot
2 + √3
Exact sec
√6 - √2
Exact csc
√6 + √2
First-quadrant exact values
Degreessincostan
0.00000000010
15.00000000(√6 - √2)/4(√6 + √2)/42 - √3
30.000000001/2√3/2√3/3
45.00000000√2/2√2/21
60.00000000√3/21/2√3
75.00000000(√6 + √2)/4(√6 - √2)/42 + √3
90.0000000010Undefined

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How this calculator works

Reduce the input by full turns, then reflect it into the first quadrant. The table supplies exact fractions and radicals at 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°. Apply the coordinate signs for the original quadrant. Cotangent, secant and cosecant are obtained from the corresponding ratios and reciprocals with rationalised denominators. A zero denominator is Undefined. This focused tool accepts only multiples of 15°; it does not label a rounded decimal at another angle as exact.

Formula

sin 15° = sin(45°-30°) = (√6-√2)/4; cos 15° = (√6+√2)/4; tan 15° = 2-√3. tan θ = sin θ/cos θ; cot θ = cos θ/sin θ; sec θ = 1/cos θ; csc θ = 1/sin θ.

Worked example

At 135°, the reference angle is 45°. Sine is √2/2, cosine is -√2/2 and tangent is -1. Their reciprocals are cosecant √2, secant -√2 and cotangent -1. At 15°, cosecant rationalises to √6+√2.

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Frequently asked questions

Why are 15° and 75° included?

They follow from adding or subtracting 30° and 45°. Their radicals let you evaluate more angles than the usual 30° and 45° table.

Can I enter π/12?

Choose fraction-of-π mode with numerator 1 and denominator 12. Negative numerators and denominators are allowed, but the denominator cannot be zero.

Why is tan 90° undefined?

Its cosine denominator is exactly zero. An infinite decimal or a very large finite value would not be a defined real tangent.

Sources

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