October 2, 2009
No CommentsHow to Find the Reference Angle
Description
A detailed tutorial on finding the reference angle. Step by step tutorial with several examples of how to find the reference angle for reference.
Overview
The reference angle is something you run into in precalculus and calculus. The reference angle is only used when working with radian measure, which while being more precise than degree notation, can sometimes be difficult to figure out and out into something you can use when solving an equation. The reference angle uses the unit circle, which has four points of 0, pi/2, pi, 3pi/2, and 2pi. When calculating an angle that is not exact, you place it on your unti circle and find the closest of those points. Subtract them. This is your reference angle.
