Trig: Unit circle Trick

(Correction: Second quad signs are backward, sorry) Exact values of the Unit circle made easy. Using you left hand and the trig trick taught here you can know the exact value of sin and cos for all the multiples of the 30, 45, and 60 degree angles.

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Education

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• Trig
• Math
• unit circle
• trig tricks
• sin and cos
• Trigonometry
• Trigonometry lessons
• Trick to learn unit circle
• exact values for unit circle
• memorize the unit circle
• Trig tricks
• memory tricks for math
• math memory tricks
• Laura McAlvey

[DRCRAZY03]

lmfaoo wtf.. this goes against what i learned.... All Students Take Calc. on the second quadrant sine is always positive not negative -_-

[FBAMath]

@DRCRAZY03 - read the text under the video, it corrects the second quad mistake, sorry

[jjsteckro]

This entire discussion is a perfect illustration of why our country is in such sad shape mathematically. From teachers who don't care whether students understand to students who care only about a meaningless trick to get them through the test, this is a sad commentary on the state of mathematics education in our schools today. Until students make sense of what they are learning, there is no hope. I teach college math and see every day what this approach has done to our students. Very sad indeed.

[FBAMath]

@jjsteckro try teaching high school Algebra II to every student in the school even those who are not ready for the class. Then talk to me about give the students tricks. By the way this is not an American trick. It came from an exchange student in a country that kicks out buts in math! It's not the teaching of tricks that is the problem.

[FBAMath]

@jjsteckro Hey, I have a great Idea. Could you email me with the things you as a college teacher would like the students to understant about the unit circle. Maybe I could use it to help or maybe I already teach it but here am just fulfilling a requirement of one of my college classes. What exactly do you want the students coming in to your first year math class to know? my email is lmcalvey@hotmail.com

[xequant]

If you use your right hand, instead of your left, you get the results in the traditional x,y or cos,sin order. Also, moving from finger to finger in order to go from 30 degrees, to 45 degrees to 60 degrees, etc happens in a counter-clockwise direction, which is more analogous to the unit circle.

[FBAMath]

@xequant cool!

[YEahsasdh]

On the second quadrant (+,-) supposed to be (-,+)

[heliumexplosion420]

Cool, I'm going to go into the testing center with this info on my left palm. LOL

[ZPebble21]

MAME, I THINK I LOVE YOU. I HAVE A QUIZ TOMORW ND I WAS FREAKING I SAW THIS AND IT HELPED ME TONES, OTHERS WERE LIKE VIDS OF TOO INTELECTUAL TRYING TO TEACH NEWBIES HOW TO LEARN... U HELPED ME SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANKYOU SO MUCH!!! KEEP DOING WAT UR DOING I <3 U!

[verveer1]

its actually easier if you use the back of your hand, that way cos is on the left side (x value) and sin is on the right side (y value) and that way the 90, 60, 45, 30 and 0 degrees fall in the order they should

[barkingtriscuits]

This 'trick' makes it so confusing, for me at least.

Anyone else who is searching for help on memorizing it, check out patrickJMT. His videos have helped me so much! He explains things so much simpler and more logically.

[icxcrex]

Fellow teachers (especially the college teacher who commented upon the sad state of affairs), the children in today's pool are not equipped because they are not taught how to think, they are taught what to do; and everything is done for them. This is a generalisation, and I think it's pretty close to the norm. I fail to see the difference whether one uses his hand (kinesthetic) or draws the special triangles (visual). Be less dogmatic, and learn more about teaching students to learn and THINK!

[webbabbi]

this is awesoooomeeee ! thank you so much :))

[mmrafi2010]

Hello Ma`am, I am not sure what's wrong with the people!! I just wanted to thank you for sharing this AMAZING idea. Don't take these stupid comments of these _______ people into your heart. Ignore the comments. I tutor math and I know how it feels. Thank you again...Thank you very much.

[MaddiesMusicPlaylist]

a lot of people don't realize that learning math ISN'T just about learning math and how to calculate numbers, there is a reason its called "problem solving". math teaches a person how to think around obstacles in life. i think that is something every person needs too keep in mind. it is very helpful to try hard in math related subjects. (: i wouldn't advise anyone to give up on math. this video is helpful, but it may be damaging to the greater good of the students. :/

[flowiepanda]

@DRCRAZY03 why would sine be negative in the second quadrant? sine corresponds to the y axis and in second quadrant it's positive