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Math lesson plan Β· 11th grade (Year 12 in England) Β· 45 minutes

Read exact coordinates on the unit circle

Trigonometry

CCSS HSF.TF.A.2CCSS HSF.TF.A.3England: A-level Pure Mathematics

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Read exact coordinates on the unit circle.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: The unit circle and radians; Exact trig values (0Β°, 30Β°, 45Β°, 60Β°, 90Β°)

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Scientific calculators, Protractors and rulers, Right-triangle diagrams, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up Β· 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The unit circle and radians; Exact trig values (0Β°, 30Β°, 45Β°, 60Β°, 90Β°)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Convert Ο€/4 radians to degrees. β†’ 45Prompt: Ο€ radians is a half turn.
  2. What is the exact value of sin 60Β°? (√3 / √3/3 / √2/2 / √3/2) β†’ √3/2Prompt: Use the 30-60-90 triangle (sides 1, √3, 2) or the 45-45-90 triangle (sides 1, 1, √2).
  3. Is sin 240Β° positive, zero or negative? (Positive / Zero / Negative) β†’ NegativePrompt: On the unit circle, cos is the x-coordinate and sin is the y-coordinate.

Hook Β· 5 min

  • Show a ramp or a ladder against a wall and ask how steep it is.
  • Share the objective: Read exact coordinates on the unit circle. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it Β· 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What are the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 225Β°?
  • Step 1: (cos 225Β°, sin 225Β°) = (βˆ’βˆš2/2, βˆ’βˆš2/2)
  • Answer: (βˆ’βˆš2/2, βˆ’βˆš2/2)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice Β· 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What are the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 240Β°? ((βˆ’βˆš3/2, βˆ’1/2) / (1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2) / (βˆ’1/2, √3/2) / (βˆ’1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2)) β†’ (βˆ’1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2)Prompt: The point is (cos ΞΈ, sin ΞΈ).
  2. Find the exact value of sin(5Ο€/4). (√2/2 / βˆ’βˆš3/2 / 1/2 / βˆ’βˆš2/2) β†’ βˆ’βˆš2/2Prompt: 5Ο€/4 radians = 225Β°.

You do: independent practice Β· 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket Β· 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Find the exact value of cos(5Ο€/3). (√2/2 / βˆ’βˆš3/2 / βˆ’βˆš2/2 / 1/2) β†’ 1/2Prompt: 5Ο€/3 radians = 300Β°.
  2. What are the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 240Β°? ((βˆ’βˆš3/2, βˆ’1/2) / (βˆ’1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2) / (1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2) / (βˆ’1/2, √3/2)) β†’ (βˆ’1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2)Prompt: The point is (cos ΞΈ, sin ΞΈ).

Watch out for

  • Mixing up opposite and adjacent sides.
  • Calculator in radians instead of degrees.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: The unit circle and radians.
  • Use concrete materials: scientific calculators.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-11.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Read exact coordinates on the unit circle

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  1. Question 1

    Find the exact value of cos(7Ο€/4).

    • A. 1/2
    • B. √3/2
    • C. βˆ’βˆš3/2
    • D. √2/2
  2. Question 2

    What are the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 45Β°?

    • A. (√2/2, βˆ’βˆš2/2)
    • B. (√2/2, √2/2)
    • C. (βˆ’βˆš2/2, √2/2)
  3. Question 3

    Find the exact value of cos(2Ο€/3).

    • A. βˆ’βˆš3/2
    • B. √2/2
    • C. √3/2
    • D. βˆ’1/2
  4. Question 4

    What are the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 240Β°?

    • A. (βˆ’βˆš3/2, βˆ’1/2)
    • B. (1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2)
    • C. (βˆ’1/2, √3/2)
    • D. (βˆ’1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2)
  5. Question 5

    Find the exact value of cos(5Ο€/4).

    • A. √2/2
    • B. βˆ’βˆš2/2
    • C. 1/2
    • D. βˆ’βˆš3/2
  6. Question 6

    What are the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 225Β°?

    • A. (√2/2, βˆ’βˆš2/2)
    • B. (βˆ’βˆš2/2, √2/2)
    • C. (βˆ’βˆš2/2, βˆ’βˆš2/2)
  7. Question 7

    Find the exact value of cos(3Ο€/4).

    • A. √3/2
    • B. βˆ’βˆš2/2
    • C. βˆ’βˆš3/2
    • D. βˆ’1/2
  8. Question 8

    What are the coordinates of the point on the unit circle at an angle of 210Β°?

    • A. (βˆ’βˆš3/2, 1/2)
    • B. (βˆ’1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2)
    • C. (√3/2, βˆ’1/2)
    • D. (βˆ’βˆš3/2, βˆ’1/2)

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Answer key: Read exact coordinates on the unit circle

  1. 1. D. √2/2

  2. 2. B. (√2/2, √2/2)

  3. 3. D. βˆ’1/2

  4. 4. D. (βˆ’1/2, βˆ’βˆš3/2)

  5. 5. B. βˆ’βˆš2/2

  6. 6. C. (βˆ’βˆš2/2, βˆ’βˆš2/2)

  7. 7. B. βˆ’βˆš2/2

  8. 8. D. (βˆ’βˆš3/2, βˆ’1/2)