Unit 1 - Trigonometry
In this unit, you will explore how the trigonometric ratios from high school Geometry relate to circles. First, you will explore the height of a rider on a Ferris Wheel and develop precise definitions of sine and cosine (as well as tangent and the co-functions) using transformational geometry. This precision will lead to a discussion of a mathematically natural unit of rotational measure, called the radian. You will also explore the graphs of periodic functions, and use them to model new situations and discover important properties of trigonometric functions. Pictured above is a time-lapse photo of the Antarctica Observatory over a course of 24-hours showing the sun as it "appears" to move across the sky. Have you seen this type of curve before?
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