Exact Values of the Sine and Cosine Functions in Increments of 3 degrees

The sine and cosine values for all angle measurements in multiples of 3 degrees can be determined
exactly, represented in terms of square-root radicals, and the four common operations of arithmetic.

From the 45-45-90 degree triangle, set the hypotenuse to 1, and use the Pythagorean formula to determine
the legs, which are both 2 2 . Using the right-triangle constructions sin =

and cos =

, we have sin45 = 2 2 and cos 45 = 2 2 .

From the equilateral (60-60-60) triangle, we can view half the triangle, thus forming a 30-60-90 triangle,
with the hypotenuse measuring 1, the short leg 1/2, and the long leg 3 2 . Therefore, we have sin30 =
1/2, cos 30 = 3 2 , sin 60 = 3 2 and cos 60 = 1/2.



From the 36-72-72 triangle, let the two long sides be 1, and the short side . Then, bisect one of the 72
angles, extending the ray to intersect the other side of the triangle. This forms two triangles: a 36-36-108
isosceles triangle whose short sides are both , and a smaller 36-72-72 isosceles triangle whose long sides
are , and short side is 1 , as shown in the diagrams below:



The two 36-72-72 triangles are proportional: The ratio of the long sides 1: is the same proportion as the
ratio of the short sides: : (1 ). Therefore, we can solve for by equating two ratios. We have

, which gives

= 1 after cross-multiplying. Solving for x using the quadratic formula (and

ignoring the negative root), we have =

, which is the Golden Mean, denoted by the letter . In

this paper, we use the fact that

= 1 , so that it is always possible to express linearly, and that

= 1 + , so that it is not necessary to leave alone in a denominator.

Splitting the 36-36-108 triangle in half, we now have a right triangle, a 36-54-90 triangle, with
hypotenuse =

, short leg

, or

3 4, and long leg 1/2. (The Pythagorean formula was

used to determine the short legs length)



Therefore, we can state the following:

sin36 =

( + 1)3 4; cos 36 =

( + 1)

The remaining exact representations for angles of multiples of 3 can now be found, using various sum-
difference or half-angle identities. For example, sin6 = 2 sin3 cos 3, and so on. Since different
identities may be used at various steps, the exact representations may look different than other possible
representations, but can be shown to be identical in value. The following is a table of all exact values for
the sine and cosine of angles of multiples of 3, up through 45. All radicals were simplified so that none
contained any quotients within them. Alternative expressions using the Golden Mean are given in a few
cases too.

Angle

0 degrees
0 radians


0

1

3 degrees

radians

8 3 15

10 25

8 + 3 + 15 +

10 25

6 degrees

radians

9 5

30 + 65

7 + 5 +

30 + 65

9 degrees

radians

8 2

10 + 25

or

2 3 +

8 + 2

10 + 25

or

2 + 3 +


Angle

12 degrees

radians

8 2

8 +

30 + 65

6 25

or

3 + 3

8 + 2

8 +

30 + 65

6 25

or

9 + 3 +

15 degrees

radians

2 3 or

6 2

2 +3 or

6 +2

18 degrees

radians

6 25 or

10 + 25 or

3 +

21 degrees

radians

10 + 25

18 65

8 +

10 + 25 +

18 65

24 degrees

radians

30 + 65 +

6 25

8 +

30 + 65

6 25

27 degrees

radians

8 2

10 25

or

6 + 2 2

8 + 2

10 25

or

6 + 2 + 2


30 degrees

radians

3

33 degrees

radians

8 3 15 +

10 25

8 + 3 + 15

10 25

Angle

36 degrees

radians

10 25 or

( + 1)3 4

1 + 5 or

( + 1)

39 degrees

radians

10 + 25 +

18 65

8 +

10 + 25

18 65

42 degrees

radians

9 + 5

30 65

7 5 +

30 65

45 degrees

radians

2

For sine and cosine measurements above 45

radians, use the identities cos = sin(90 ) and

sin = cos(90 ). For example, sin48 = cos 42, and so on.

The Interesting Case of Sin 10 and the Polynomial

+ =

The expression sin(3) can be written as 4 sin

+ 3 sin by observing that sin(3) = sin(2 + )

and using the sum identities. If we let = 10, we have

sin(30) = 4 sin

(10) + 3 sin(10), or

= 4 sin

(10) + 3 sin(10).

Multiplying by 2, we have

1 = 8 sin

(10) + 6 sin(10).

Thus, the polynomial 8

6 + 1 = 0 has sin (10) as a root. Graphing this polynomial and using the
zero feature, the three roots of this polynomial are (rounded) = 0.1736482, = 0.7660444 and
= 0.9396926. A calculator also shows that sin(10) = 0.1736482. What are these other values?

Since sin (10) is a root of 8

6 + 1 = 0, we factor this polynomial by dividing by ( sin(10))

using synthetic division. The first pass through gives

8

6 + 1 = ( sin(10))8

+ (8 sin(10)) + (8 sin

(10) 6).

The remaining quadratic can be solved using the quadratic formula:

=
8 sin(10) (8 sin(10))

4(8)(8sin

(10) 6)
2(8)
.

After considerable simplification, we get

=
1
2
sin(10) 3cos(10).

A calculator verifies that

sin(10) + 3 cos(10) 0.9396926 , and that

sin(10)
3 cos(10))
0.76604444 .

We can also try factoring this cubic directly. This is a depressed cubic (missing its quadratic term). It is
known that the closed form solution will consist of cube roots of complex numbers, even though the
answer is clearly real. Nevertheless, its interesting to explore this avenue. The methods here date back to
Cardan and his contemporaries of the 16
th
- and 17
th
-Centuries. First, let =

, where r is a temporary
variable and k is some constant to be determined:

8

+ 1 = 0.

Expanding, we have

8

24 +
24

6 +
6

+ 1 = 0.

Note what happens when =

:

8

24
1
4
+
24
1
4

1
4

6 +
6
1
4

+ 1 = 0
8

+ 6 +
3
2
+
1
8

6
3
2
+ 1 = 0
8

+
1
8

+ 1 = 0.

Multiplying through by 8

, we have

64

+ 8

+ 1 = 0.

This is quadratic if we treat

= (

. Using the quadratic formula, we have

=
8 8

4(1)(64)
2(64)
=
8 83
128
=
1 3
16
.

Thus,
=
1 3
16


.

Since = +

, we have
=
1 3
16


+
1
4

1 3
16


.

A calculator shows that

0.76604444 . Interestingly, the value of

is also 0.76604444 Thus, it is clear (in a manner of speaking) that

sin(10) 3 cos(10).

Determining the cube roots of complex numbers requires more wrestling with deMoivres Theorem. Lets
move on.

What About the Sine of 1 degree?

The following construction results in a general way to illustrate the value of sin . Start with an isosceles
triangle with two sides of length 1, and the remaining side of length . Let the angle opposite be
(2).



In the above diagram, continue the construction as follows: Draw segment such that its length is also
, then draw segment such that it meets segment at a right angle. We can now label the various
lengths as follows: || = cos(3) and || = sin(3), so therefore, || = 1 sin(3). The
Pythagorean formula gives the length of || = 1 +

2 sin(3). In turn, the length || = 1

1 +

2 sin(3). This is shown in the following figure:

Now, drop a perpendicular from to segment , and also a perpendicular from to segment . In
doing so, we have split the angle measurement (2) into . Importantly, note that triangles and
are proportional. We can now define sin in two ways using the opposite over hypotenuse
construction for right angles:

sin =

2
and sin =
1 1 +

2 sin(3)
2
.

Relating the two expressions, we have:

1 1 +

2 sin(3)
2
=

2
.

This simplifies to

= 1 1 +

2 sin(3). After squaring away the radical, the equation

becomes

+ 2 sin(3) = 0

Since = 0 produces a trivial case, we ignore it and divide out by :

3 + 2 sin(3) = 0

This cubic polynomial has three roots. Let be the positive root of this polynomial that is closest to 0.
Therefore, sin() =

, or = 2 sin(). For example, to find sin1, let = 1 and we get have

3 + 2 sin(3) = 0. A calculator shows that = 0.0349048 is a root of this polynomial. Therefore,
sin1 =
.

= 0.0174524, which is also confirmed via calculator.

Prepared by Scott Surgent (surgent@asu.edu) Please report errors to me if you see one. Updated 10-16-2013
Thanks to Martin Muccarione at Linear Corp. in Carlsbad CA for useful insights, which I have included here.