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Reference angle — AQA Level 2 Certificate Further Maths Definition

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Mathematics
Key terms
Reference angle

Level 2 Certificate Mathematics · key term

Reference angle

Definition

The acute angle between the final arm of an angle and the $x$ -axis.

Used by AQA

How each exam board covers it

AQA Level 2 Certificate Further Mathematics · 8365

Specification 6.7 · Paper 1, Paper 2

Reflection in the axes preserves the magnitudes of the coordinates, so an angle and its reference angle have the same magnitudes of sine, cosine and tangent. Their signs may differ.
Revise: Trigonometric Definitions

AQA Further Mathematics past papers

Exam tips

1
Find the quadrant before choosing the sign. A reference angle gives the magnitude, not necessarily the sign.

Related key terms

Cosine
Positive angle
Quadrant
Sine
Tangent

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