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Aight, always let it be etched on your mind that reference angles a.k.a. basic angles, usually symbolized by an alpha symbol, is an angle that lies in Quadrant 1 (reference angle < 90deg) and it starts in an anti/counterclockwise direction of OX. Whatever you do, make sure the reference angle is contained inside Quadrant 1. How to make it inside Quadrant 1? Well, I believe already knew - 180deg - theta (if theta falls in Q2), theta - 180deg (if theta falls in Q3), 360deg - theta (if theta falls in Q4) and you need not perform any operation if theta falls in Q1 - consider it the reference angle as it is < 90deg. On the other hand, let's say you want to find the reference angle for a negative angle, -theta, remember to omit the negative sign of the negative angle when subtracting to find the reference angle. You don't even need to put a -ive sign in front of 360deg or 180deg or any other special angles in which you're subtracting from or by. Just succinctly think it this way, to find the reference angle for a negative angle, the negative angle is mirrored or inversed to start from Q1 in a counterclockwise direction as usual. The reason to this is because if you experiment it yourself this example: sin (-390deg). [First], If you sketch a circle and make a -390deg revolution from QIV (clockwise direction), you'll notice that -390deg falls back in QIV. So, reference angle = (larger angle, i.e. 390deg) - (smaller angle, i.e. 360deg) = 30deg. Notice that I did not write -390 - (-360) because it will yield a -ive 30 instead. [Next], you wanna recall that only cos theta yields a +ive value in QIV so straightaway you know that sin (-390deg) is -ive. [Now for the intricate part,] check the answer for sin(-390deg) on your calculator. It says -0.5 true? Okay now that you know the value is -ive in QIV, include -ive sign in front of (sin 30deg); what do you get? -0.5 also correct? Okay so back to the question why you really don't want a -ive sign in front of reference angle, if you put -(sin -30deg), you'll get a +0.5 instead which is what you don't want. In a nutshell, just drop the -ive sign in front of -ive angles whenever you tryna find their reference angle. :P sorry too long i know! but helpful

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