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This is a VERY important question and I am glad you asked it. First you have to remember that in drawing angles we think of 4 quadrants. Think of the XY plane - the first quadrant is where BOTH X and Y are positive. In the 2nd quadrant the X is negative and the Y is positive. In the 3rd quadrant the X and the Y are negative. In the 4th quadrant the X is positive and the Y is negative.

Normally when we draw an angle we draw an angle less than 90 degrees. However, we can draw any angle we want from 0 to 360. However that angle can be represented by an angle less than 90 degrees in a certain quadrant.

Take an angle like 120 degrees. That angle is the same as a 60 degree angle in the 2nd quadrant. A 210 degree angle is the same as a 30 degree angle in the 3rd quadrant. A 359 degree angle is the same as a 1 degree angle in the 4th quadrant.

Those smaller angles are reference angles. This explanation would be better if I could insert graphs.

I have attached a link to a picture. Alpha is the angle and Beta is the reference angle.

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Q: What is angle of reference in trigonometry?
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Related questions

Why is 90 degree not taken as the angle of reference in trigonometry?

The angle of reference is in the first quadrant, and 90 degrees angle is not in the quadrant.


Why is 90 degrees taken as angle of reference in trigonometry?

It is not. The angle of reference is 2*pi radians or 360 degrees.


How do you find Missing side of a right angle?

If there is no length for the hypotenuse you have to use the Pythagorean Theorem. If there are two sides missing and a reference angle you could use Trigonometry.


What can you do with a trigonometry degree?

Measure an angle!


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It is an angle of 360 degrees.


What are two kinds of measurement in trigonometry?

distance and angle


Symbol for an angle in trigonometry?

The Greek letter theta


How do you measure the complement and supplement of an angle in trigonometry?

Complement of a given angle = (90 - given angle) Supplement of a given angle = (180 - given angle)


How an angle can be more than 90 degree in trigonometry?

There is no reason why an angle cannot have any value.


How can i find a measure of an angle?

By using a protractor or using trigonometry


How do you figure out the bearing point in trigonometry in math?

You find the angle with a fixed direction using trigonometry. You then convert it to an angle measured in degrees, clockwise from North, and written as a three digit number.


What do you do in trigonometry?

usually its used to find a missing angle or length of a right triangle. Of course there is more to trigonometry. any way you can use sine, cosine, and tangent, to fine the missing angle or length