Wrapping the Number Line around the Unit Circle

⟵unwrap/wrap⟶

wrap

positive numbers t

negative numbers t

ticks on t number line

integers

multiples of π/2

⟵zoom in/zoom out⟶

The standard introduction to radian measure and unit circle trigonometry involves "wrapping" the real

t

number line around the unit circle. This Demonstration illustrates that wrapping. You can wrap either the positive or the negative values of

t

, and can choose between the

t

number line having ticks at the integers or at multiples of

π/2

. The

t

number line is colored to enhance the visual understanding of which numbers end up where on the circle.