diff --git a/src/core/shape/2d_primitives.js b/src/core/shape/2d_primitives.js
index f916339514..b1f7d66ae5 100644
--- a/src/core/shape/2d_primitives.js
+++ b/src/core/shape/2d_primitives.js
@@ -110,7 +110,10 @@ p5.prototype._normalizeArcAngles = (
  *
  * The fifth and sixth parameters, `start` and `stop`, set the angles
  * between which to draw the arc. Arcs are always drawn clockwise from
- * `start` to `stop`. Angles are always given in radians.
+ * `start` to `stop`. The fifth and sixth parameters, start and stop, set the
+ * angles between which to draw the arc. Arcs are always drawn clockwise from
+ * start to stop. By default, angles are given in radians, but if angleMode
+ * (DEGREES) is set, the function interprets the values in degrees.
  *
  * The seventh parameter, `mode`, is optional. It determines the arc's fill
  * style. The fill modes are a semi-circle (`OPEN`), a closed semi-circle
diff --git a/src/math/trigonometry.js b/src/math/trigonometry.js
index cb2af7c709..788dbfb1ff 100644
--- a/src/math/trigonometry.js
+++ b/src/math/trigonometry.js
@@ -283,10 +283,12 @@ p5.prototype.atan2 = function(y, x) {
  *
  * `cos()` is useful for many geometric tasks in creative coding. The values
  * returned oscillate between -1 and 1 as the input angle increases. `cos()`
- * takes into account the current <a href="#/p5/angleMode">angleMode()</a>.
+ * calculates the cosine of an angle, using radians by default, or according to
+ * if <a href="#/p5/angleMode">angleMode()</a> setting (RADIANS or DEGREES).
  *
  * @method cos
- * @param  {Number} angle the angle in radians unless specified by <a href="/reference/p5/angleMode/">angleMode()</a>.
+ * @param  {Number} angle the angle, in radians by default, or according to
+ * if <a href="/reference/p5/angleMode/">angleMode()</a> setting (RADIANS or DEGREES).
  * @return {Number}       cosine of the angle.
  *
  * @example
@@ -363,10 +365,12 @@ p5.prototype.cos = function(angle) {
  *
  * `sin()` is useful for many geometric tasks in creative coding. The values
  * returned oscillate between -1 and 1 as the input angle increases. `sin()`
- * takes into account the current <a href="#/p5/angleMode">angleMode()</a>.
+ * calculates the sine of an angle, using radians by default, or according to
+ * if <a href="#/p5/angleMode">angleMode()</a> setting (RADIANS or DEGREES).
  *
  * @method sin
- * @param  {Number} angle the angle in radians unless specified by <a href="/reference/p5/angleMode/">angleMode()</a>.
+ * @param  {Number} angle the angle, in radians by default, or according to
+ * if <a href="/reference/p5/angleMode/">angleMode()</a> setting (RADIANS or DEGREES).
  * @return {Number}       sine of the angle.
  *
  * @example
@@ -443,11 +447,13 @@ p5.prototype.sin = function(angle) {
  *
  * `tan()` is useful for many geometric tasks in creative coding. The values
  * returned range from -Infinity to Infinity and repeat periodically as the
- * input angle increases. `tan()` takes into account the current
- * <a href="#/p5/angleMode">angleMode()</a>.
+ * input angle increases. `tan()` calculates the tan of an angle, using radians
+ * by default, or according to
+ * if <a href="#/p5/angleMode">angleMode()</a> setting (RADIANS or DEGREES).
  *
  * @method tan
- * @param  {Number} angle the angle in radians unless specified by <a href="/reference/p5/angleMode/">angleMode()</a>.
+ * @param  {Number} angle the angle, in radians by default, or according to
+ * if <a href="/reference/p5/angleMode/">angleMode()</a> setting (RADIANS or DEGREES).
  * @return {Number}       tangent of the angle.
  *
  * @example