/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 65 Evaluate the following expressio... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

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Evaluate the following expressions without using a calculator: (a) \(\sin \left(-\frac{5 \pi}{4}\right)\) (b) \(\cos \left(\frac{5 \pi}{6}\right)\) (c) \(\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right)\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) \( \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \); (b) \( -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \); (c) \( \sqrt{3} \).

Step by step solution

01

Identify Sine of Negative Angle

Recall that the sine function is odd, which means that \( \sin(-x) = -\sin(x) \). Thus, \( \sin \left(-\frac{5\pi}{4}\right) = -\sin \left(\frac{5\pi}{4}\right) \).
02

Locate Angle on the Unit Circle for Sine

Convert \( \frac{5\pi}{4} \) into degrees to understand its position on the unit circle. This is equivalent to 225°. The reference angle for 225° is 45°, which is in the third quadrant where sine is negative, meaning \( \sin \left(\frac{5\pi}{4}\right) = -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \).
03

Evaluate Sine Function

Using the property of the sine function being odd, \( \sin \left(-\frac{5\pi}{4}\right) = -(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \).
04

Determine Cosine for Given Angle

Convert \( \frac{5\pi}{6} \) into degrees, which is 150°. This falls in the second quadrant, where cosine is negative. The reference angle is 30° where \( \cos(30°) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \). Thus, \( \cos(150°) = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \).
05

Evaluate Cosine Expression

We then find \( \cos \left(\frac{5\pi}{6}\right) = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \).
06

Identify Tangent Function

For \( \tan \left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right) \), convert \( \frac{\pi}{3} \) into degrees, which equals 60°. The tangent of 60° is \( \sqrt{3} \).
07

Evaluate Tangent Expression

So, \( \tan \left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right) = \sqrt{3} \).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Unit Circle
The Unit Circle is an essential concept in trigonometry. It is a circle with a radius of 1, centered at the origin of a coordinate plane. This circle is fundamental because it provides a way to obtain the sine, cosine, and tangent values for different angles:
  • The circle's circumference allows the angle to be measured in radians, which is more common in trigonometry than degrees.
  • Each point on the unit circle corresponds to \(x\) and \(y\) coordinates representing \( ext{cos}( heta)\) and \( ext{sin}( heta)\) respectively, for an angle \(\theta\).
  • The tangent is given by the ratio of sine to cosine, \(\tan(\theta) = \frac{\sin(\theta)}{\cos(\theta)}\).
The unit circle helps visualize where each trigonometric function is positive or negative across its four quadrants, providing a handy reference for solving trigonometric equations.
Sine Function
The Sine Function, denoted as \(\sin(x)\), is the vertical coordinate of a point on the unit circle.
  • This function is periodic with a period of \(2\pi\), meaning it repeats every \(2\pi\) radians.
  • It is an odd function which means \(\sin(-x) = -\sin(x)\).
  • The sine values vary between \(-1\) and \(1\), peaking at \(\pi/2\) and reaching a minimum at \(3\pi/2\).
For the original exercise, finding \(\sin\left(-\frac{5\pi}{4}\right)\), involves recognizing that \(\frac{5\pi}{4}\) lies in the third quadrant where sine is negative. Since sine is an odd function, \(\sin\left(-\frac{5\pi}{4}\right) = -(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\).
Cosine Function
The Cosine Function, represented as \(\cos(x)\), describes the horizontal coordinate on the unit circle:
  • Similar to sine, the cosine function is periodic with a \(2\pi\) period.
  • Unlike sine, cosine is an even function, following \(\cos(-x) = \cos(x)\).
  • Values range from \(-1\) to \(1\), with \(1\) at \(0\) and \(2\pi\) radians, and \(-1\) at \(\pi\).
In the exercise, to find \(\cos\left(\frac{5\pi}{6}\right)\), you need to recognize that \(\frac{5\pi}{6}\) rests in the second quadrant, making cosine negative. With a reference angle of 30°, and since \(\cos(30°) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\), thus \(\cos(150°) = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\).
Tangent Function
The Tangent Function, \(\tan(x)\), is the ratio of sine to cosine. This function is quite useful:
  • It's periodic, with a smaller cycle of \(\pi\) due to its repeating nature.
  • The function is undefined when cosine is zero, such as at \(\frac{\pi}{2}\) and \(\frac{3\pi}{2}\).
  • Tangent values can be any real number, unlike sine and cosine.
In the given problem, to evaluate \(\tan\left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right)\), knowing that \(\frac{\pi}{3}\) is 60° helps. With \(\tan(60°) = \sqrt{3}\), you get \(\tan\left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right) = \sqrt{3}\).
Reference Angles
Reference angles are a key trigonometric concept helping simplify complex calculations. They allow us to refer back to key known angles in the first quadrant:
  • A reference angle is the acute angle formed by the terminal side of a given angle and the horizontal axis.
  • They are helpful because they exhibit the same trigonometric values (ignoring signs) as angles from other quadrants.
  • Signs differ based on which quadrant the original angle is located.
For example, if analyzing the angle like \(\frac{5\pi}{4}\), in the third quadrant, its reference angle is 45°. Since the sine in the third quadrant is negative, this transforms \(\sin\left(\frac{5\pi}{4}\right)\) into \(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\). Reference angles help naturally convert angles to known trigonometric values, thus simplifying complex calculations.

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