Chapter 1: Problem 65
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, \(\tan(\theta) = \frac{\sin(\theta)}{\cos(\theta)}\).
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 \(3\pi/2\).
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 \(\pi\).
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.
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.