Chapter 8: Problem 26
Find the exact value of each expression. $$ \sin 20^{\circ} \cos 80^{\circ}-\cos 20^{\circ} \sin 80^{\circ} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
-\(\frac{\text{\sqrt{3}}}{2}\)
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Trigonometric Identity
The expression \(\text{sin}\theta \text{cos}\beta - \text{cos}\theta \text{sin}\beta\) is a known trigonometric identity. It corresponds to the angle subtraction formula for sine: \(\text{sin}(\theta - \beta)\).
02
Apply the Identity
Rewrite the given expression using the identity identified in Step 1. Here, \(\theta = 20^{\text{\circ}}\) and \(\beta = 80^{\text{\circ}}\). Apply the identity to get: \(\text{sin}(20^{\text{\circ}} - 80^{\text{\circ}})\).
03
Subtract Angles
Subtract the angles in the sine function: \(20^{\text{\circ}} - 80^{\text{\circ}} = -60^{\text{\circ}}\). Thus, the expression simplifies to \(\text{sin}(-60^{\text{\circ}})\).
04
Evaluate the Sine Function
Recall that the sine function is odd, so \(\text{sin}(-\theta) = -\text{sin}(\theta)\). Therefore, \(\text{sin}(-60^{\text{\circ}}) = -\text{sin}(60^{\text{\circ}})\).
05
Find the Value of \(\text{sin}(60^{\text{\circ}})\)
Recall that \(\text{sin}(60^{\text{\circ}}) = \frac{\text{\sqrt{3}}}{2}\). Thus, \(-\text{sin}(60^{\text{\circ}}) = -\frac{\text{\sqrt{3}}}{2}\).
06
Combine Results
Combine the result from Step 5 to get the final value of the expression: \(-\frac{\text{\sqrt{3}}}{2}\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Angle Subtraction Formula
In trigonometry, the angle subtraction formula is a pivotal identity. It simplifies the expression of the sine function when dealing with the difference of two angles. The formula is given by: \(\sin(\theta - \beta) = \sin\theta \cos\beta - \cos\theta \sin\beta\). This identity enables the simplification of trigonometric expressions and calculations by converting subtraction of angles into a product of sines and cosines. For example, in the exercise provided, \(\sin(20^{\circ} \cos 80^{\circ}-\cos 20^{\circ} \sin 80^{\circ})\) can be rewritten using this formula as \(\sin(20^{\circ} - 80^{\circ})\).
Sine Function Properties
Understanding the properties of the sine function is crucial for evaluating and transforming trigonometric expressions. The sine function has several key properties:
- It is periodic with a period of \(2\pi\).
- It is an odd function, meaning \(\sin(-\theta) = -\sin(\theta)\).
- Its values range between -1 and 1, inclusive.
Evaluating Trigonometric Functions
Evaluating trigonometric functions often involves calculating the values of trigonometric ratios for specific angles. For instance, some well-known values for sine are:
- \sin(30^{\circ})=\frac{1}{2}
- \sin(45^{\circ})=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}
- \sin(60^{\circ})=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}