Chapter 8: Problem 60
Find the exact value of each expression. $$ \cos ^{-1}\left(\sin \frac{7 \pi}{6}\right) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
\( \cos^{-1}\left(\sin \frac{7 \pi}{6}\right) = \frac{2 \pi}{3} \)
Step by step solution
01
Evaluate the sine
First, evaluate the sine of \(\frac{7 \pi}{6}\). Using the unit circle, \(\frac{7 \pi}{6}\) is located in the third quadrant, where the sine function is negative. The reference angle is \(\frac{\pi}{6}\), so \(\sin \frac{7 \pi}{6} = - \sin \frac{\pi}{6} = -\frac{1}{2}\).
02
Identify the range of \(\cos^{-1}\)
The range of the inverse cosine function, \( \cos^{-1} x \), is \[ 0 \leq y \leq \pi \]. This means that when we solve \(\cos^{-1}\), the answer will be an angle in this interval.
03
Solve for the inverse cosine
Find \(\cos^{-1} (-\frac{1}{2})\). This value will give an angle whose cosine is \-\frac{1}{2}\ within the range \([0, \pi]\). The angle in this range that satisfies this condition is \(\frac{2 \pi}{3}\). Thus, \(\cos^{-1} \left( \sin \frac{7 \pi}{6} \right) = \cos^{-1} (-\frac{1}{2}) \) equals to \(\frac{2 \pi}{3}\).
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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 a crucial tool in trigonometry that simplifies understanding angles and their trigonometric functions. On the unit circle, every point \((x, y)\) corresponds to an angle \theta\, where:
- The x-coordinate is \cos(\theta)\
- The y-coordinate is \sin(\theta)\
Sine Function
The sine function, often written as \sin(\theta)\, measures the vertical distance from the horizontal axis up to a point on the unit circle. For angle \frac{7\pi}{6}\, the reference angle is \frac{\pi}{6}\, which we use to evaluate \sin\left(\frac{7\pi}{6}\right)\. Since \frac{7\pi}{6}\ is in the third quadrant, and sine is negative there, we get:
\[ \sin\left(\frac{7\pi}{6}\right) = -\sin(\frac{\pi}{6}) = -\frac{1}{2}\]
Thus, understanding how the sine function operates on the unit circle is fundamental to solving these inverse trigonometric problems.
\[ \sin\left(\frac{7\pi}{6}\right) = -\sin(\frac{\pi}{6}) = -\frac{1}{2}\]
Thus, understanding how the sine function operates on the unit circle is fundamental to solving these inverse trigonometric problems.
Inverse Cosine Function
The inverse cosine function, written as \cos^{-1}(x)\, determines what angle \y\ within the range \[0 \leq y \leq \pi\] produces a given cosine value \x\. For \cos^{-1}(-\frac{1}{2})\, we need to find which angle within \[0, \pi\] has a cosine of \-\frac{1}{2}\. Let's determine this:
The cosine function is negative in the second quadrant. The angle in the second quadrant whose cosine is \-\frac{1}{2}\ is \frac{2\pi}{3}\. Consequently, \cos^{-1}(-\frac{1}{2}) = \frac{2\pi}{3}\. Mastering inverse trigonometric functions like \cos^{-1}\ helps solve for angles given specific trigonometric values within defined ranges.
The cosine function is negative in the second quadrant. The angle in the second quadrant whose cosine is \-\frac{1}{2}\ is \frac{2\pi}{3}\. Consequently, \cos^{-1}(-\frac{1}{2}) = \frac{2\pi}{3}\. Mastering inverse trigonometric functions like \cos^{-1}\ helps solve for angles given specific trigonometric values within defined ranges.
Reference Angle
The reference angle is a helpful concept that simplifies evaluating trigonometric functions for any given angle. It is the smallest positive angle between the terminal side of the given angle and the x-axis. In our example, the reference angle for \frac{7\pi}{6}\ in the third quadrant is \frac{\pi}{6}\. This reference angle helps us understand the sine value:
\[ \sin\left(\frac{7\pi}{6}\right) = -\sin(\frac{\pi}{6}) = -\frac{1}{2}\]
Using reference angles makes it easier to compute trigonometric values because it reduces the problem to a simpler known angle. Incorporating reference angles into your understanding of trigonometry will greatly improve your problem-solving efficiency.
\[ \sin\left(\frac{7\pi}{6}\right) = -\sin(\frac{\pi}{6}) = -\frac{1}{2}\]
Using reference angles makes it easier to compute trigonometric values because it reduces the problem to a simpler known angle. Incorporating reference angles into your understanding of trigonometry will greatly improve your problem-solving efficiency.