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In Exercises \(1-10,\) use the definition (not a calculator) to find the function value. $$\cos (-3 \pi / 2)$$

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The value of the cosine function at the angle \(-3\pi/2\) is 0.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the definition of the cosine function

The cosine function is a periodic function that relates an angle to the x-coordinate of a point on the unit circle. The cosine function is defined as follows: For an angle \(\theta\) in standard position, the cosine of \(\theta\) is the x-coordinate of the point where the terminal side of the angle intersects the unit circle.
02

Identify the given angle

The given angle is \(-3\pi/2\). It represents a clockwise rotation by \(3\pi/2\) radians or \(270^\circ\).
03

Locate the angle on the unit circle

Recall that the unit circle has a radius of 1 and is centered at the origin of the Cartesian coordinate plane. Start from the positive x-axis and rotate clockwise (negative rotation) by \(3\pi/2\), or \(270^\circ\). This rotation will take us to the positive y-axis.
04

Find the x-coordinate of the intersection point

Since the terminal side of the \(-3\pi/2\) angle intersects the unit circle at the positive y-axis, the x-coordinate of this intersection point is 0.
05

Determine the cosine function value

The cosine of the angle \(-3\pi/2\) is the x-coordinate of the intersection point, which is 0. So, \(\cos(-3\pi/2) = 0\).

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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's a circle with a radius of 1 centered at the origin of the Cartesian coordinate plane. This simple structure allows us to explore relationships between angles and trigonometric functions like sine and cosine.

Here's why the unit circle is so crucial:
  • Reference Tool: Every angle's sine and cosine can be visualized as coordinates (x, y) on this circle.
  • Radian Measure: Angles are often measured in radians on the unit circle, providing a clear geometric interpretation.
  • 360-Degree Coverage: The circle covers all possible rotations, making it perfect for studying full rotations seamlessly.
By relating the angle's position to a point on this circle, we derive trigonometric function values like the cosine. When you rotate along the circle, cosine values reflect the x-coordinates of these points.
Cosine Function
The cosine function connects angles with specific x-coordinates on the unit circle. It's a crucial trigonometric function, and understanding how it works is key to mastering trigonometry.

Key aspects of the cosine function include:
  • Definition: Cosine of an angle \(\theta\) equals the x-coordinate of where the angle's terminal side intersects the unit circle.
  • Periodic Nature: The cosine function is periodic with a cycle of \(2\pi\), meaning it repeats every \(360^\circ\).
  • Range and Domain: The domain is all real numbers, and the range is \([-1, 1]\).
For the angle \(-3\pi/2\), we see this concept in action. By rotating clockwise \(270^\circ\) or \(3\pi/2\) radians on the unit circle, we find the x-coordinate of the intersection point with the circle is 0. Hence, \(\cos(-3\pi/2) = 0\).
Negative Angles
Negative angles can seem confusing at first, but they are simply rotations in the opposite direction, typically clockwise, on the unit circle. Here's how they fit into our understanding of trigonometry:

  • Clockwise Rotation: While positive angles rotate counterclockwise, negative angles rotate clockwise.
  • Reversibility: Negative and positive angles of the same magnitude fall at the same relative position but approach from opposite directions.
  • Use of Reference Angles: Often, understanding the equivalent positive angle helps find the trigonometric value.
In our exercise, \(-3\pi/2\) is a negative angle, representing a \(270^\circ\) clockwise rotation. When visualized on the unit circle, it leads us to the positive y-axis where the x-coordinate—and hence the cosine—is 0.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In Exercises \(61-64\), use graphs to determine whether the equa. tion could possibly be an identity or is definitely not an identity. $$\frac{\sec t+\csc t}{1+\tan t}=\csc t$$

Graph the function. Does the function appear to be periodic? If so, what is the period? $$h(t)=|\tan t|$$

Use graphs to determine whether the equation could possibly be an identity or definitely is not an identity. $$\frac{\cos t}{1-\sin t}=\frac{1}{\cos t}+\tan t$$

Provide further examples of functions with different graphs, whose graphs appear identical in certain viewing windows. Approximating trigonometric functions by polynomials. For each odd positive integer \(n,\) let \(f_{n}\) be the function whose rule is $$ f_{n}(t)=t-\frac{t^{3}}{3 !}+\frac{t^{5}}{5 !}-\frac{t^{7}}{7 !}+\cdots-\frac{t^{n}}{n !} $$ since the signs alternate, the sign of the last term might be \+ instead of \(-,\) depending on what \(n\) is. Recall that \(n !\) is the product of all integers from 1 to \(n\); for instance, \(5 !=1 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 4 \cdot 5=120\) (a) Graph \(f_{7}(t)\) and \(g(t)=\sin t\) on the same screen in a viewing window with \(-2 \pi \leq t \leq 2 \pi .\) For what values of \(t\) does \(f_{7}\) appear to be a good approximation of \(g ?\) (b) What is the smallest value of \(n\) for which the graphs of \(f_{n}\) and \(g\) appear to coincide in this window? In this case, determine how accurate the approximation is by finding \(f_{n}(2)\) and \(g(2)\)

In Exercises \(49-54\), prove the given identity. $$\sec (t+2 \pi)=\sec t[\text {Hint}: \text { See page } 500 .]$$

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