Chapter 5: Problem 57
Find the exact value of each expression. Do not use a calculator. $$\cos 157.5^{\circ} \sin 22.5^{\circ}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The exact value of the expression is \(-\sqrt{2}/4.\)
Step by step solution
01
Write down the expression
The expression is \(\cos 157.5^{\circ} \sin 22.5^{\circ}\).
02
Apply the product-to-sum formula
The formula to use is \(\cos a \sin b = 1/2 [\sin(a+b) - \sin(a-b)]\). With \(a = 157.5^{\circ}\) and \(b = 22.5^{\circ}\), the expression becomes \(1/2 [\sin(157.5^{\circ}+22.5^{\circ}) - \sin(157.5^{\circ}-22.5^{\circ})]\).
03
Simplify
Simplify the angles inside the sin functions to \(\sin 180^{\circ}\) and \(\sin 135^{\circ}\). So, the expression becomes \(1/2 [\sin(180^{\circ}) - \sin(135^{\circ})]\).
04
Compute the sine values
Using knowledge of the unit circle, it is known that \(\sin 180^{\circ} = 0\) and \(\sin 135^{\circ} = \sqrt{2}/2\). The original expression simplifies to \(1/2 [0 - \sqrt{2}/2]\).
05
Compute the final expression
Finally, computation simplifies the expression to \(-\sqrt{2}/4.\)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Product-to-Sum Formulas
Trigonometry has some fantastic identities, and one of these is the product-to-sum formula. It allows us to transform a product of trigonometric functions into a sum or difference. This can simplify calculations that would otherwise be tricky. For this exercise:
- The formula used is: \[\cos a \sin b = \frac{1}{2} [\sin(a+b) - \sin(a-b)]\]This formula directly applies to the expression \(\cos 157.5^{\circ} \sin 22.5^{\circ}\).
- By converting a product into a sum or difference, we can solve trigonometric expressions with ease.
- It's particularly useful when working with angles that are not standard on the unit circle.
Unit Circle
Understanding the unit circle is foundational in trigonometry. It's a circle with a radius of one, centered at the origin of a coordinate system. On this circle:
- Every angle in degrees or radians has corresponding coordinates, \((\cos \theta, \sin \theta)\).
- At key angles like \(0^{\circ}, 90^{\circ}, 180^{\circ}, \) and \(270^{\circ}\), the sine and cosine values become very straightforward.
- This helps us easily find trigonometric values for angles like \(135^{\circ}\) and \(180^{\circ}\), which were used in this exercise.
Angle Simplification
Manipulating angles into simpler calculations can dramatically ease solving trigonometric expressions. In this case:
- Angles \(157.5^{\circ}\) and \(22.5^{\circ}\) are added and subtracted, simplifying to \(180^{\circ}\) and \(135^{\circ}\) respectively, before applying the sine function.
- This technique is highly effective as \(180^{\circ}\) and \(135^{\circ}\) are well-known angles on the unit circle with standard sine values.
- Angle simplification is key to breaking down complex problems into manageable steps, enhancing both speed and accuracy.
Sine Values
Sine values are a fundamental aspect of trigonometry. They're linked directly to the y-coordinates on the unit circle and provide crucial information:
- The sine of an angle \(\theta\) in a right triangle is the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse.
- On the unit circle, the sine value correlates with the vertical distance from the x-axis.
- Key angles like \(180^{\circ}\) produce values such as \(\sin 180^{\circ} = 0\).
- Likewise, \(\sin 135^{\circ} = \sqrt{2}/2\) due to its position in the second quadrant, where sine values are positive.