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91Ó°ÊÓ

Find the exact value of the trigonometric function. $$\sin 240^{\circ}$$

Short Answer

Expert verified
\( \sin 240^{\circ} = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \).

Step by step solution

01

Identify the reference angle

The angle 240° is in the third quadrant. To find the reference angle, subtract 180° from 240°, giving us the reference angle of 60°.
02

Determine the sine value using the reference angle

In the third quadrant, sine values are negative. Since the reference angle is 60°, and knowing \( \sin 60^{\circ} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \), the sine of 240° (using the negative sign) will thus be \( \sin 240^{\circ} = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \).
03

Confirm the angle position and sign

As 240° lies in the third quadrant and sine values are negative in this quadrant, the sign of our solution \( \sin 240^{\circ} = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \) is consistent with this rule.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Sine Function
The sine function is a fundamental concept in trigonometry that describes the relationship between angles and side lengths in a right-angled triangle. The sine of an angle is defined as the ratio of the length of the side opposite the angle to the length of the hypotenuse:\[\sin(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite side}}{\text{hypotenuse}}\]However, the sine function is not limited to just triangles; it is also part of the unit circle, a central concept in trigonometry. In the unit circle, the sine of an angle represents the y-coordinate of a point at that angle from the origin, with the radius of the circle being 1.
  • Sine is positive in the first and second quadrants.
  • Negative in the third and fourth quadrants.
  • The sine of 0° is 0, and it reaches a maximum of 1 at 90°.
Reference Angle
The concept of a reference angle is crucial for understanding trigonometric functions beyond the first quadrant. A reference angle is the acute angle (less than 90°) formed by the terminal side of an angle and the x-axis. No matter which quadrant the angle lies in, its reference angle will always help in determining the trigonometric function values. To find the reference angle, you usually follow these rules:
  • First Quadrant: The angle itself is the reference angle.
  • Second Quadrant: Subtract the angle from 180°.
  • Third Quadrant: Subtract 180° from the angle.
  • Fourth Quadrant: Subtract the angle from 360°.
This means for 240°, which is in the third quadrant, the reference angle is 60°, calculated as 240° − 180°.
Third Quadrant
Angles that lie in the third quadrant are those between 180° and 270°. In this quadrant, it's important to remember that certain trigonometric functions will change their signs.
  • Sine and cosine are both negative in this quadrant.
  • The tangent function, however, is positive because both sine and cosine are negative, and dividing a negative by a negative yields a positive result.
Thus, if an angle like 240° is located here, its sine value, based on the reference angle and the quadrant rule, will be negative. In this case, since the sine of the reference angle 60° is \( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \), the sine of 240° becomes \( -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \). The negative sign is due to the positioning in the third quadrant.

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