Chapter 6: Problem 5
In Exercises 1-12, find the exact value of each expression. Give the answer in radians. $$ \cot ^{-1}(-1) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The exact value is \\(\frac{3\pi}{4}\\) radians.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Inverse Cotangent Function
The function \(ic^{-1}(x)\) gives the angle \( heta\) such that \( heta\) has the cotangent value equal to \(x\). Thus, finding \( ext{cot}^{-1}(-1)\) means finding an angle in radians whose cotangent is equal to \(-1\).
02
Identify the Range for \\( ext{cot}^{-1}\\)
The range of the \( ext{cot}^{-1}\) function is from \(0\) to \( ext{Ï€}\), excluding \( ext{Ï€}\). We need to find an angle in this range where the cotangent is \(-1\).
03
Finding Angles with Specific Cotangent Values
The cotangent of an angle is the reciprocal of its tangent. So if \( ext{cot}( heta) = -1\), then \( ext{tan}( heta) = -1\) as well. This occurs at specific angles, typically \( ext{3Ï€/4}\) in this range, because \( an( ext{3Ï€/4}) = -1\).
04
Verify the Angle
Since \( ext{3Ï€/4}\) is within the range of \(0\) to \( ext{Ï€}\) and satisfies \( ext{cot}( ext{3Ï€/4}) = -1\), it is the correct answer for \( ext{cot}^{-1}(-1)\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Cotangent Function
The cotangent (\( \cot \)) function is a fundamental concept in trigonometry. It represents the reciprocal of the tangent function. In simpler terms, for an angle \( \theta \), the cotangent is defined as \( \cot(\theta) = \frac{1}{\tan(\theta)} \). Breaking this down further:
- The tangent of an angle in a right-angled triangle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the adjacent side, \( \tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}} \).
- Therefore, the cotangent is the ratio of the adjacent side to the opposite side, which flips the tangent's ratio: \( \cot(\theta) = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{opposite}} \).
Radians
Radians are a unit of measuring angles based on the radius of a circle. Unlike degrees, which divide a circle into 360 parts, radians are based on the circle's circumference being equal to \( 2\pi \) radians. This means:
- One full revolution around a circle is \( 2\pi \) radians, which is equivalent to 360 degrees.
- This makes \( \pi \) radians equal to 180 degrees, and \( \frac{\pi}{2} \) radians equal to 90 degrees.
Angle Finding
Finding angles that satisfy trigonometric functions is often about understanding the function's behavior and its inverse relationship. In the context of \( \cot^{-1}(x) \):
- We need to find an angle whose cotangent equals \( x \).
- This angle must lie within the function's range, typically between \( 0 \) and \( \pi \) radians for \( \cot^{-1}(x) \).
Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Inverse trigonometric functions are essential in mathematics for determining angles with given trigonometric function values. The inverse cotangent function, \( \cot^{-1}(x) \), specifically finds the angle \( \theta \) whose cotangent is \( x \).
- The notation \( \cot^{-1}(x) \) signifies the angle \( \theta \) where \( \cot(\theta) = x \).
- The range of \( \cot^{-1}(x) \) is from \( 0 \) to \( \pi \) radians (excluding \( \pi \)).