Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles39m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
7. Non-Right Triangles
Law of Cosines
Problem 7a
Textbook Question
In Exercises 5–8, each expression is the right side of the formula for cos (α - β) with particular values for α and β. c. Find the exact value of the expression. 5π π 5π π cos ------- cos -------- + sin -------- sin ------- 12 12 12 12
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1
Recognize that the given expression is in the form of the cosine of a difference: \( \cos(\alpha - \beta) = \cos \alpha \cos \beta + \sin \alpha \sin \beta \).
Identify \( \alpha = \frac{5\pi}{12} \) and \( \beta = \frac{\pi}{12} \).
Substitute \( \alpha \) and \( \beta \) into the formula: \( \cos(\alpha - \beta) = \cos \left(\frac{5\pi}{12} - \frac{\pi}{12}\right) \).
Simplify the expression inside the cosine: \( \frac{5\pi}{12} - \frac{\pi}{12} = \frac{4\pi}{12} = \frac{\pi}{3} \).
Find the exact value of \( \cos \left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right) \) using known trigonometric values.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cosine and Sine Functions
The cosine and sine functions are fundamental trigonometric functions that relate the angles of a triangle to the ratios of its sides. The cosine function, cos(θ), represents the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse, while the sine function, sin(θ), represents the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse. Understanding these functions is crucial for solving trigonometric expressions and equations.
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Angle Difference Formula
The angle difference formula for cosine states that cos(α - β) = cos(α)cos(β) + sin(α)sin(β). This formula allows us to express the cosine of the difference between two angles in terms of the cosines and sines of the individual angles. It is essential for simplifying expressions involving the cosine of angle differences and is widely used in trigonometric calculations.
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Exact Values of Trigonometric Functions
Exact values of trigonometric functions refer to the specific values of sine, cosine, and tangent for commonly used angles, such as 0, π/6, π/4, π/3, and π/2. These values can be derived from the unit circle or special triangles. Knowing these exact values is important for evaluating trigonometric expressions without the use of a calculator, especially in problems involving angle addition or subtraction.
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