Find the exact value of each expression.
sin (π/12)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recognize that \(\frac{\pi}{12}\) radians is equivalent to 15 degrees, which is not one of the standard angles with a simple sine value, so we use an angle sum or difference identity to find \(\sin\left(\frac{\pi}{12}\right)\).
2. Express \(\frac{\pi}{12}\) as a difference of two angles whose sine and cosine values are known, for example, \(\frac{\pi}{12} = \frac{\pi}{3} - \frac{\pi}{4}\).
3. Use the sine difference identity: \(\sin(a - b) = \sin a \cos b - \cos a \sin b\).
4. Substitute \(a = \frac{\pi}{3}\) and \(b = \frac{\pi}{4}\) into the identity to get \(\sin\left(\frac{\pi}{3} - \frac{\pi}{4}\right) = \sin\frac{\pi}{3} \cos\frac{\pi}{4} - \cos\frac{\pi}{3} \sin\frac{\pi}{4}\).
5. Recall the exact values: \(\sin\frac{\pi}{3} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\), \(\cos\frac{\pi}{4} = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\), \(\cos\frac{\pi}{3} = \frac{1}{2}\), and \(\sin\frac{\pi}{4} = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\). Substitute these into the expression to write the exact value.

Key Concepts

Unit Circle and Radian Measure

The unit circle is a circle with radius 1 centered at the origin, used to define trigonometric functions for all angles. Radian measure relates the angle to the length of the arc on the unit circle, where π radians equal 180 degrees. Understanding π/12 radians helps locate the angle precisely on the unit circle.

Angle Sum and Difference Identities

These identities express the sine or cosine of a sum or difference of angles in terms of sines and cosines of the individual angles. For example, sin(a ± b) = sin a cos b ± cos a sin b. This is useful for finding exact values of angles like π/12 by expressing them as sums or differences of known angles.

Exact Values of Special Angles

Certain angles such as π/6, π/4, and π/3 have known exact sine and cosine values. By expressing π/12 as a combination of these special angles (e.g., π/12 = π/4 - π/6), one can use their exact values to calculate sin(π/12) precisely without a calculator.