A rotating beacon is located at point A, 4 m from a wall. The distance a is given by
a = 4 |sec 2πt|,
where t is time in seconds since the beacon started rotating. Find the value of a for each time t. Round to the nearest tenth if applicable.
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t = 1.24

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the given function for the distance: \( a = 4 |\sec(2\pi t)| \).
2. Substitute the given time \( t = 1.24 \) into the function: \( a = 4 |\sec(2\pi \times 1.24)| \).
3. Calculate the angle in radians: \( 2\pi \times 1.24 \).
4. Determine the secant of the calculated angle: \( \sec(\text{angle}) = \frac{1}{\cos(\text{angle})} \).
5. Multiply the absolute value of the secant by 4 to find \( a \).

Key Concepts

Secant Function

The secant function, denoted as sec(x), is the reciprocal of the cosine function. It is defined as sec(x) = 1/cos(x). In the context of the given equation, sec(2πt) describes how the distance 'a' changes with time 't' as the beacon rotates, highlighting the relationship between circular motion and trigonometric functions.

Trigonometric Functions and Time

Trigonometric functions, such as sine, cosine, and secant, are periodic and depend on the angle, which can be expressed in terms of time when dealing with rotating objects. In this case, the angle is represented as 2πt, indicating that the beacon completes one full rotation every second, thus affecting the distance 'a' over time.

Rounding and Precision

Rounding is the process of adjusting a number to a specified degree of accuracy, often to make it easier to work with or to present. In this problem, the instruction to round the value of 'a' to the nearest tenth emphasizes the importance of precision in mathematical calculations, particularly when interpreting results in real-world contexts.