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
6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations
Sum and Difference Identities
Problem 5.26a
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionWrite each function value in terms of the cofunction of a complementary angle.
cot (9π/10)
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cofunction Identities
Cofunction identities relate the trigonometric functions of complementary angles. For example, the sine of an angle is equal to the cosine of its complement, and vice versa. This means that for any angle θ, sin(θ) = cos(90° - θ) or sin(θ) = cos(π/2 - θ) in radians. Understanding these identities is crucial for rewriting trigonometric functions in terms of their cofunctions.
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Complementary Angles
Complementary angles are two angles whose measures add up to 90 degrees (or π/2 radians). In trigonometry, if you have an angle θ, its complement is given by (90° - θ) or (π/2 - θ). Recognizing complementary angles is essential for applying cofunction identities effectively, as it allows for the transformation of trigonometric expressions.
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Cotangent Function
The cotangent function, denoted as cot(θ), is the reciprocal of the tangent function, defined as cot(θ) = 1/tan(θ) = cos(θ)/sin(θ). It is important to understand how cotangent relates to other trigonometric functions, especially when using cofunction identities. For example, cot(θ) can be expressed in terms of the sine and cosine of complementary angles, which aids in rewriting cot(9π/10) in the context of the problem.
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