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 5.32c
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionUse the given information to find tan(x + y).
cos x = 2/9, sin y = -1/2, x in quadrant IV, y in quadrant III
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Trigonometric Identities
Trigonometric identities are equations that involve trigonometric functions and are true for all values of the variables involved. The identity for the tangent of a sum, tan(x + y) = (tan x + tan y) / (1 - tan x * tan y), is particularly useful for solving problems involving the sum of angles. Understanding these identities is essential for manipulating and simplifying trigonometric expressions.
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Quadrants and Signs of Trigonometric Functions
The unit circle is divided into four quadrants, each affecting the signs of the trigonometric functions. In quadrant IV, cosine is positive and sine is negative, while in quadrant III, both sine and cosine are negative. Knowing the quadrant in which an angle lies helps determine the signs of sine, cosine, and tangent, which is crucial for calculating values like tan(x + y).
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Finding Missing Trigonometric Values
To find the tangent of an angle when only sine or cosine is known, one can use the Pythagorean identity, sin²θ + cos²θ = 1. For example, if cos x = 2/9, we can find sin x using this identity. Similarly, for sin y = -1/2, we can find cos y. These values are necessary to compute tan x and tan y, which are then used in the tangent sum identity.
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