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Ch. 3 - Trigonometric Identities and Equations
Chapter 3, Problem 16

Use one or more of the six sum and difference identities to solve Exercises 13–54. In Exercises 13–24, find the exact value of each expression. sin 75°

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1
Recognize that 75° can be expressed as a sum of two angles whose sine values are known, such as 45° and 30°.
Use the sine sum identity: \( \sin(a + b) = \sin a \cos b + \cos a \sin b \).
Substitute \( a = 45° \) and \( b = 30° \) into the identity: \( \sin(75°) = \sin(45° + 30°) = \sin 45° \cos 30° + \cos 45° \sin 30° \).
Recall the exact trigonometric values: \( \sin 45° = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \), \( \cos 30° = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \), \( \cos 45° = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \), and \( \sin 30° = \frac{1}{2} \).
Substitute these values into the expression: \( \sin(75°) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{2} \).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Sum and Difference Identities

Sum and difference identities are formulas that express the sine, cosine, and tangent of the sum or difference of two angles in terms of the sines and cosines of those angles. For example, the sine of the sum of two angles can be expressed as sin(a + b) = sin(a)cos(b) + cos(a)sin(b). These identities are essential for simplifying expressions involving angles that are not standard angles.
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Exact Values of Trigonometric Functions

Exact values of trigonometric functions refer to the precise values of sine, cosine, and tangent for specific angles, typically 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°. Knowing these values allows for the calculation of trigonometric expressions without the use of a calculator. For instance, sin(30°) = 1/2 and cos(60°) = 1/2 are exact values that can be used in conjunction with identities to find other values.
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Angle Decomposition

Angle decomposition involves breaking down a complex angle into the sum or difference of two angles whose trigonometric values are known. For example, 75° can be expressed as 45° + 30°. This technique is useful when applying sum and difference identities to find the exact value of trigonometric functions for angles that are not standard, facilitating easier calculations.
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