In Exercises 19–24, a. Use the unit circle shown for Exercises 5–18 to find the value of the trigonometric function.b. Use even and odd properties of trigonometric functions and your answer from part (a) to find the value of the same trigonometric function at the indicated real number.cos (-𝜋/6)
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Identify the angle \(-\pi/6\) on the unit circle. The corresponding positive angle is \(11\pi/6\).
Locate the point on the unit circle for \(11\pi/6\), which is \((\sqrt{3}/2, -1/2)\).
The cosine of an angle is the x-coordinate of the corresponding point on the unit circle. Therefore, \(\cos(-\pi/6) = \sqrt{3}/2\).
Use the even property of cosine: \(\cos(-\theta) = \cos(\theta)\).
Thus, \(\cos(-\pi/6) = \cos(\pi/6)\), confirming the value found in step 3.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Unit Circle
The unit circle is a circle with a radius of one centered at the origin of a coordinate plane. It is fundamental in trigonometry as it provides a geometric representation of the sine, cosine, and tangent functions. The coordinates of points on the unit circle correspond to the cosine and sine values of angles measured in radians, allowing for easy calculation of trigonometric functions.
Even and Odd Properties of Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometric functions exhibit specific symmetry properties: cosine is an even function, meaning cos(-x) = cos(x), while sine is an odd function, meaning sin(-x) = -sin(x). These properties allow for simplifications when evaluating trigonometric functions at negative angles, making it easier to find values using known angles on the unit circle.
The values of trigonometric functions such as sine and cosine can be derived from the coordinates of points on the unit circle. For example, for an angle of -π/6, the corresponding point on the unit circle provides the cosine and sine values directly. Understanding how to extract these values from the unit circle is crucial for solving trigonometric problems efficiently.