Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Reference Angles
A reference angle is the acute angle formed by the terminal side of a given angle and the x-axis. It is always measured as a positive angle and is used to simplify the calculation of trigonometric functions. For angles greater than 360°, the reference angle can be found by subtracting multiples of 360° until the angle is within the range of 0° to 360°.
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Secant Function
The secant function, denoted as sec(θ), is the reciprocal of the cosine function. It is defined as sec(θ) = 1/cos(θ). Understanding the secant function is crucial for evaluating expressions involving angles, especially when using reference angles to find exact values without a calculator.
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Unit Circle
The unit circle is a circle with a radius of one centered at the origin of a coordinate plane. It is a fundamental tool in trigonometry, as it allows for the visualization of angles and their corresponding sine, cosine, and tangent values. The coordinates of points on the unit circle directly relate to the values of these trigonometric functions, making it essential for finding exact values of trigonometric expressions.
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