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 a fundamental concept in trigonometry, as it provides a geometric representation of the sine and cosine functions. Any point on the unit circle can be represented as (cos(θ), sin(θ)), where θ is the angle formed with the positive x-axis. Understanding the unit circle is essential for solving problems involving angles and arc lengths.
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Arc Length
Arc length is the distance along the curved line of a circle between two points. For a unit circle, the arc length s can be calculated using the formula s = rθ, where r is the radius and θ is the angle in radians. Since the radius of the unit circle is 1, the arc length simplifies to s = θ. This relationship is crucial for determining the angle corresponding to a given arc length, which is necessary for finding the coordinates of the endpoint on the circle.
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Radians and Degrees
Radians and degrees are two units for measuring angles. One complete revolution around a circle is 360 degrees or 2π radians. Radians are often preferred in trigonometry because they provide a direct relationship between the angle and the arc length on the unit circle. To convert between these units, the formula is θ (radians) = θ (degrees) × (π/180). Understanding this conversion is essential for accurately calculating angles when given arc lengths.
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