In Exercises 61–86, use reference angles to find the exact value of each expression. Do not use a calculator. cot(7𝜋/4)
Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles40m
- 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
- OLD 1. Angles and the Trigonometric Functions Coming soon
- OLD 2. Trigonometric Functions graphs, Inverse Trigonometric Functions Coming soon
- OLD 3. Trigonometric Identities and Equations Coming soon
- OLD 4. Laws of Sines, Cosines and Vectors Coming soon
- OLD 5. Complex Numbers, Polar Coordinates and Parametric Equations Coming soon
- NEW (not used) 7. Laws of Sines, Cosines and Vectors Coming soon
- NEW (not used) 8. Vectors Coming soon
- NEW(not used) 9. Polar equations Coming soon
- NEW (not used) 11. Graphing Complex Numbers Coming soon
3. Unit Circle
Reference Angles
Problem 77
Textbook Question
Use reference angles to find the exact value of each expression. Do not use a calculator. sec 495°
Verified step by step guidance1
First, recognize that the angle given is 495°, which is greater than 360°. To find its reference angle, reduce it by subtracting 360° to find an equivalent angle within one full rotation: \$495° - 360° = 135°$.
Next, determine the quadrant in which the angle 135° lies. Since 135° is between 90° and 180°, it lies in the second quadrant.
Recall that the secant function is the reciprocal of the cosine function: \(\sec \theta = \frac{1}{\cos \theta}\). The sign of secant depends on the sign of cosine in the quadrant of the angle.
Find the reference angle for 135°, which is the acute angle it makes with the x-axis. The reference angle \(\alpha\) is \$180° - 135° = 45°$.
Use the reference angle to find \(\cos 45°\), which is \(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\). Since cosine is negative in the second quadrant, \(\cos 135° = -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\). Therefore, \(\sec 135° = \frac{1}{\cos 135°} = -\sqrt{2}\). This value is the same for \(\sec 495°\) because they are coterminal angles.
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Key Concepts
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 between the terminal side of an angle and the x-axis. It helps simplify trigonometric calculations by relating angles greater than 90° to their acute counterparts, allowing the use of known exact values.
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Reference Angles on the Unit Circle
Secant Function and Its Relationship to Cosine
The secant function, sec(θ), is the reciprocal of the cosine function: sec(θ) = 1/cos(θ). Understanding this relationship is essential for finding exact values, especially when using reference angles to determine cosine values first.
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Graphs of Secant and Cosecant Functions
Angle Reduction Using Coterminal Angles
Angles greater than 360° can be reduced by subtracting multiples of 360° to find a coterminal angle within the standard 0°–360° range. This simplification is crucial for applying reference angles and known trigonometric values.
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Coterminal Angles
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