Skip to main content
Ch. 3 - Radian Measure and The Unit Circle
Lial - Trigonometry 12th Edition
Lial12th EditionTrigonometryISBN: 9780136552161Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 4, Problem 53

Convert each degree measure to radians. If applicable, round to the nearest thousandth. See Example 1(c).


56° 25'

Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that to convert degrees and minutes to radians, you first need to convert the entire angle into decimal degrees. Recall that 1 minute (') is equal to \( \frac{1}{60} \) degrees.
Convert the given angle 56° 25' into decimal degrees using the formula: \( \text{Decimal degrees} = 56 + \frac{25}{60} \).
Use the conversion factor between degrees and radians: \( 1^{\circ} = \frac{\pi}{180} \) radians. Multiply the decimal degree value by \( \frac{\pi}{180} \) to convert to radians.
Write the expression for the angle in radians as \( \left(56 + \frac{25}{60}\right) \times \frac{\pi}{180} \).
If required, calculate the numerical value of the radians and round it to the nearest thousandth.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

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

Degree to Radian Conversion

Degrees and radians are two units for measuring angles. To convert degrees to radians, multiply the degree measure by π/180. This conversion is essential because radians are the standard unit in many trigonometric calculations.
Recommended video:
5:04
Converting between Degrees & Radians

Converting Minutes to Decimal Degrees

Angle measurements often include minutes (') where 1 degree equals 60 minutes. To convert minutes to decimal degrees, divide the minutes by 60 and add this to the degree part. This step ensures the angle is expressed as a single decimal degree value before converting to radians.
Recommended video:
5:04
Converting between Degrees & Radians

Rounding to the Nearest Thousandth

After converting to radians, the result may be an irrational number. Rounding to the nearest thousandth means keeping three decimal places, which balances precision and simplicity. This is important for practical applications where exact values are not necessary.
Recommended video:
4:45
How to Use a Calculator for Trig Functions