Precalculus Examples

$\tan (x) = - \frac{3}{5}$

Step 1

Use the definition of tangent to find the known sides of the unit circle right triangle. The quadrant determines the sign on each of the values.

$\tan (x) = \frac{opposite}{adjacent}$

Step 2

Find the hypotenuse of the unit circle triangle. Since the opposite and adjacent sides are known, use the Pythagorean theorem to find the remaining side.

$Hypotenuse = \sqrt{{opposite}^{2} + {adjacent}^{2}}$

Step 3

Replace the known values in the equation.

$Hypotenuse = \sqrt{{(- 3)}^{2} + {(5)}^{2}}$

Step 4

Simplify inside the radical.

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Step 4.1

Raise $- 3$ to the power of $2$ .

Hypotenuse $= \sqrt{9 + {(5)}^{2}}$

Step 4.2

Raise $5$ to the power of $2$ .

Hypotenuse $= \sqrt{9 + 25}$

Step 4.3

Add $9$ and $25$ .

Hypotenuse $= \sqrt{34}$

Step 5

Find the value of sine.

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Step 5.1

Use the definition of sine to find the value of $\sin (x)$ .

$\sin (x) = \frac{opp}{hyp}$

Step 5.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\sin (x) = \frac{- 3}{\sqrt{34}}$

Step 5.3

Simplify the value of $\sin (x)$ .

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Step 5.3.1

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3}{\sqrt{34}}$

Step 5.3.2

Multiply $\frac{3}{\sqrt{34}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34}}$ .

$\sin (x) = - (\frac{3}{\sqrt{34}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34}})$

Step 5.3.3

Combine and simplify the denominator.

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Step 5.3.3.1

Multiply $\frac{3}{\sqrt{34}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34}}$ .

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34} \sqrt{34}}$

Step 5.3.3.2

Raise $\sqrt{34}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34} \sqrt{34}}$

Step 5.3.3.3

Raise $\sqrt{34}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34} \sqrt{34}}$

Step 5.3.3.4

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{{\sqrt{34}}^{1 + 1}}$

Step 5.3.3.5

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{{\sqrt{34}}^{2}}$

Step 5.3.3.6

Rewrite ${\sqrt{34}}^{2}$ as $34$ .

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Step 5.3.3.6.1

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt{34}$ as $34^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{{(34^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}}$

Step 5.3.3.6.2

Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, ${(a^{m})}^{n} = a^{m n}$ .

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{34^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2}}$

Step 5.3.3.6.3

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $2$ .

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{34^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 5.3.3.6.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 5.3.3.6.4.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{34^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 5.3.3.6.4.2

Rewrite the expression.

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{34}$

Step 5.3.3.6.5

Evaluate the exponent.

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{34}$

Step 6

Find the value of cosine.

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Step 6.1

Use the definition of cosine to find the value of $\cos (x)$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{adj}{hyp}$

Step 6.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\cos (x) = \frac{5}{\sqrt{34}}$

Step 6.3

Simplify the value of $\cos (x)$ .

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Step 6.3.1

Multiply $\frac{5}{\sqrt{34}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34}}$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{5}{\sqrt{34}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34}}$

Step 6.3.2

Combine and simplify the denominator.

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Step 6.3.2.1

Multiply $\frac{5}{\sqrt{34}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34}}$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34} \sqrt{34}}$

Step 6.3.2.2

Raise $\sqrt{34}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34} \sqrt{34}}$

Step 6.3.2.3

Raise $\sqrt{34}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{\sqrt{34} \sqrt{34}}$

Step 6.3.2.4

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{{\sqrt{34}}^{1 + 1}}$

Step 6.3.2.5

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{{\sqrt{34}}^{2}}$

Step 6.3.2.6

Rewrite ${\sqrt{34}}^{2}$ as $34$ .

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Step 6.3.2.6.1

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt{34}$ as $34^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{{(34^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}}$

Step 6.3.2.6.2

Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, ${(a^{m})}^{n} = a^{m n}$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{34^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2}}$

Step 6.3.2.6.3

Combine $\frac{1}{2}$ and $2$ .

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{34^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 6.3.2.6.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 6.3.2.6.4.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{34^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 6.3.2.6.4.2

Rewrite the expression.

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{34}$

Step 6.3.2.6.5

Evaluate the exponent.

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{34}$

Step 7

Find the value of cotangent.

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Step 7.1

Use the definition of cotangent to find the value of $\cot (x)$ .

$\cot (x) = \frac{adj}{opp}$

Step 7.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\cot (x) = \frac{5}{- 3}$

Step 7.3

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\cot (x) = - \frac{5}{3}$

Step 8

Find the value of secant.

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Step 8.1

Use the definition of secant to find the value of $\sec (x)$ .

$\sec (x) = \frac{hyp}{adj}$

Step 8.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\sec (x) = \frac{\sqrt{34}}{5}$

Step 9

Find the value of cosecant.

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Step 9.1

Use the definition of cosecant to find the value of $\csc (x)$ .

$\csc (x) = \frac{hyp}{opp}$

Step 9.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\csc (x) = \frac{\sqrt{34}}{- 3}$

Step 9.3

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\csc (x) = - \frac{\sqrt{34}}{3}$

Step 10

This is the solution to each trig value.

$\sin (x) = - \frac{3 \sqrt{34}}{34}$

$\cos (x) = \frac{5 \sqrt{34}}{34}$

$\tan (x) = - \frac{3}{5}$

$\cot (x) = - \frac{5}{3}$

$\sec (x) = \frac{\sqrt{34}}{5}$

$\csc (x) = - \frac{\sqrt{34}}{3}$