Precalculus Examples

$1 - 2 \sin^{2} (157.5)$

Step 1

Apply the cosine double-angle identity.

$\cos (2 \cdot 157.5)$

Step 2

Multiply $2$ by $157.5$ .

$\cos (315)$

Step 3

The exact value of $\cos (315)$ is $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$ .

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Step 3.1

Rewrite $315$ as an angle where the values of the six trigonometric functions are known divided by $2$ .

$\cos (\frac{630}{2})$

Step 3.2

Apply the cosine half-angle identity $\cos (\frac{x}{2}) = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1 + \cos (x)}{2}}$ .

$\pm \sqrt{\frac{1 + \cos (630)}{2}}$

Step 3.3

Change the $\pm$ to $+$ because cosine is positive in the fourth quadrant.

$\sqrt{\frac{1 + \cos (630)}{2}}$

Step 3.4

Simplify $\sqrt{\frac{1 + \cos (630)}{2}}$ .

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Step 3.4.1

Remove full rotations of $360$ ° until the angle is between $0$ ° and $360$ °.

$\sqrt{\frac{1 + \cos (270)}{2}}$

Step 3.4.2

Apply the reference angle by finding the angle with equivalent trig values in the first quadrant. Make the expression negative because cosine is negative in the third quadrant.

$\sqrt{\frac{1 - \cos (90)}{2}}$

Step 3.4.3

The exact value of $\cos (90)$ is $0$ .

$\sqrt{\frac{1 - 0}{2}}$

Step 3.4.4

Multiply $- 1$ by $0$ .

$\sqrt{\frac{1 + 0}{2}}$

Step 3.4.5

Add $1$ and $0$ .

$\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}$

Step 3.4.6

Rewrite $\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}$ as $\frac{\sqrt{1}}{\sqrt{2}}$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{1}}{\sqrt{2}}$

Step 3.4.7

Any root of $1$ is $1$ .

$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$

Step 3.4.8

Multiply $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2}}$ .

$\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2}}$

Step 3.4.9

Combine and simplify the denominator.

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Step 3.4.9.1

Multiply $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2}}$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2} \sqrt{2}}$

Step 3.4.9.2

Raise $\sqrt{2}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{{\sqrt{2}}^{1} \sqrt{2}}$

Step 3.4.9.3

Raise $\sqrt{2}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{{\sqrt{2}}^{1} {\sqrt{2}}^{1}}$

Step 3.4.9.4

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

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{{\sqrt{2}}^{1 + 1}}$

Step 3.4.9.5

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{{\sqrt{2}}^{2}}$

Step 3.4.9.6

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

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Step 3.4.9.6.1

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

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{{(2^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}}$

Step 3.4.9.6.2

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

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2}}$

Step 3.4.9.6.3

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

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 3.4.9.6.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 3.4.9.6.4.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 3.4.9.6.4.2

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2^{1}}$

Step 3.4.9.6.5

Evaluate the exponent.

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$

Step 4

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$

Decimal Form:

$0.70710678 \dots$