Trigonometry Examples

$\sin (θ) = - \frac{1}{2}$

Step 1

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

$\sin (θ) = \frac{opposite}{hypotenuse}$

Step 2

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

$Adjacent = - \sqrt{{hypotenuse}^{2} - {opposite}^{2}}$

Step 3

Replace the known values in the equation.

$Adjacent = - \sqrt{{(2)}^{2} - {(- 1)}^{2}}$

Step 4

Simplify inside the radical.

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Step 4.1

Negate $\sqrt{{(2)}^{2} - {(- 1)}^{2}}$ .

Adjacent $= - \sqrt{{(2)}^{2} - {(- 1)}^{2}}$

Step 4.2

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

Adjacent $= - \sqrt{4 - {(- 1)}^{2}}$

Step 4.3

Multiply $- 1$ by ${(- 1)}^{2}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 4.3.1

Multiply $- 1$ by ${(- 1)}^{2}$ .

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Step 4.3.1.1

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $1$ .

Adjacent $= - \sqrt{4 + (- 1) {(- 1)}^{2}}$

Step 4.3.1.2

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

Adjacent $= - \sqrt{4 + {(- 1)}^{1 + 2}}$

Step 4.3.2

Add $1$ and $2$ .

Adjacent $= - \sqrt{4 + {(- 1)}^{3}}$

Step 4.4

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $3$ .

Adjacent $= - \sqrt{4 - 1}$

Step 4.5

Subtract $1$ from $4$ .

Adjacent $= - \sqrt{3}$

Step 5

Find the value of cosine.

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Step 5.1

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

$\cos (θ) = \frac{adj}{hyp}$

Step 5.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\cos (θ) = \frac{- \sqrt{3}}{2}$

Step 5.3

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\cos (θ) = - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$

Step 6

Find the value of tangent.

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Step 6.1

Use the definition of tangent to find the value of $\tan (θ)$ .

$\tan (θ) = \frac{opp}{adj}$

Step 6.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\tan (θ) = \frac{- 1}{- \sqrt{3}}$

Step 6.3

Simplify the value of $\tan (θ)$ .

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Step 6.3.1

Dividing two negative values results in a positive value.

$\tan (θ) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$

Step 6.3.2

Multiply $\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}$ .

$\tan (θ) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}$

Step 6.3.3

Combine and simplify the denominator.

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Step 6.3.3.1

Multiply $\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}$ .

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3} \sqrt{3}}$

Step 6.3.3.2

Raise $\sqrt{3}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3} \sqrt{3}}$

Step 6.3.3.3

Raise $\sqrt{3}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3} \sqrt{3}}$

Step 6.3.3.4

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

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{{\sqrt{3}}^{1 + 1}}$

Step 6.3.3.5

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{{\sqrt{3}}^{2}}$

Step 6.3.3.6

Rewrite ${\sqrt{3}}^{2}$ as $3$ .

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Step 6.3.3.6.1

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt{3}$ as $3^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{{(3^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}}$

Step 6.3.3.6.2

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

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2}}$

Step 6.3.3.6.3

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

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 6.3.3.6.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 6.3.3.6.4.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 6.3.3.6.4.2

Rewrite the expression.

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$

Step 6.3.3.6.5

Evaluate the exponent.

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$

Step 7

Find the value of cotangent.

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Step 7.1

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

$\cot (θ) = \frac{adj}{opp}$

Step 7.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\cot (θ) = \frac{- \sqrt{3}}{- 1}$

Step 7.3

Simplify the value of $\cot (θ)$ .

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Step 7.3.1

Dividing two negative values results in a positive value.

$\cot (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{1}$

Step 7.3.2

Divide $\sqrt{3}$ by $1$ .

$\cot (θ) = \sqrt{3}$

Step 8

Find the value of secant.

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Step 8.1

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

$\sec (θ) = \frac{hyp}{adj}$

Step 8.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\sec (θ) = \frac{2}{- \sqrt{3}}$

Step 8.3

Simplify the value of $\sec (θ)$ .

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Step 8.3.1

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}$

Step 8.3.2

Multiply $\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}$ .

$\sec (θ) = - (\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}})$

Step 8.3.3

Combine and simplify the denominator.

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Step 8.3.3.1

Multiply $\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}$ by $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}$ .

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3} \sqrt{3}}$

Step 8.3.3.2

Raise $\sqrt{3}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3} \sqrt{3}}$

Step 8.3.3.3

Raise $\sqrt{3}$ to the power of $1$ .

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3} \sqrt{3}}$

Step 8.3.3.4

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

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{{\sqrt{3}}^{1 + 1}}$

Step 8.3.3.5

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{{\sqrt{3}}^{2}}$

Step 8.3.3.6

Rewrite ${\sqrt{3}}^{2}$ as $3$ .

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Step 8.3.3.6.1

Use $\sqrt[n]{a^{x}} = a^{\frac{x}{n}}$ to rewrite $\sqrt{3}$ as $3^{\frac{1}{2}}$ .

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{{(3^{\frac{1}{2}})}^{2}}$

Step 8.3.3.6.2

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

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2}}$

Step 8.3.3.6.3

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

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 8.3.3.6.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 8.3.3.6.4.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3^{\frac{2}{2}}}$

Step 8.3.3.6.4.2

Rewrite the expression.

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3}$

Step 8.3.3.6.5

Evaluate the exponent.

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3}$

Step 9

Find the value of cosecant.

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Step 9.1

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

$\csc (θ) = \frac{hyp}{opp}$

Step 9.2

Substitute in the known values.

$\csc (θ) = \frac{2}{- 1}$

Step 9.3

Divide $2$ by $- 1$ .

$\csc (θ) = - 2$

Step 10

This is the solution to each trig value.

$\sin (θ) = - \frac{1}{2}$

$\cos (θ) = - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$

$\tan (θ) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$

$\cot (θ) = \sqrt{3}$

$\sec (θ) = - \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3}$

$\csc (θ) = - 2$