Trigonometry Examples

$(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, - \frac{1}{2})$

Step 1

To find the $\sec (θ)$ between the x-axis and the line between the points $(0, 0)$ and $(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, - \frac{1}{2})$ , draw the triangle between the three points $(0, 0)$ , $(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, 0)$ , and $(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, - \frac{1}{2})$ .

Opposite : $- \frac{1}{2}$

Adjacent : $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$

Step 2

Find the hypotenuse using Pythagorean theorem $c = \sqrt{a^{2} + b^{2}}$ .

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Step 2.1

Apply the product rule to $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ .

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

Step 2.2

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

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Step 2.2.1

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

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

Step 2.2.2

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

$\sqrt{\frac{3^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2}}{2^{2}} + {(- \frac{1}{2})}^{2}}$

Step 2.2.3

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

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

Step 2.2.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 2.2.4.1

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 2.2.4.2

Rewrite the expression.

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

Step 2.2.5

Evaluate the exponent.

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

Step 2.3

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

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{4} + {(- \frac{1}{2})}^{2}}$

Step 2.4

Use the power rule ${(a b)}^{n} = a^{n} b^{n}$ to distribute the exponent.

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Step 2.4.1

Apply the product rule to $- \frac{1}{2}$ .

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{4} + {(- 1)}^{2} {(\frac{1}{2})}^{2}}$

Step 2.4.2

Apply the product rule to $\frac{1}{2}$ .

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{4} + {(- 1)}^{2} \frac{1^{2}}{2^{2}}}$

Step 2.5

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $2$ .

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{4} + 1 \frac{1^{2}}{2^{2}}}$

Step 2.6

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

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1^{2}}{2^{2}}}$

Step 2.7

One to any power is one.

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{2^{2}}}$

Step 2.8

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

$\sqrt{\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{4}}$

Step 2.9

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\sqrt{\frac{3 + 1}{4}}$

Step 2.10

Add $3$ and $1$ .

$\sqrt{\frac{4}{4}}$

Step 2.11

Divide $4$ by $4$ .

$\sqrt{1}$

Step 2.12

Any root of $1$ is $1$ .

$1$

Step 3

$\sec (θ) = \frac{Hypotenuse}{Adjacent}$ therefore $\sec (θ) = \frac{1}{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}$ .

$\frac{1}{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}$

Step 4

Simplify $\sec (θ)$ .

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Step 4.1

Multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.

$\sec (θ) = 1 (\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}})$

Step 4.2

Multiply $\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}$ by $1$ .

$\sec (θ) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}$

Step 4.3

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

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

Step 4.4

Combine and simplify the denominator.

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Step 4.4.1

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

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

Step 4.4.2

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

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

Step 4.4.3

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

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

Step 4.4.4

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 4.4.5

Add $1$ and $1$ .

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

Step 4.4.6

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

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Step 4.4.6.1

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 4.4.6.2

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 4.4.6.3

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

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

Step 4.4.6.4

Cancel the common factor of $2$ .

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Step 4.4.6.4.1

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 4.4.6.4.2

Rewrite the expression.

$\sec (θ) = \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3}$

Step 4.4.6.5

Evaluate the exponent.

$\sec (θ) = \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3}$

Step 5

Approximate the result.

$\sec (θ) = \frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{3} \approx 1.15470053$