Wednesday
April 23, 2014

# Homework Help: Trig

Posted by Jon on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 5:53pm.

Find the exact value of sinx/2 if cosx = 2/3 and 270 < x < 360.
A)1/3
B)-1/3
C)sqrt 6/6
D)-sqrt 6/6

C, since I KNOW cosx is always positive but I don't know the work involved. I know the half angle formula

• Trig - drwls, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 6:08pm

First of all, x/2 will be in the second quadrant, since x is in the fourth quadrant. The sine of x/2 will therefore be positive.

Use the formula for sin (x/2) in terms of cos x.

sin(x/2) = sqrt([1-cos(x)]/2) = sqrt (1/6) = sqrt6/6
You got the right answer, but you it ssmes to have been a lucky guess.

Cos x is NOT always positive, but it is in this case.

• Trig - Jon, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 6:13pm

Thank you. It wasnt really a guess it was either C or D and then I just knew it was positive so that just leaves C.

• Trig - Damon, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 6:20pm

Jon,
Perhaps it would help if you drew an x-y axis system with a unit radius vector in each of the four quadrants.
sin T = y/1 so +
cos T = x/1 so -
tan T = y/x so +
sin T = y/1 so +
cos T = x/1 so - because x is - in q 2
tan T = y/x so -
sin T = y/1 so -
cos T = x/1 so -
tan T = y/x so + because top and bottom both -
sin T = y/1 so -
cos T = x/1 so +
tan T = y/x so -

sin has same sign as its inverse csc
cos has same sign as its inverse sec
tan has same sign as its inverse ctan

• Trig TYPO - Damon, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 6:21pm

sin T = y/1 so +
cos T = x/1 so +
tan T = y/x so +

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