Trigonometry (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321671775
ISBN 13: 978-0-32167-177-6

Chapter 6 - Quiz (Sections 6.1-6.3) - Page 276: 4b

Answer

$$\sin\Big(\cos^{-1}(-\frac{1}{2})+\tan^{-1}(-\sqrt3)\Big)=-\frac{\sqrt3}{2}$$

Work Step by Step

$$\sin\Big(\cos^{-1}(-\frac{1}{2})+\tan^{-1}(-\sqrt3)\Big)$$ 1) $\cos^{-1}(-\frac{1}{2})$ $-\frac{1}{2}\lt0$ means that you can find the answer in either quadrant II or III, the area of negativity for a cosine function. In quadrant II, there is this value of $\frac{2\pi}{3}$ that $\cos\frac{2\pi}{3}=-\frac{1}{2}$. So, $$\cos^{-1}(-\frac{1}{2})=\frac{2\pi}{3}$$ 2) $\tan^{-1}(-\sqrt3)$ $-\sqrt3\lt0$ means that you can find the answer in either quadrant II or IV, the area of negativity for a tangent function. In quadrant II, $\frac{2\pi}{3}$ is also the angle that $\tan\frac{2\pi}{3}=-\sqrt3$. Therefore, $$\tan^{-1}(-\sqrt3)=\frac{2\pi}{3}$$ 3) Refer back to the original formula $$\sin\Big(\cos^{-1}(-\frac{1}{2})+\tan^{-1}(-\sqrt3)\Big)$$ $$=\sin\Big(\frac{2\pi}{3}+\frac{2\pi}{3}\Big)$$ $$=\sin\frac{4\pi}{3}$$ $\frac{4\pi}{3}$ lies in quadrant III, and corresponds to angle $\frac{\pi}{3}$ in quadrant I. However, quadrant III is where $\sin\theta\lt0$. Therefore, $$=-\sin\frac{\pi}{3}$$ $$=-\frac{\sqrt3}{2}$$
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