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Pythagorean identity

Learning goals

  • Uses sin²x + cos²x = 1 to relate trigonometric values.
  • Derives equivalent forms such as 1 + tan²x = sec²x when appropriate.
  • Solves for missing trigonometric values using quadrant information.
  • Checks sign consistency with the angle's location.

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Pythagorean identity 1
Can \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{5}\) and \(\cos\theta=\frac{4}{5}\) both hold for the same angle? Use the Pythagorean identity to check.

Hints

- Which two values must be squared in the identity? - Add the squared fractions using their common denominator. - What sum must result for a pair of sine and cosine values to be possible?

Solution

1. Substitute the two values into \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\). 2. The sum is \(\frac{9}{25}+\frac{16}{25}=1\), so the values are consistent with the identity.

Answer

Yes. \(\left(\frac{3}{5}\right)^2+\left(\frac{4}{5}\right)^2=1\).
Pythagorean identity 2
If \(\sin^2\theta=\frac{5}{9}\), find \(\cos^2\theta\).

Hints

- What two squared trigonometric values always add to 1? - Which part of the identity is already known? - Keep the result squared; the question does not ask for cosine itself.

Solution

1. The Pythagorean identity gives \(\cos^2\theta=1-\sin^2\theta\). 2. Subtract: \(1-\frac{5}{9}=\frac{4}{9}\).

Answer

\(\cos^2\theta=\frac{4}{9}\)
Pythagorean identity 3
For an angle \(\theta\), \(\sin\theta=\frac{1}{2}\). What does \(\sin^2\theta\) mean, and what is its value?

Hints

- Which quantity does the exponent 2 apply to? - Compare squaring a value with doubling the input of a function. - Square both the numerator and denominator of the fraction.

Solution

1. The notation \(\sin^2\theta\) means \((\sin\theta)^2\), not \(\sin(2\theta)\). 2. Square the given sine value: \(\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^2=\frac{1}{4}\).

Answer

It means the square of the sine value: \(\sin^2\theta=(\sin\theta)^2=\frac{1}{4}\).
Pythagorean identity 4
Andrei claims that \(\sin(\alpha) + \cos(\alpha) = 1\) for every acute angle \(\alpha\). a) Test Andrei's claim for \(\alpha = 45^\circ\). b) Use the Pythagorean theorem on the unit circle to state the correct relationship between \(\sin(\alpha)\) and \(\cos(\alpha)\). Explain why Andrei's claim is not true in general.

Hints

- Evaluate sine and cosine at \(45^\circ\). - Picture the right triangle formed by a point on the unit circle and the coordinate axes. - What are the leg lengths of that triangle in terms of sine and cosine? - Apply the Pythagorean theorem.

Solution

1. At \(45^\circ\), \(\sin(45^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\) and \(\cos(45^\circ)=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\). Their sum is \(\sqrt{2} \approx 1.414\), not \(1\), so the claim is false. 2. A point on the unit circle has coordinates \((\cos(\alpha), \sin(\alpha))\). 3. By the Pythagorean theorem, \((\cos(\alpha))^2 + (\sin(\alpha))^2 = 1^2\). 4. Therefore, the correct identity is \(\sin^2(\alpha)+\cos^2(\alpha)=1\), not \(\sin(\alpha)+\cos(\alpha)=1\).

Answer

a) \(\sin(45^\circ)+\cos(45^\circ)=\sqrt{2} \approx 1.414 \ne 1\), so the claim is false. b) The correct relationship is \(\sin^2(\alpha)+\cos^2(\alpha)=1\).
Pythagorean identity 5
Suppose \(\sin\theta=\frac{2}{5}\) and \(\theta\) is in Quadrant I. Use the Pythagorean identity. a) Write the identity after substituting the known sine value. b) Find \(\cos\theta\) exactly.

Hints

- Substitute the known trigonometric value into the Pythagorean identity before isolating the missing squared value. - Keep both square-root signs until you use the quadrant. - Use the sign of the x-coordinate in Quadrant I to choose the final value.

Solution

1. Substitute \(\sin\theta=\frac{2}{5}\) into \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\): \(\frac{4}{25}+\cos^2\theta=1\). 2. Then \(\cos^2\theta=\frac{21}{25}\), so \(\cos\theta=\pm\frac{\sqrt{21}}{5}\). 3. Quadrant I has positive cosine, so \(\cos\theta=\frac{\sqrt{21}}{5}\).

Answer

a) \(\frac{4}{25}+\cos^2\theta=1\) b) \(\cos\theta=\frac{\sqrt{21}}{5}\)
Pythagorean identity 6
Suppose \(\sin\theta=\frac{4}{7}\) and \(\theta\) is in Quadrant II. Use the Pythagorean identity. a) Write the identity after substituting the known sine value. b) Find \(\cos\theta\) exactly.

Hints

- Use the Pythagorean identity to determine the magnitude of the missing cosine value. - Do not choose a square-root sign until the magnitude calculation is complete. - Use the sign of the x-coordinate in Quadrant II for the final sign.

Solution

1. Substitute \(\sin\theta=\frac{4}{7}\) into \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\): \(\frac{16}{49}+\cos^2\theta=1\). 2. Then \(\cos^2\theta=\frac{33}{49}\), so \(\cos\theta=\pm\frac{\sqrt{33}}{7}\). 3. Cosine is negative in Quadrant II, so \(\cos\theta=-\frac{\sqrt{33}}{7}\).

Answer

a) \(\frac{16}{49}+\cos^2\theta=1\) b) \(\cos\theta=-\frac{\sqrt{33}}{7}\)
Pythagorean identity 7
Suppose \(\cos\theta=\frac{5}{8}\) and \(\theta\) is in Quadrant IV. Use the Pythagorean identity. a) Write the identity after substituting the known cosine value. b) Find \(\sin\theta\) exactly.

Hints

- Substitute the known cosine value into the Pythagorean identity before taking a square root. - Separate finding the magnitude from deciding the sign. - Use the sign of the y-coordinate in Quadrant IV to choose the final value.

Solution

1. Substitute \(\cos\theta=\frac{5}{8}\) into \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\): \(\sin^2\theta+\frac{25}{64}=1\). 2. Then \(\sin^2\theta=\frac{39}{64}\), so \(\sin\theta=\pm\frac{\sqrt{39}}{8}\). 3. Sine is negative in Quadrant IV, so \(\sin\theta=-\frac{\sqrt{39}}{8}\).

Answer

a) \(\sin^2\theta+\frac{25}{64}=1\) b) \(\sin\theta=-\frac{\sqrt{39}}{8}\)
Pythagorean identity 8
Suppose \(\cos\theta=-\frac{\sqrt{7}}{4}\) and \(\theta\) is in Quadrant III. Use the Pythagorean identity to find \(\sin\theta\) exactly.

Hints

- Square the given cosine value carefully before substituting it. - The identity determines the magnitude of the missing sine value first. - Use the quadrant to choose between the two square-root signs.

Solution

1. Substitute into \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\): \(\sin^2\theta+\frac{7}{16}=1\). 2. Then \(\sin^2\theta=\frac{9}{16}\), so \(\sin\theta=\pm\frac{3}{4}\). 3. Sine is negative in Quadrant III, so \(\sin\theta=-\frac{3}{4}\).

Answer

\(\sin\theta=-\frac{3}{4}\)
Pythagorean identity 9
Hana is told only that \(\sin\theta=\frac{8}{17}\). Hana uses the Pythagorean identity and concludes \(\cos\theta=\frac{15}{17}\). Explain why that conclusion is not fully justified. What are all possible cosine values from the given information?

Hints

- Notice that the identity determines \(\cos^2\theta\), not the sign of \(\cos\theta\). - Ask which quadrants are compatible with a positive sine value. - Check the sign of cosine in each compatible quadrant.

Solution

1. The identity gives \(\frac{64}{289}+\cos^2\theta=1\), so \(\cos^2\theta=\frac{225}{289}\). 2. Taking square roots gives \(\cos\theta=\pm\frac{15}{17}\). 3. The positive sine value places \(\theta\) in Quadrant I or II, where cosine can be positive or negative. 4. Without a quadrant or other location information, both cosine values are possible.

Answer

Hana ignored the negative square-root possibility. The possible values are \(\cos\theta=\frac{15}{17}\) and \(\cos\theta=-\frac{15}{17}\).
Pythagorean identity 10
A point is claimed to lie on the unit circle at \(P\left(\frac{5}{13},\frac{12}{13}\right)\). a) Verify the claim using the Pythagorean identity. b) If \(P\) corresponds to an angle \(\theta\), state \(\cos\theta\) and \(\sin\theta\).

Hints

- A unit-circle point must satisfy the equation \(x^2+y^2=1\). - Substitute the two coordinates and simplify the sum. - Then connect the coordinate order with cosine and sine.

Solution

1. Compute \(\left(\frac{5}{13}\right)^2+\left(\frac{12}{13}\right)^2=\frac{25}{169}+\frac{144}{169}=1\). 2. Since the coordinate squares sum to \(1\), the point lies on the unit circle. 3. On the unit circle, the x-coordinate is cosine and the y-coordinate is sine.

Answer

a) Yes, because \(\frac{25}{169}+\frac{144}{169}=1\). b) \(\cos\theta=\frac{5}{13}\) and \(\sin\theta=\frac{12}{13}\)
Pythagorean identity 11
The diagram shows a point \(P\) on the unit circle and a perpendicular drop to the x-axis at \(H\). The horizontal and vertical legs are labeled with the corresponding cosine and sine values. Use the Pythagorean theorem on triangle \(OHP\) to derive an identity involving \(\sin\theta\) and \(\cos\theta\).
Figure for problem 550583

Hints

- Identify the two legs and the hypotenuse in the shown right triangle. - Write the Pythagorean theorem using the labels carried by those three segments. - Simplify the square of the unit-circle radius.

Solution

1. Triangle \(OHP\) is right, with legs \(OH=\cos\theta\) and \(HP=\sin\theta\), and hypotenuse \(OP=1\). 2. By the Pythagorean theorem, \((\cos\theta)^2+(\sin\theta)^2=1^2\). 3. Therefore, \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\).

Answer

\(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\)
Pythagorean identity 12
Let \(P=(\cos\theta,\sin\theta)\) be any point on the unit circle, with \(\theta\) allowed to place \(P\) in any quadrant. Starting from the unit-circle equation \(x^2+y^2=1\), derive the Pythagorean identity. Then explain why the derivation does not depend on the quadrant containing \(P\).

Hints

- Begin with the equation that defines every point on the unit circle. - Replace the generic coordinates with the trigonometric coordinates of \(P\). - Consider what squaring does to positive and negative coordinate values.

Solution

1. Every point \((x,y)\) on the unit circle satisfies \(x^2+y^2=1\). 2. For \(P=(\cos\theta,\sin\theta)\), substitute \(x=\cos\theta\) and \(y=\sin\theta\). 3. This gives \(\cos^2\theta+\sin^2\theta=1\), or equivalently \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\). 4. The unit-circle equation holds in every quadrant, and squaring the coordinates handles either sign, so no quadrant restriction is needed.

Answer

\(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\). The derivation is valid in every quadrant because every unit-circle point satisfies \(x^2+y^2=1\), regardless of the signs of \(x\) and \(y\).
Pythagorean identity 13
Use the diagram to find the exact values of \(\sin\theta\) and \(\cos\theta\) for the marked angle. Then check that \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\).
Figure for problem 560551

Hints

- Find the right triangle formed by the point, the horizontal axis, and the center. - What are the signs of the two coordinates in this quadrant? - What relates the sides of a right triangle to sine and cosine for its angle?

Solution

1. The point \(P\) is in Quadrant II, so its horizontal coordinate is negative and its vertical coordinate is positive. 2. Divide each signed leg by the radius: \(\cos\theta=-\frac{8}{17}\) and \(\sin\theta=\frac{15}{17}\). 3. Their squares add to \(\frac{64}{289}+\frac{225}{289}=1\).

Answer

\(\sin\theta=\frac{15}{17}\), \(\cos\theta=-\frac{8}{17}\); \(\frac{225}{289}+\frac{64}{289}=1\).
Pythagorean identity 14
An angle \(\theta\) has \(\tan\theta=-\frac{2}{3}\). Find \(\sec^2\theta\) without finding \(\theta\), where \(\sec\theta=\frac{1}{\cos\theta}\). State the trigonometric identity you used.

Hints

- What happens to the sign of the given tangent value when you square it? - Look for an identity that uses squared trigonometric functions and a constant. - Check whether your squared secant result can be less than \(1\).

Solution

1. The relevant identity is \(1+\tan^2\theta=\sec^2\theta\), which holds because a defined tangent requires \(\cos\theta\ne0\). 2. Thus \(\sec^2\theta=1+\left(-\frac{2}{3}\right)^2=1+\frac{4}{9}=\frac{13}{9}\).

Answer

\(\sec^2\theta=\frac{13}{9}\), using \(1+\tan^2\theta=\sec^2\theta\).
Pythagorean identity 15
A calculator in degree mode gives \(\sin(70^\circ)\approx0.940\) and \(\cos(70^\circ)\approx0.342\). a) Using these rounded values, evaluate \((\sin(70^\circ))^2+(\cos(70^\circ))^2\) and round the result to the nearest thousandth. b) Let \(P=(\cos\theta,\sin\theta)\) be any point on the unit circle. Explain why the exact value of \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta\) must be \(1\), and explain why the result in part a) is slightly different.

Hints

- In part a), use the supplied rounded values exactly as written before rounding the final sum. - In part b), start from the equation satisfied by every point on the unit circle. - Compare the coordinates of \(P\) with the variables in that circle equation.

Solution

1. Using the rounded values, \(0.940^2+0.342^2=0.883600+0.116964=1.000564\approx1.001\). 2. Any point \(P=(\cos\theta,\sin\theta)\) on the unit circle satisfies \(x^2+y^2=1\). 3. Substituting \(x=\cos\theta\) and \(y=\sin\theta\) gives \(\cos^2\theta+\sin^2\theta=1\). 4. The value in part a) differs slightly from \(1\) because \(0.940\) and \(0.342\) are rounded approximations rather than exact trigonometric values.

Answer

a) \(1.001\) b) Since \(P=(\cos\theta,\sin\theta)\) lies on \(x^2+y^2=1\), \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\) exactly. The small difference in part a) is caused by rounding the sine and cosine values.
Pythagorean identity 16
The identity \(\sin^2(\alpha)+\cos^2(\alpha)=1\) relates sine and cosine. 1. Solve this identity for \(\cos(\alpha)\), assuming cosine is positive. 2. Find \(\cos(\alpha)\) when \(\sin(\alpha)=0.96\) and \(\alpha\) is in Quadrant I. 3. For \(0^\circ\le\alpha\le90^\circ\), find \(\sin(\alpha)\) when \(\cos(\alpha)=0.5\). Give an exact radical answer. 4. Given \(\sin(20^\circ)\approx0.342\), approximate \(\cos(20^\circ)\) to the nearest thousandth.

Hints

- Isolate the squared trigonometric expression before taking a square root. - Remember that \(\sin^2(\alpha)\) means \((\sin(\alpha))^2\). - Simplify radicals by writing the radicand as a fraction when useful. - Keep enough decimal places before the final rounding step.

Solution

1. Rearrange: \(\cos^2(\alpha)=1-\sin^2(\alpha)\). Since cosine is positive, \(\cos(\alpha)=\sqrt{1-\sin^2(\alpha)}\). 2. \(\cos(\alpha)=\sqrt{1-0.96^2}=\sqrt{0.0784}=0.28\). 3. \(\sin(\alpha)=\sqrt{1-0.5^2}=\sqrt{\frac{3}{4}}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\). 4. \(\cos(20^\circ)\approx\sqrt{1-0.342^2}=\sqrt{0.883036}\approx0.940\).

Answer

1. \(\cos(\alpha)=\sqrt{1-\sin^2(\alpha)}\) 2. \(\cos(\alpha)=0.28\) 3. \(\sin(\alpha)=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\) 4. \(\cos(20^\circ)\approx0.940\)
Pythagorean identity 17
Suppose \(\sin\theta=-\frac{2}{7}\) and \(\theta\) is in Quadrant IV. a) Use the Pythagorean identity to write an equation for \(\cos^2\theta\), then find \(\cos\theta\) exactly. b) Use your sine and cosine values to find \(\tan\theta\) exactly.

Hints

- Recover the missing cosine value from the Pythagorean identity before forming the tangent ratio. - Use the quadrant to decide the sign of cosine after finding its magnitude. - Keep the tangent value exact when simplifying the ratio of sine to cosine.

Solution

1. Substitute into the identity: \(\frac{4}{49}+\cos^2\theta=1\). 2. Then \(\cos^2\theta=\frac{45}{49}\), so \(\cos\theta=\pm\frac{3\sqrt{5}}{7}\). 3. Cosine is positive in Quadrant IV, so \(\cos\theta=\frac{3\sqrt{5}}{7}\). 4. Therefore, \(\tan\theta=\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta}=\frac{-2/7}{3\sqrt{5}/7}=-\frac{2}{3\sqrt{5}}=-\frac{2\sqrt{5}}{15}\).

Answer

a) Identity equation: \(\frac{4}{49}+\cos^2\theta=1\); \(\cos\theta=\frac{3\sqrt{5}}{7}\) b) \(\tan\theta=-\frac{2\sqrt{5}}{15}\)
Pythagorean identity 18
Suppose \(\cos^2\theta=\frac{7}{16}\) and \(\sin\theta>0\). a) Find \(\sin\theta\). b) What are the two possible values of \(\cos\theta\) from the given information? c) Which quadrants are possible for \(\theta\)?

Hints

- Use the identity to recover the other squared trigonometric value. - Apply the stated sign condition to sine, but do not invent a sign condition for cosine. - Translate the possible sign pairs into quadrants.

Solution

1. From \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\), \(\sin^2\theta=1-\frac{7}{16}=\frac{9}{16}\). 2. Since \(\sin\theta>0\), \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{4}\). 3. From \(\cos^2\theta=\frac{7}{16}\), \(\cos\theta=\pm\frac{\sqrt{7}}{4}\). 4. Positive sine places \(\theta\) in Quadrant I or II, matching the two possible cosine signs.

Answer

a) \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{4}\) b) \(\cos\theta=\pm\frac{\sqrt{7}}{4}\) c) Quadrant I or Quadrant II
Pythagorean identity 19
Suppose \(\tan\theta=-\frac{2}{3}\) and \(\theta\) is in Quadrant IV. Use \(\tan\theta=\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta}\) together with the Pythagorean identity. a) Represent \(\sin\theta\) and \(\cos\theta\) with a common positive scale factor \(k\), and write the Pythagorean-identity equation that determines \(k\). b) Find the exact values of \(\sin\theta\) and \(\cos\theta\).

Hints

- A tangent value fixes the ratio of sine to cosine, not either value separately. - Use the quadrant before assigning signs to the common-scale representation. - Substitute the scaled sine and cosine expressions into the Pythagorean identity to determine their common scale.

Solution

1. In Quadrant IV, sine is negative and cosine is positive. The tangent ratio gives \(\sin\theta=-2k\) and \(\cos\theta=3k\), where \(k>0\). 2. Substitute into \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\): \(4k^2+9k^2=1\). 3. Thus \(13k^2=1\), so \(k=\frac{1}{\sqrt{13}}\). 4. Therefore, \(\sin\theta=-\frac{2}{\sqrt{13}}=-\frac{2\sqrt{13}}{13}\) and \(\cos\theta=\frac{3}{\sqrt{13}}=\frac{3\sqrt{13}}{13}\).

Answer

a) \(\sin\theta=-2k\), \(\cos\theta=3k\), \(k>0\); identity equation: \(4k^2+9k^2=1\) b) \(\sin\theta=-\frac{2\sqrt{13}}{13}\), \(\cos\theta=\frac{3\sqrt{13}}{13}\)
Pythagorean identity 20
Mina is told only that \(\tan\theta=\frac{2}{5}\). She concludes that both \(\sin\theta\) and \(\cos\theta\) must be positive. a) Explain why that conclusion is incomplete. b) Write \(\sin\theta\) and \(\cos\theta\) using a common scale factor \(k\), and write the Pythagorean-identity equation for \(k\). c) Determine every possible ordered pair \((\cos\theta,\sin\theta)\) and state the possible quadrants.

Hints

- Positive tangent means sine and cosine have the same sign, not necessarily that both are positive. - Represent the two values with one common scale factor before using the identity. - Keep both possible signs of the scale factor and connect them with unit-circle quadrants.

Solution

1. A positive tangent means sine and cosine have the same sign, so the angle can lie in Quadrant I or Quadrant III; it does not force both values to be positive. 2. Since \(\tan\theta=\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta}=\frac{2}{5}\), write \(\sin\theta=2k\) and \(\cos\theta=5k\) for a nonzero real scale factor \(k\). 3. The identity gives \(4k^2+25k^2=1\), so \(29k^2=1\) and \(k=\pm\frac{1}{\sqrt{29}}\). 4. If \(k=\frac{1}{\sqrt{29}}\), then \((\cos\theta,\sin\theta)=\left(\frac{5\sqrt{29}}{29},\frac{2\sqrt{29}}{29}\right)\), which is in Quadrant I. 5. If \(k=-\frac{1}{\sqrt{29}}\), then \((\cos\theta,\sin\theta)=\left(-\frac{5\sqrt{29}}{29},-\frac{2\sqrt{29}}{29}\right)\), which is in Quadrant III.

Answer

a) A positive tangent allows Quadrant I or Quadrant III, so both sine and cosine need not be positive. b) \(\sin\theta=2k\), \(\cos\theta=5k\); identity equation: \(4k^2+25k^2=1\), so \(k=\pm\frac{1}{\sqrt{29}}\) c) \(\left(\frac{5\sqrt{29}}{29},\frac{2\sqrt{29}}{29}\right)\) in Quadrant I or \(\left(-\frac{5\sqrt{29}}{29},-\frac{2\sqrt{29}}{29}\right)\) in Quadrant III
Pythagorean identity 21
A circle centered at the origin has radius \(\sqrt{13}\). The point \(P=(2,3)\) lies on the circle, and \(\theta\) is the angle from the positive x-axis to the ray from the origin through \(P\). Find \(\sin\theta\) and \(\cos\theta\). Explain why their squares add to \(1\) even though this is not a unit circle.

Hints

- How are sine and cosine found from coordinates when the radius is not \(1\)? - Compare each coordinate with the distance from \(P\) to the origin. - When squaring the two coordinate ratios, what denominator do they share?

Solution

1. On a circle of radius \(r\), sine and cosine are the y- and x-coordinates divided by \(r\). Thus \(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{\sqrt{13}}\) and \(\cos\theta=\frac{2}{\sqrt{13}}\). 2. Their squared sum is \(\frac{9}{13}+\frac{4}{13}=1\). Dividing the coordinates by the radius gives the corresponding unit-circle point.

Answer

\(\sin\theta=\frac{3}{\sqrt{13}}\) and \(\cos\theta=\frac{2}{\sqrt{13}}\). Their squares add to \(\frac{9}{13}+\frac{4}{13}=1\) because the coordinate lengths are divided by the radius.
Pythagorean identity 22
Suppose \(\cos\theta\ne0\). Use \(\tan\theta=\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta}\) and \(\sec\theta=\frac{1}{\cos\theta}\). Starting with \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\), show that \(1+\tan^2\theta=\sec^2\theta\).

Hints

- What expression connects tangent with sine and cosine? - How could each part of the original equation become a quotient related to tangent or secant? - Why must cosine be nonzero when forming these quotients?

Solution

1. Divide both sides of \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\) by \(\cos^2\theta\), which is nonzero. 2. This gives \(\frac{\sin^2\theta}{\cos^2\theta}+1=\frac{1}{\cos^2\theta}\). 3. Replace the first fraction with \(\tan^2\theta\), and use \(\sec^2\theta=\frac{1}{\cos^2\theta}\) to obtain \(1+\tan^2\theta=\sec^2\theta\).

Answer

\(\frac{\sin^2\theta}{\cos^2\theta}+1=\frac{1}{\cos^2\theta}\), so \(1+\tan^2\theta=\sec^2\theta\) for \(\cos\theta\ne0\).
Pythagorean identity 23
Maya says that \(\cos\theta=0.5\) and \(\sin\theta=0.9\) are possible because both numbers are between \(-1\) and \(1\). Use the Pythagorean identity to find the largest possible sine value when cosine is \(0.5\). Is Maya right?

Hints

- Think of the two squared values as nonnegative parts of a total of \(1\). - If one squared value is fixed, what remains for the other? - Could either sign of the remaining value change its largest possible size?

Solution

1. The identity gives \(\sin^2\theta=1-(0.5)^2=\frac{3}{4}\). 2. Thus \(\sin\theta=\pm\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\); the largest possible value is \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\approx0.866\). 3. Since \(0.9\) is greater than that maximum, Maya's proposed pair is impossible. Being separately within \([-1,1]\) is not enough.

Answer

Largest possible sine: \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\approx0.866\). No: a sine value of \(0.9\) is too large when cosine is \(0.5\).
Pythagorean identity 24
An angle \(\theta\) satisfies \(\sin\theta=-\frac{5}{13}\) and \(\tan\theta>0\). Find the exact value of \(\cos\theta\) and state the quadrant of \(\theta\)'s terminal side.

Hints

- Use the identity to find the possible magnitude of cosine. - What does a positive ratio of sine to cosine say about their signs? - Which quadrant has both sine and cosine negative?

Solution

1. The identity gives \(\cos^2\theta=1-\frac{25}{169}=\frac{144}{169}\), so \(\cos\theta=\pm\frac{12}{13}\). 2. Tangent is positive when sine and cosine have the same sign. Since sine is negative, cosine must also be negative. 3. Hence \(\cos\theta=-\frac{12}{13}\), and both coordinates are negative in Quadrant III.

Answer

\(\cos\theta=-\frac{12}{13}\); Quadrant III.
Pythagorean identity 25
A student starts with \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\) and concludes that \(\sin\theta=1-\cos\theta\). Explain the mistake. Use \(\theta=\frac{\pi}{3}\) to show the claim is false, then write the correct expression for \(\sin\theta\) in terms of \(\cos\theta\).

Hints

- Rearrange the original identity without changing the exponents. - Test the student's equation at the given special angle. - What happens when you take the square root of a squared quantity? Can its original value be negative?

Solution

1. Subtracting gives \(\sin^2\theta=1-\cos^2\theta\). The student incorrectly removed the squares instead of taking a square root. 2. At \(\theta=\frac{\pi}{3}\), sine is \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\), while \(1-\cos\theta=1-\frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{2}\); these are not equal. 3. Taking square roots correctly gives \(\sin\theta=\pm\sqrt{1-\cos^2\theta}\). Choose the sign from the quadrant.

Answer

Squares cannot simply be dropped. At \(\theta=\frac{\pi}{3}\), \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\ne\frac{1}{2}\). The correct relationship is \(\sin\theta=\pm\sqrt{1-\cos^2\theta}\), with the sign determined by the quadrant.
Pythagorean identity 26
Suppose \(\sin\theta+\cos\theta=\frac{1}{2}\). Use the Pythagorean identity to find the exact value of \(\sin\theta\cos\theta\).

Hints

- The target is a product, while the given information is a sum. - Consider an algebraic operation on the sum that creates a product term. - Look for where the Pythagorean identity can replace two squared terms with a single value.

Solution

1. Square the given equation: \((\sin\theta+\cos\theta)^2=\frac{1}{4}\). 2. Expand: \(\sin^2\theta+2\sin\theta\cos\theta+\cos^2\theta=\frac{1}{4}\). 3. Use \(\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1\): \(1+2\sin\theta\cos\theta=\frac{1}{4}\). 4. Therefore, \(2\sin\theta\cos\theta=-\frac{3}{4}\), so \(\sin\theta\cos\theta=-\frac{3}{8}\).

Answer

\(\sin\theta\cos\theta=-\frac{3}{8}\)

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