How do you find sin2x if sinx = -3/5 and x is in quadrant 3?

1 Answer
Aug 19, 2015

find sin 2x, knowing sin x = -3/5

Ans: 0.96

Explanation:

There are 2 ways:
1. First way.
Calculator gives --> sin x = -3/5 = - 0.60 --> x = -36.87 deg
and x = 180 + 36.87 = 216.87 (Quadrant III)
Then, 2x = 2(216.87) = 433.74 = (73.74 + 360) deg -->
--> sin 2x = sin 73.74 = 0.96

  1. Second way
    sin x = -0.6 --> sin^2 x = 0.36 --> cos^2 x = 1 - 0.36 = 0.64 -->
    --> cos x = +- 0.8. Since x is located in Quadrant III, then,
    cos x = - 0.8

sin 2x = 2sinx.cos x = 2(-0.6)(-0.8) = 0.96