How do you find the exact value of cos ((19pi)/6)?

2 Answers
May 7, 2016

-sqrt3/2

Explanation:

Trig table, unit circle, and property of supplementary arcs -->
cos ((19pi)/6) = cos (pi/6 + (18pi)/6) =
cos (pi/6 + 3pi) = cos (pi/6 + pi) = - cos pi/6 = - sqrt3/2

May 9, 2016

-sqrt3/2

Explanation:

We can subtract 2pi from (19pi)/6 and still have the same value of cosine--the angles would be in the same location in the unit circle.

(19pi)/6-2pi=(19pi)/6-(12pi)/6=(7pi)/6

Thus, cos((19pi)/6)=cos((7pi)/6).

Notice that (7pi)/6=pi+pi/6, so this angle is in "QIII" and has a reference angle of pi/6.

Since cosine is negative in "QIII", and cos(pi/6)=sqrt3/2, we see that cos((7pi)/6)=-sqrt3/2.

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