On the unit circle, the point P(-5/13, 12/13) lies on the terminal arm of an angle in standard position?

2 Answers
Jun 18, 2015

The angle is 1.96561.9656 radians or 112.62^@112.62
(assuming that is what the question intended to ask).

Explanation:

In standard position with the unit length terminal arm at P(-5/13,12/13)P(513,1213)
implies
color(white)("XXXX")XXXXcos(theta) = -5/13cos(θ)=513

which, in turn, implies
color(white)("XXXX")XXXXtheta = arccos(-5/13)θ=arccos(513)
which can be solved using a calculator to obtain the result above.

Jun 18, 2015

I have no one sentence answer. See below.

Explanation:

If the question was to find the values of the six trigonometric functions, use the definition. Note that
r = sqrt((-5/13)^2 + (12/13)^2) = sqrt ((25+122)/169) = sqrt (169/169) = 1r=(513)2+(1213)2=25+122169=169169=1

(The point P is on the unit circle.)

Call the angle thetaθ (I'll use rr in the definitions even though it is 11.

sin theta = y/r = y/1 = 12/13sinθ=yr=y1=1213 color(white)"sssss"sssss csc theta = r/y = 1/y = 1/(12/13) = 13/12cscθ=ry=1y=11213=1312

cos theta = x/r = x/1 = -5/13cosθ=xr=x1=513 color(white)"sss"sss sec theta = r/x = 1/x = 1/(-5/13) = -13/5secθ=rx=1x=1513=135

tan theta = y/x = (12/13)/(-5/13) = 12/13 * -13/5 = -12/5tanθ=yx=1213513=1213135=125

cot theta = x/y = (-5/13)/(12/13) = -5/13*13/12 = -5/12cotθ=xy=5131213=5131312=512