Finding the exact value

MathsHelpPlz

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Dec 13, 2012
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"Find the exact value of (4sin149 + 12sin150 + 4sin151)/(3cos149 + 9cos150 + 3cos151)"

I took out the common factor of 4 from top and 3 from bottom but I don't know what to do next.

Thanks for your time.

EDIT: Actually sorry I understand it, the question had previously told us that a similar expression equals the tangent of the middle number (150 in this case) so its 4/3 tan150
 
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4sin(149)+12sin(150)+4sin(151)3cos(149)+9cos(150)+3cos(151)=\displaystyle \dfrac{4 \sin(149^{ \circ})+12 \sin(150^{ \circ})+4 \sin(151^{ \circ})}{3 \cos(149^{ \circ})+9 \cos(150^{ \circ})+3 \cos(151^{ \circ})}=

4(sin(149)+32+sin(151))3(cos(149)332+cos(151))=\displaystyle \dfrac{4\left( \sin(149^{ \circ})+ \frac{3}{2}+ \sin(151^{ \circ}) \right)}{3\left( \cos(149^{ \circ})-\frac{3 \sqrt{3}}{2}+ \cos(151^{ \circ}) \right)}=

4(cos(1)+32)3(3cos(1)332)=\displaystyle \dfrac{4\left( \cos(1^{ \circ})+ \frac{3}{2} \right)}{3\left(- \sqrt{3} \cos(1^{ \circ})- \frac{3 \sqrt{3}}{2} \right)}=

4(2cos(1)+3)33(2cos(1)+3)=\displaystyle \dfrac{4(2 \cos(1^{ \circ})+3)}{-3 \sqrt{3}(2 \cos(1^{ \circ})+3)}=

433\displaystyle -\dfrac{4}{3 \sqrt{3}}
 
In case you were wondering, MarkFL is using the fact that 150= 90+ 60 as well as the identities cos(a+b)= cos(a)cos(b)- sin(a)sin(b) and sin(a+ b)= sin(a)cos(b)+ cos(a)sin(b). So cos(150)= cos(90+ 60)= cos(90)cos(60)- sin(90)sin(60) and sin(150)= sin(90+ 60)= sin(90)cos(60)+ cos(90)sin(60). And you certainly should know that know that sin(90)= 1 while cos(90)= 0 so that cos(150)= 0(cos(60))- 1(sin(60))= -sin(60) and sin(150)= 1(cos(60))+ 0(sin(60))= cos(60).

sin(60)=3/2\displaystyle sin(60)= \sqrt{3}/2 and cos(60)=1/2\displaystyle cos(60)= 1/2 are also values you should know or be able to get (bisect an equilateral triangle to get two 30-60-90 right triangles). That is, cos(150)=3/2\displaystyle cos(150)= -\sqrt{3}/2 and sin(150)=1/2\displaystyle sin(150)= 1/2.
 
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