trig question i think

[gcfan4life1023]

find cos(x) if x = cot^-1 (15/8) or x = arc cot (15/8)

can somebody please tell me how to begin this problem and give me some steps on how to solve with ideas and maybe an example problem being completed please im so confused

 

[stapel]

Draw a right triangle. Label one of the non-right angles as "x".

Note that the cotangent ratio is "adjacent over hypotenuse", and use the given ratio to label the legs of the triangle appropriately.

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the hypotenuse.

Read the value of "cos(x)" off your triangle.

That's all there is to it. :wink:

Eliz.

 

[tkhunny]

You draw a Right Triangle, Label a couple of parts (8 and 15), calculate the last part (17), write down a good answer (15/17), decide what quadrant you are in, and you are done.

It's really not all that difficult IF you have been studying AT ALL.

 

[gcfan4life1023]

thank you so much for your help I didnt understand it the way it was written The arc part messed me up because we normally don't deal with those problems all the time. We are just reviewing it right now for mid-terms cuz we reviewed it in the beginning of the year so now it is on midterms. Thank you for your help