DETAILED SOLUTIONS FOR MATH ASSIGNMENT
UNIT 6
Reference: Abramson, J. (2021). Algebra and Trigonometry (2nd ed.). OpenStax. Licensed under CC
BY 4.0.
TASK 1
Point A has coordinates (-√3/2 , 1/2) on the unit circle. In a unit circle: The x-coordinate represents
cosine. The y-coordinate represents sine.
Step 1: Find sin θ and cos θ
From the coordinates:
x = -√3/2 and y = 1/2
Therefore:
cos θ = -√3/2
sin θ = 1/2
Step 2: Find tan θ
Formula:
tan θ = sin θ / cos θ
Substitute the values:
tan θ = (1/2) ÷ (-√3/2)
tan θ = (1/2) × (2/-√3)
tan θ = -1/√3
Rationalize:
tan θ = -√3/3
Step 3: Find the reciprocal functions
csc θ = 1/sin θ = 1/(1/2) = 2
sec θ = 1/cos θ = 1/(-√3/2)
sec θ = -2/√3
cot θ = 1/tan θ
cot θ = -√3
All Six Trigonometric Functions
sin θ = 1/2
cos θ = -√3/2
tan θ = -√3/3
csc θ = 2
sec θ = -2/√3
cot θ = -√3
Step 4: Determine the Quadrant
The x-coordinate is negative.
The y-coordinate is positive.
A point with negative x and positive y lies in Quadrant II.
Step 5: Find the Angle
The reference angle is 30° because sin 30° = 1/2.
Since the point is in Quadrant II:
θ = 180° − 30°
θ = 150°
TASK 2
Alice is standing some distance away from a tree and looking at an object at the top.
The height of the tree = 6 m
Distance from Point A to the tree = 4 m
Distance from Point B to the tree = 2 m
(i) Finding the Angles of Elevation
The angles formed when looking upward are called angles of elevation.
We use the tangent formula:
tan θ = opposite / adjacent
At Point A
opposite = 6
adjacent = 4
tan A = 6/4
tan A = 1.5
Take tan■¹ on both sides:
A = tan■¹(1.5)
A ≈ 56.31°
At Point B
opposite = 6
adjacent = 2
tan B = 6/2
tan B = 3
B = tan■¹(3)
B ≈ 71.57°
(ii) Compare the Angles
Angle A ≈ 56.31°
Angle B ≈ 71.57°
Since 71.57° is greater than 56.31°:
Angle B is larger than Angle A.
Conclusion:
When a person moves closer to an object, the angle of elevation becomes larger.
(iii) Find the Distances
We use the Pythagorean Theorem:
c² = a² + b²
Distance from Point A
d² = 4² + 6²
d² = 16 + 36
d² = 52
d = √52
d ≈ 7.21 m
Distance from Point B
d² = 2² + 6²
d² = 4 + 36
d² = 40
d = √40
d ≈ 6.32 m
TASK 3
(a) Writing a Trigonometric Function
General cosine equation:
y = A cos(Bx − C) + D
Where:
A = amplitude
B = period control
C = phase shift
D = vertical shift
Suppose:
Amplitude = 13
Midline = 5
Period = 2π
Since the period is already 2π, B = 1.
No phase shift means C = 0.
Therefore:
y = 13cos(x) + 5
Understanding the Graph
The amplitude 13 means the graph stretches 13 units up and down.
The +5 moves the graph upward by 5 units.
(b) Analyze the Function y = 15tan(πx/3 + 2)
General tangent equation:
y = A tan(Bx + C)
Here:
A = 15
B = π/3
C=2
Stretching Factor
The stretching factor is 15.
Period
Formula:
Period = π / B
Substitute B = π/3:
Period = π ÷ (π/3)
Period = 3
Phase Shift
Formula:
Phase shift = -C/B
Phase shift = -2 ÷ (π/3)
Phase shift = -6/π
This means the graph moves left by 6/π units.
Vertical Asymptotes
For tangent functions:
Bx + C = π/2 + kπ
Substitute values:
πx/3 + 2 = π/2 + kπ
These values create the vertical asymptotes.
Domain
The domain includes all real numbers except the asymptotes.
TASK 4
x 0 π/6 π/4 π/3 π/2
y = sin(x) 0 0.5 0.707 0.866 1
sin■¹(y) 0 0.524 0.785 1.047 1.571
(i) Table Explanation
The chosen trigonometric function is the sine function:
y = sin(x)
The inverse function is:
y = sin■¹(x)
The table shows corresponding values for both functions.
(ii) Graph Explanation
The sine graph forms a wave pattern.
The inverse sine graph increases slowly and is restricted to a smaller domain.
(iii) Observations
(a) Periodicity
The sine function repeats after every 2π.
Therefore, sine is a periodic function.
(b) Domain and Range
For y = sin(x):
Domain = all real numbers
Range = -1 ≤ y ≤ 1
For y = sin■¹(x):
Domain = -1 ≤ x ≤ 1
Range = -π/2 ≤ y ≤ π/2
(c) Even or Odd
The sine function is an odd function because:
sin(-x) = -sin(x)