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Multiple Choice
Find the exact value of the expression. cos105°
A
42−6
B
46−2
C
22−6
D
44
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Recognize that the angle 105° can be expressed as the sum of two special angles, 60° and 45°. This allows us to use the cosine addition formula: cos(a + b) = cos(a)cos(b) - sin(a)sin(b).
Step 2: Substitute a = 60° and b = 45° into the formula. This gives: cos(105°) = cos(60°)cos(45°) - sin(60°)sin(45°).
Step 3: Recall the exact trigonometric values for the special angles: cos(60°) = 1/2, cos(45°) = √2/2, sin(60°) = √3/2, and sin(45°) = √2/2.
Step 4: Substitute these values into the formula: cos(105°) = (1/2)(√2/2) - (√3/2)(√2/2).
Step 5: Simplify the expression by combining terms and factoring where possible. This will yield the exact value of cos(105°).