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Multiple Choice
Find the exact value of the expression. cos125π
A
42−6
B
46−2
C
22−6
D
44
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Recognize that the problem involves evaluating the trigonometric expression \( \cos\left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right) \). This angle is not a standard angle, so we will use angle sum or difference identities to simplify it.
Step 2: Decompose \( \frac{5\pi}{12} \) into a sum or difference of angles for which the cosine values are known. For example, \( \frac{5\pi}{12} = \frac{\pi}{3} - \frac{\pi}{4} \).
Step 3: Apply the cosine difference identity: \( \cos(a - b) = \cos(a)\cos(b) + \sin(a)\sin(b) \). Substitute \( a = \frac{\pi}{3} \) and \( b = \frac{\pi}{4} \).
Step 4: Use the known values of trigonometric functions for \( \frac{\pi}{3} \) and \( \frac{\pi}{4} \): \( \cos\left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right) = \frac{1}{2} \), \( \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \), \( \cos\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \), and \( \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \). Substitute these values into the identity.
Step 5: Simplify the resulting expression to find \( \cos\left(\frac{5\pi}{12}\right) \). Combine like terms and rationalize the denominator if necessary to match the given answer choices.