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Multiple Choice
Identify what angle, θ , satisfies the following conditions. cosθ=23; sinθ < 0
A
30°
B
60°
C
120°
D
330°
Verified step by step guidance
1
First, recall the unit circle and the values of cosine and sine for common angles. The cosine of an angle in the unit circle is the x-coordinate of the point where the terminal side of the angle intersects the circle.
The given condition is cos(θ) = √3/2. This value corresponds to angles where the x-coordinate is √3/2, which are typically 30° and 330° in the unit circle.
Next, consider the condition sin(θ) < 0. The sine of an angle is the y-coordinate of the point on the unit circle. A negative sine value indicates that the angle is in the fourth quadrant, where the y-coordinate is negative.
In the fourth quadrant, the angle that has a cosine of √3/2 and a negative sine is 330°. This is because 330° is the reflection of 30° across the x-axis, resulting in a negative sine value.
Therefore, the angle θ that satisfies both conditions cos(θ) = √3/2 and sin(θ) < 0 is 330°.