Simplifying a trigonometric expression

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on simplifying the trigonometric expression (tg 570° * sin 1469°) / (ctg 495° * cos 781°). The user successfully rewrites the expression using sine and cosine functions, resulting in -tan(30°) * sin(29°) / (cot(45°) * cos(61°)). Key insights include recognizing the periodic properties of tangent and cotangent functions, as well as the complementary nature of angles 29° and 61°. The user emphasizes the challenge of solving this problem without access to calculators or trigonometric tables for an upcoming university application exam.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of trigonometric functions: sine, cosine, tangent, and cotangent
  • Knowledge of angle periodicity in trigonometry
  • Familiarity with complementary angles in trigonometry
  • Ability to simplify trigonometric expressions without calculators
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of trigonometric functions, focusing on periodicity and symmetry
  • Practice simplifying trigonometric expressions without calculators using known values
  • Learn about complementary angles and their relationships in trigonometry
  • Review special angles and their sine, cosine, and tangent values
USEFUL FOR

Students preparing for university entrance exams, particularly those focusing on mathematics or chemistry, as well as educators teaching trigonometry concepts.

Alexstrasuz1
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(tg 570* sin 1469) / (ctg 495 * cos 781) =
Its in degrees
 
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Alexstrasuz said:
(tg 570* sin 1469) / (ctg 495 * cos 781) =
Its in degrees

I would first try to write everything in terms of sines and cosines, and then change all the angles to the corresponding angles in the first cycle (so $\displaystyle \begin{align*} 0^{\circ} \leq \theta < 360^{\circ} \end{align*}$...)
 
I did it and I got [(sin30 * sin29)/cos30]/[(cos135*cos61)/sin135]
My problem is this is for exam for university application and we can't use calculator or the sheets with trigonometric table like value of sin30 etc, I am ok with algebra since my university is focusing more on chemistry.
 
Alexstrasuz said:
I did it and I got [(sin30 * sin29)/cos30]/[(cos135*cos61)/sin135]
My problem is this is for exam for university application and we can't use calculator or the sheets with trigonometric table like value of sin30 etc, I am ok with algebra since my university is focusing more on chemistry.

Some of those values can be simplified straight away - sin(30), cos(30), cos(135) and sin(135)...
 
When I consider that the period of the tangent and cotangent functions is $180^{\circ}$ and the period of the sine and cosine functions is $360^{\circ}$, and the fact that cotangent is an odd function, I can then rewrite the given expression as:

$$-\frac{\tan\left(30^{\circ}\right)\sin\left(29^{\circ}\right)}{\cot\left(45^{\circ}\right)\cos\left(61^{\circ}\right)}$$

Now, to deal with the sine and cosine function, we see the angles $29^{\circ}$ and $61^{\circ}$ are complementary...which means the sine of one is the cosine of the other and vice versa.

As for the tangent and cotangent functions, those are special angles for which we should know the values of those functions at those angles.
 

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