- #1
nikita33
- 17
- 0
Homework Statement
This isn't exactly a problem. Also, it is only the first section of the chapter on trig, and this has nothing to do with trig, per se. I think it is more of like a primer for what is to come. So, whomever reads this, please try to imagine you know nothing about sin, cos, angles or anything like that. this is much more basic, which is why I am having trouble finding it on the internet. plus, in my book, they give only one example and I am more interested in the why, rather than memorising a problem. ok!
It is about "the reference number." The book says let t be a real number. the reference number t associated with t is the shortest distance along the unit circle between the terminal point determined by t and the x axis.
Homework Equations
find the reference number for each value of t: (i thought there used to be a thing i could click on to put in math symbols? i can't find it now, so sorry about the annoying pi)
1. t= 5pi/6
2. t=7pi/4
3. t= -2pi/3
4. t= -3
5. t= 6
6. t= -7
The Attempt at a Solution
i seem to understand everything with pi.
reference t for 5pi/6 is pi/6 because 5pi/6 is closest to the x-axis at pi so i did pi - 5pi/6 = pi/6. so pi/6 is the reference t. is that the idea?
then #2 is 2pi - 7pi/4 = pi/4.
#3 is pi - 2pi/3 = pi/3.
#4 started to confuse me, i think because of the negative. -3 is closest to the x-axis at pi (going clockwise) so is it pi - 3? which is guess would be .14. would it ever be 3 - pi?
#5 is closest to x at 2pi so 2pi - 6.
#6 is closest to x at 2pi(going clockwise) so would it be 2pi - 7 ? at -.72?
am i doing this correctly? i mean, i see my answers at least for the ones with pi are correct, but i want to make sure i am doing it right because i am thinking about it right.