Trig problem, let sinA= -3/5 wiht A in Quad. 3 find Sin2A

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving the trigonometric problem of finding sin(2A) given that sin(A) = -3/5 with angle A located in the third quadrant. The correct approach involves first calculating cos(A) using the identity cos(A) = -√(1 - sin²(A)). The accurate calculation reveals that cos(A) equals -4/5, leading to the final result for sin(2A) as sin(2A) = 2 * sin(A) * cos(A) = 2 * (-3/5) * (-4/5) = 24/25.

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  • Understanding of trigonometric identities, specifically sin²(A) + cos²(A) = 1.
  • Ability to perform square root calculations and handle negative values in trigonometric contexts.
  • Knowledge of the unit circle and the properties of angles in different quadrants.
  • Familiarity with the double angle formula for sine: sin(2A) = 2 * sin(A) * cos(A).
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Homework Statement


SinA is = to -3/5 with A in Q3, find sinA?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



When I did this I set it up like
First find cosA
So to do that I used plus/minus √(1-sin^2A)
The problem is that I really got confused when plugging in the values under the radical correctly, because i thought, -3/5 squared gives you positive 9/25 doesn't it and then the negative sign in the middle should make it 1-9/25, so you'd get 25/25-9/25 = 14/25
and then the answer also says that since it is in quadrant 3 it is negative, so -14/25 ? right?
Then plug that into the next step :
Sin 2A = 2SinACosA
=2(-3/5)(-√14/5)
something is wrong with how I'm doing it and I'd really like to know what. :( :(
 
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Neopets said:
The problem is that I really got confused when plugging in the values under the radical correctly, because i thought, -3/5 squared gives you positive 9/25 doesn't it and then the negative sign in the middle should make it 1-9/25, so you'd get 25/25-9/25 = 14/25
It's 16/25, not 14/25.

Neopets said:
and then the answer also says that since it is in quadrant 3 it is negative, so -14/25 ? right?
No. Take the square root first, and then tack on the negative. So it's
-\sqrt{\frac{16}{25}}=-\frac{4}{5}
 
eumyang said:
It's 16/25, not 14/25.


No. Take the square root first, and then tack on the negative. So it's
-\sqrt{\frac{16}{25}}=-\frac{4}{5}

omg thank u, some small silly mistake. ahhhh
thanks for seeing that :)
 
oh wow I thoguht it was sin(a) = -3/5 find a my bad
 

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