Solving a Trig Question: Identifying Independent & Dependent Variables

[WillyTech]

Here is a trig question that I've been thinking about. I want to know which one would be the independant and the dependant of the points

(r , theta)

 

[chroot]

1) r and theta are not points, they are variables.

2) There is "dependency" in pure math. Neither variable can be said to be dependent upon the other. Even if you wrote down a function of these two variables, you could, in general, solve the equation for either variable.

3) Dependencies occur in measurements, where you change one variable (the independent variable) and observe changes in the other (the dependent variable).

- Warren

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

In trigonometry, the independent variable is typically represented by the angle, theta. This is because the value of the angle determines the position of a point on the unit circle or the direction of a vector. The dependent variable, on the other hand, is usually represented by the distance, r. This is because the distance from the origin to the point is dependent on the angle at which the point is located.

In a trigonometric equation, the independent variable is usually the angle, while the dependent variable is the ratio of two sides of a triangle (such as sine, cosine, or tangent). This is because the value of the angle changes while the ratio remains constant, making the angle the independent variable and the ratio the dependent variable.

It is important to correctly identify the independent and dependent variables in a trigonometric equation in order to solve it accurately. By understanding the relationship between the angle and the distance in a trigonometric equation, we can better understand and manipulate the equation to solve for unknown values.