Using Compounded Angle Identities: How to Simplify cos(\pi-x) = -cosX?

  • Thread starter Thread starter moe11
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angle identities
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
5 replies · 3K views
moe11
Messages
8
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


cos([tex]\pi[/tex]-x)= -cosX

the formula is cos(A-b) = cosAcosB+sinAsinB
so i sub in the given to get..
cos[tex]\pi[/tex]cosx + sin[tex]\pi[/tex]sinX

then where do i go from there? I am new to math like this, its a much higher level than what I am used to, any help would be very apprieciated. thanks.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
Physics news on Phys.org
rock.freak667 said:
What does cos(pi) and sin(pi) work out to be?

sinpi= 0.054803665
cospi= 0.998497149

i don't know where to go from there, i know after the dust settles i need to have -cosx somehow.
 
Those should be values you have memorized...

(And incidentally, you left your calculator in degree mode on accident)
 
You can use both radians and degrees. If you use the radian mode you will write π = 3.141592 and if you use degree mode you will write п = 180o. Anyway, you will get same value. But these values are so easy to remember (even you don't need to remember it, just draw a circle in coordinate system, and remember the x-axis is cos and the y-axis is sin). Now turn for 180o from 0o and you will get what?

Regards.