ACT Math : ACT Math

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find Negative Sine

What is the sine of the angle formed between the origin and the point  if that angle is formed with one side of the angle beginning on the -axis and then rotating counter-clockwise to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

You can begin by imagining a little triangle in the fourth quadrant to find your reference angle.  It would look like this:

Sin410

Now, to find the sine of that angle, you will need to find the hypotenuse of the triangle. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, , where  and  are leg lengths and  is the length of the hypotenuse, the hypotenuse is , or, for our data:

The sine of an angle is:

For our data, this is:

Since this is in the fourth quadrant, it is negative, because sine is negative in that quadrant.

Example Question #2981 : Act Math

What is the sine of the angle formed between the origin and the point  if that angle is formed with one side of the angle beginning on the -axis and then rotating counter-clockwise to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

You can begin by imagining a little triangle in the third quadrant to find your reference angle. It would look like this: 

Sin38

Now, to find the sine of that angle, you will need to find the hypotenuse of the triangle. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, , where  and  are leg lengths and  is the length of the hypotenuse, the hypotenuse is , or, for our data:

The sine of an angle is:

For our data, this is:

Since this is in the third quadrant, it is negative, because sine is negative in that quadrant.

Example Question #61 : Trigonometry

If , what is the value of  if ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall that the  triangle appears as follows in radians:

454590rad

Now, the sine of  is . However, if you rationalize the denominator, you get:

Since , we know that  must be represent an angle in the third quadrant (where the sine function is negative). Adding its reference angle to , we get:

Therefore, we know that:

, meaning that 

Example Question #1 : How To Find Positive Sine

If , what is ?  Round to the nearest hundredth.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall that the sine wave is symmetrical with respect to the origin. Therefore, for any value , the value for  is . Therefore, if  is , then for , it will be .

Example Question #1 : How To Find Positive Sine

In a right triangle, cos(A) = . What is sin(A)?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In a right triangle, for sides a and b, with c being the hypotenuse, . Thus if cos(A) is , then c = 14, and the side adjacent to A is 11. Therefore, the side opposite of angle A is the square root of , which is  Since sin is , sin(A) is .

Example Question #2985 : Act Math

51213

What is the value of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

As with all trigonometry problems, begin by considering how you could rearrange the question. They often have hidden easy ways out. So begin by noticing:

Now, you can treat  like it is any standard denominator. Therefore:

Combine your fractions and get:

Now, from our trig identities, we know that , so we can say:

Now, for our triangle, the  is . Therefore,

Example Question #1 : How To Find Positive Sine

Solve for :

 if 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Recall that the standard  triangle, in radians, looks like:

Rt1

Since , you can tell that .

Therefore, you can say that  must equal :

Solving for , you get:

 

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Missing Side With Sine

You have a 30-60-90 triangle. If the hypotenuse length is 8, what is the length of the side opposite the 30 degree angle?

Possible Answers:

4√2

3√3

4

4√3

3

Correct answer:

4

Explanation:

sin(30º) = ½

sine = opposite / hypotenuse

½ = opposite / 8

Opposite = 8 * ½ = 4

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Missing Side With Sine

If a right triangle has a 30 degree angle, and the opposite leg of the 30 degree angle has a measure of 12, what is the value of the hypotenuse?

Possible Answers:

15

12 * 31/2

18

24

12 * 21/2

Correct answer:

24

Explanation:

Use SOHCAHTOA. Sin(30) = 12/x, then 12/sin(30) = x = 24.

You can also determine the side with a measure of 12 is the smallest side in a 30:60:90 triangle. The hypotenuse would be twice the length of the smallest leg.

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Missing Side With Sine

Circle_chord_2

The radius of the above circle is  is the center of the circle. . Find the length of chord .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can solve for the length of the chord by drawing a line the bisects the angle and the chord, shown below as .

Circle_chord_4

In this circle, we can see the triangle  has a hypotenuse equal to the radius of the circle (), an angle  equal to half the angle made by the chord, and a side  that is half the length of the chord.  By using the sine function, we can solve for .

The length of the entire chord is twice the length of , so the entire chord length is .

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