Precalculus : Pre-Calculus

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Precalculus

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #42 : Graphs And Inverses Of Trigonometric Functions

Evaluate: \(\displaystyle 5\sin ^{-1}\left ( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \right )\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5\pi }{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5\pi }{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5\sqrt{3}}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5\pi }{3}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \arcsin \left ( \frac{\sqrt{3}}2{} \right )=60^{\circ}\rightarrow \frac{\pi }{3}\rightarrow 5\cdot \frac{\pi }{3}\) and so the credited answer is \(\displaystyle \frac{5\pi }{3}\).

Example Question #1 : Evaluate Expressions That Include The Inverse Sine Or Cosine Function

Find angle A of the following triangle:

Using_inverse_sin_to_find_angle_of_triangle

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 33^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 57^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 29^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 13^\circ\)

None of the other answers

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 33^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

We are given the hypotenuse and the side opposite of the angle in question. The trig function that relates these two sides is SIN. Therefore, we can write:

\(\displaystyle sin(A) = \frac{12}{22}\)

In order to solve for A, we need to take the inverse sin of both sides:

\(\displaystyle sin^{-1}(sin(A)) = sin^{-1}(\frac{12}{22})\)

which becomes

\(\displaystyle A = sin^{-1}\bigg(\frac{12}{22}\bigg) = 33^{\circ}\)

Example Question #41 : Graphs And Inverses Of Trigonometric Functions

Consider  \(\displaystyle sin(\theta)=-\frac{1}{2}\), where theta is valid from \(\displaystyle \left [ 0,2\pi\right ]\).  What is a possible value of theta?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{\pi}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{\pi}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle None\: of \: the\: other\: answers.\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11\pi}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3\pi}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11\pi}{6}\)

Explanation:

Solve for theta by taking the inverse sine of both sides.

\(\displaystyle \theta=sin^-^1\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right) = -\frac{\pi}{6}\)

Since this angle is not valid for the given interval of theta, add \(\displaystyle 2\pi\) radians to this angle to get a valid answer in the interval.

\(\displaystyle -\frac{\pi}{6}+2\pi = -\frac{\pi}{6}+\frac{12\pi}{6}= \frac{11\pi}{6}\)

 

 

Example Question #2 : Evaluate Expressions That Include The Inverse Sine Or Cosine Function

Evaluate:  

\(\displaystyle cos^-^1\left(-\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)+cos^-^1\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \pi\)

\(\displaystyle -1\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle -\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 0\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \pi\)

Explanation:

First evaluate \(\displaystyle cos^-^1\left(-\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)\).

To evaluate inverse cosine, it is necessary to know the domain and range of inverse cosine. 

For: \(\displaystyle \theta=cos^-^1(x)\)

The domain \(\displaystyle x\) is only valid from \(\displaystyle [-1,1]\).

\(\displaystyle \theta\) is only valid from \(\displaystyle [0,\pi]\).

The part is asking for the angle where the x-value of the coordinate is \(\displaystyle -\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\).  The only possibility on the unit circle is the second quadrant.  

\(\displaystyle cos^-^1\left(-\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)= \frac{5}{6}\pi\)

Next, evaluate \(\displaystyle cos^-^1\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)\).

Using the same domain and range restrictions, the only valid angle for the given x-value is in the first quadrant on the unit circle.  

\(\displaystyle cos^-^1\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)= \frac{\pi}{6}\)

Therefore:

\(\displaystyle cos^-^1\left(-\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)+cos^-^1\left(\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right) = \frac{5}{6}\pi + \frac{\pi}{6}=\frac{6\pi}{6}=\pi\)

Example Question #42 : Graphs And Inverses Of Trigonometric Functions

Evaluate:  

\(\displaystyle cos^-^1\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \pi\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{3}\pi\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{6}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{3}\)

Explanation:

To find the correct value of \(\displaystyle cos^-^1\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\), it is necessary to know the domain and range of inverse cosine.

Domain:  \(\displaystyle [-1,1]\)

Range:  \(\displaystyle [0,\pi]\)

The question is asking for the specific angle when the x-coordinate is half.  

The only possibility is located in the first quadrant, and the point of the special angle is \(\displaystyle \left(\frac{1}{2},\frac{\sqrt3}{2}\right)\)

The special angle for this coordinate is \(\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{3}\).

 

Example Question #1 : Inverse Sine And Cosine Functions

Find the value of \(\displaystyle \cos^-^1\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 300^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle -60^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle 30^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle 60^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle 120^\circ\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 60^\circ\)

Explanation:

In order to determine the value or values of \(\displaystyle cos^-^1(\frac{1}{2})\), it is necessary to know the domain and range of the inverse sine function.

Domain:  \(\displaystyle [-1,1]\)

Range:  \(\displaystyle [0,\pi]\)

The question is asking for the angle value of theta where the x-value is \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\) under the range restriction.  Since \(\displaystyle x=\frac{1}{2}\) is located in the first and fourth quadrants, the range restriction makes theta only allowable from \(\displaystyle [0,\pi]\).  Therefore, the theta value must only be in the first quadrant.

The value of the angle when the x-value is \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\) is \(\displaystyle 60\) degrees.

Example Question #6 : Inverse Sine And Cosine Functions

Find the inverse of the function 

\(\displaystyle y=csc(x)tan(x)\)

Make sure the final notation is only in the forms including \(\displaystyle arcsin\)\(\displaystyle arccos\), and \(\displaystyle arctan\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle arcsec(x)=y\)

\(\displaystyle arccos(\frac{1}{x})=y\)

\(\displaystyle y=arctan(arcsin(\frac{1}{x}))\)

\(\displaystyle y=arcsin(\frac{1}{x})\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle arccos(\frac{1}{x})=y\)

Explanation:

The easiest way to solve this problem is to simplify the original expression. 

\(\displaystyle y=csc(x)*tan(x)=\frac{1}{sin(x)}*\frac{sin(x)}{cos(x)}= \frac{1}{cos(x)}\)

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{cos(x)}\)

To find its inverse, let's exchange \(\displaystyle x\) and \(\displaystyle y\)

\(\displaystyle x=\frac{1}{cos(y)}\)

Solving for \(\displaystyle y\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}=cos(y)\)

\(\displaystyle arccos(\frac{1}{x})=y\)

Example Question #1 : Set Up An Equation That Models Harmonic Motion

Create an equation modelling temperature \(\displaystyle y\), with highest temperature at \(\displaystyle t=12\), which is \(\displaystyle 85\) degrees and lowest temperature of \(\displaystyle 65\) degrees which occurs at \(\displaystyle t=24\).  Assume that this model is sinusoidal and use a cosine model. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle y(t)=10cos(\frac{\pi}{12}(t-12))+75\)

\(\displaystyle y(t)=20cos(\frac{\pi}{6}(t-12))+65\)

\(\displaystyle y(t)=10cos(\frac{\pi}{12}(t))+75\)

\(\displaystyle y(t)=10cos(\frac{\pi}{6}(t-12))+75\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle y(t)=10cos(\frac{\pi}{12}(t-12))+75\)

Explanation:

This can be written in the general form of:

\(\displaystyle y(t)=Acos(b(t-c))+D\)

Since the maximum occurs at \(\displaystyle t=12\), we can arbitrarily choose \(\displaystyle c=12\) since cosine would be maximum when the inner term is equal to \(\displaystyle 0\)

To determine \(\displaystyle b\), let's determine the period first. 

The period is equal to twice the length between adjacent crest and trough.

For us that is:

\(\displaystyle T=2*(24-12)= 24\) 

To determine \(\displaystyle b\), we do

\(\displaystyle b=\frac{2\pi}{T}=\frac{2\pi}{24}=\frac{\pi}{12}\)

To determine \(\displaystyle A\)

\(\displaystyle A=\frac{(max-min)}{2}=\frac{85-65}{2}=\frac{20}{2}=10\)

To determine \(\displaystyle D\),

\(\displaystyle D=\frac{(max+min)}{2}=\frac{65+85}{2}=\frac{150}{2}=75\)

The entire regression can therefore be written as:

\(\displaystyle y(t)=10cos(\frac{\pi}{12}(t-12))+75\)

The only thing that can be changed to keep the regression the same is the phase shift \(\displaystyle c\), and sign of the amplitude \(\displaystyle A\). The other two terms must be kept as they are. 

Example Question #861 : Pre Calculus

Which of the following functions has a y-intercept of \(\displaystyle 1\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle y = \csc(x)\)

\(\displaystyle y = \tan(x)\)

\(\displaystyle y = \cos(x)\)

\(\displaystyle y = \cot(x)\)

\(\displaystyle y = \sin(x)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle y = \cos(x)\)

Explanation:

The y-intercept of a function is found by substituting \(\displaystyle x = 0\). When we do this to each, we can determine the y-intercept. Don't forget your unit circle! 

\(\displaystyle y = sin(0) = 0\)

\(\displaystyle y = cos(0) = 1\)

\(\displaystyle y = csc(0) = undefined\)

\(\displaystyle y = tan(0)= 0\)

\(\displaystyle y = cot(0) = undefined\)

Thus, the function with a y-intercept of \(\displaystyle 1\) is \(\displaystyle y = cos(x)\)

Example Question #1 : Find The Phase Shift Of A Sine Or Cosine Function

Find the phase shift of \(\displaystyle F(t)=3sin(2t+4)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle -4\)

\(\displaystyle -2\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -2\)

Explanation:

In the formula,

 \(\displaystyle F(t)=Asin(Bt-C)+D\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{C}{B}\) represents the phase shift.

Plugging in what we know gives us:

 \(\displaystyle \frac{C}{B}=\frac{-4}{2}\).

Simplified, the phase is then \(\displaystyle -2\).

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors