SOLUTION: find the trig functions of angle x if the terminal side of x passes through the point (-12, 5).

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: find the trig functions of angle x if the terminal side of x passes through the point (-12, 5).      Log On


   



Question 349029: find the trig functions of angle x if the terminal side of x passes through the point (-12, 5).
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20081) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Let's draw a picture and see:

find the trig functions of angle theta if the terminal side of theta passes through the point (-12, 5).

Notice I changed the name of the angle from x to theta because
x stands for the first coordinate of a point.  If you use x to refer
to the angle too, you will have a conflict of variables.  That's a
no-no.



Now we draw a perpendicular line down to the x-axis:



Next we cut off the green line beyond the right triangle, and label
it r.  We use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate r:

r%5E2=x%5E2%2By%5E2
r%5E2=%28-12%29%5E2%2B%285%29%5E2
r%5E2=144%2B25
r%5E2=169
r=sqrt%28169%29
r=13



 

Edwin