SOLUTION: Use a half-angle identity to find the exact value of this expression. Given sin{{{(theta)}}} = {{{2sqrt(2)/3}}}, 0° < {{{theta}}} < 90°, find cos{{{(theta/2)}}}

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: Use a half-angle identity to find the exact value of this expression. Given sin{{{(theta)}}} = {{{2sqrt(2)/3}}}, 0° < {{{theta}}} < 90°, find cos{{{(theta/2)}}}      Log On


   



Question 814362: Use a half-angle identity to find the exact value of this expression.
Given sin%28theta%29 = 2sqrt%282%29%2F3, 0° < theta < 90°,
find cos%28theta%2F2%29

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use a half-angle identity to find the exact value of this expression. 

Given sin%28theta%29 = 2sqrt%282%29%2F3, 0° < theta < 90°,

find cos%28theta%2F2%29 

---------------------------------------------

We are given sin%28theta%29 = 2sqrt%282%29%2F3

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = %22%22+%2B-+sqrt%28%281%2Bcos%28theta%29%29%2F2%29

2sqrt%282%29%2F3 is a positive number, the sine is positive in the first two
 quadrants so 0° < theta < 180° and 0° < theta%2F2 < 90°,

so we take the positive and cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%28%281%2Bcos%28theta%29%29%2F2%29

So everything's positive and in the first quadrant.

Since sin%28theta%29 = 2sqrt%282%29%2F3 and the sine is the opposite over the hypotenuse,
we draw a right triangle containing theta with the length of the opposite side as
the numerator of 2sqrt%282%29%2F3 and the hypotenuse as the denominator of 2sqrt%282%29%2F3. 

Before drawing the right triangle, we calculate the adjacent side using the
Pythagorean theorem:

c² = a² + b²
3² = a² + %282sqrt%282%29%29%5E2
 9 = a² + 4·2
 9 = a² + 8
 1 = a²
 1 = a 

So the right triangle is like this: 



cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%28%281%2Bcos%28theta%29%29%2F2%29

From the right triangle, we can get cos%28theta%29 by
using the fact that the cosine is the adjacent over the 
hypotenuse 1%2F3.  Substituting:

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%28%281%2B1%2F3%29%2F2%29

To simplify the compound fraction under the radical we multiply
top and bottom by 3

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%28%283%281%2B1%2F3%29%29%2F3%282%29%29

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%28%283%2B1%29%2F6%29

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%284%2F6%29

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%282%2F3%29

Rationalize the denominator by multiplying top and bottom by 3

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%28%283%2A2%29%2F%283%2A3%29%29

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%286%2F9%29

cos%28theta%2F2%29 = sqrt%286%29%2F3%29

Edwin