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| Question 625851:  If  tan α = 12/5, π < α < 3 π/2, and sin β = 2/3, 0< β < π/2, find
 A)	sin α
 B)	cos β
 C)	cos 2 β
 D)	sin  α/2
 E)	cos (α+ β)
 F)	sin (α+ β)/2
 
 Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 
If tan α = 12/5, π < α < 3 π/2, and sin β = 2/3, 0< β < π/2, find
We draw the graphs of the angles,  is in the third
quadrant and  is in the first:    Next we draw perpendiculars to the x-axis, which creates right
triangles    Since the tangent is opposite/adjacent or y/x, we take the opposite side of  to be -12 (negative because it goes downward from the x-axis), and
the adjacent to be -5 (negative because it goes left from the origin).  
Since the sine is opposite/hypotenuse or y/r, we take the opposite side of  to be +2 (positive because it goes upward from the x-axis), and
the hypotenuse r to be 3 (the hypotenuse r is ALWAYS taken positive).    Next we use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the hypotenuse r for  and the adjacent side x for  .
r² = x² + y²            r² = x² + y²
r² = (-5)²+(-12)²       3² = x² + 2²
r² = 25 + 144            9 = x² + 4  
r² = 169                 5 = x² 
 r = 13  = x    Now we can answer the first two questions by merely looking at the triangles,
and knowing sine = opposite/hypotenuse and cosine = adjacent/hypotenuse,
using x for adjacent, y for opposite and r for hypotenuse:
 A) sin α = opp/hyp = y/r = (-12)/13 = -12/13
 B) cos β = adj/hyp = x/r =  /3 
To do the others we have to use identities and then we can
substitute as above.  I will do C):
 C) cos 2β = cos²β-sin²β = (  /3)²-(2/3)² = 5/9-4/9=1/9
Now you can do the others by yourself, using the proper identities and
the above graphs:
 D) sin α/2
 E) cos (α+β)
 F) sin (α+β)/2 
Edwin 
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