SOLUTION: I am calculating angles and must figure out cosine to the power of -1. I know what square root is etc., but how do you calculate to a minus power?

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Question 744711: I am calculating angles and must figure out cosine to the power of -1.
I know what square root is etc., but how do you calculate to a minus power?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
According to context you are referring to inverse function of cosine. Let me use different notation than the "exponent negative 1".

let x be some angle or angle measurement.
cos(x) is some number between -1 and +1.

The inverse function of cosine, is "arcos()", read as "the arc whose cosine is...". The input is NOT an angle measurement, but is a cosine value.

Common value: 30 degrees is a commonly known or used angle value. DRAW a unit circle to visualize this. .

Now, it may be asked, what is the arc which has a cosine of ?
This is equivalent to asking, what is ?
.