Math Is Fun Forum

iwish

Member

Registered: 2009-06-15

Posts: 1

Math question; terminal side?

(-1, sqrt 2) is a point on the terminal side of angle theta Find the exact value of sin theta.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Math question; terminal side?

Hi lwish;

The way I understand it the terminal side is the same as the hypotenuse. Draw the x and y axis. Goto (-1,0) that is the bottom of the triangle. Go up to point (-1,√ 2) that is the height of the triangle. The hypotenuse is from (-1,√ 2) to (0,0). The angle from the origin to (-1,√ 2) is the angle θ.

From the Pythagorean theorem.

(h stands for hypotenuse)

h = 3

Now from SOHCAHTOA

Last edited by bobbym (2009-06-16 07:15:06)

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