Finding theta

Algebra Level 1

If tan θ = 2 7 \tan \theta = \frac{ 2}{7} , what is the value of

cos θ + 3 sin θ cos θ 3 sin θ ? \frac{ \cos \theta + 3 \sin \theta } { \cos \theta - 3 \sin \theta}?

Details and assumptions

You may read up on Trigonometric Functions .

14 15 13 16

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10 solutions

Calvin Lin Staff
Aug 22, 2013

Here's a solution which uses Componendo-et-dividendo , which was discussed last week.

We have cos θ sin θ = 7 2 \frac{ \cos \theta } { \sin \theta } = \frac{7}{2} . Applying Componendo et Dividendo statement 3 with k = 3 k = 3 , we get that

cos θ + 3 sin θ cos θ 3 sin θ = 7 + 3 × 2 7 3 × 2 = 13. \frac { \cos \theta + 3 \sin \theta } { \cos \theta - 3 \sin \theta} = \frac{ 7 + 3 \times 2 } { 7 - 3 \times 2 } = 13.

Darliane Silva
Aug 19, 2013

Tangθ=senθ/cosθ..Com isso temos que a tangente vale 7/2..Assim: Senθ/cosθ = 7/2

Isolando cosθ,temos: cosθ=7senθ/2 dessa forma substituímos na expressão em questão: cosθ+3sinθ/cosθ−3sinθ

7senθ/2 + 3 senθ dividido por 7senθ-3senθ...Assim temos: 13senθ/1senθ = 13

Muito boa!

Deiziane Silva - 7 years, 9 months ago
Zoë Rothstein
Aug 20, 2013

1. 1. Multiply both the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator, c o s θ + 3 s i n θ cosθ + 3sinθ .

You should now have this: c o s 2 θ + 6 c o s θ s i n θ + 9 s i n 2 θ c o s θ 2 9 s i n 2 θ \frac{cos^2θ + 6cosθsinθ + 9sin^2θ}{cosθ^2 - 9sin^2θ} .

2. 2. Divide both the numerator and denominator by c o s 2 θ cos^2θ .

You should now have this: 1 + 6 t a n θ + 9 t a n 2 θ 1 9 t a n 2 θ \frac {1 + 6tanθ + 9tan^2θ}{1 - 9tan^2θ} .

3. 3. Fill in the value of t a n θ tanθ , 2 7 \frac{2}{7} , and simplify.

Your final answer should be 13 13 .

Moderator note:

Nice. Multiplying by the 'conjugate' can be a useful trick in simplifying trigonometric identities.

Sri priya Prerna
Aug 19, 2013

(cos theta + 3 sin theta)/ (cos theta - 3 sin theta )
= cos theta (1+3 sin theta /cos theta ) / cos theta (1 - 3 sin theta /cos theta)
= (1+3 tan theta/ 1-3 tan theta)
=(1+3(2/7))/(1-3(2/7))=13/1=13


Moderator note:

Good approach of forcing out tan θ \tan \theta .

Note that you should check that cos θ 0 \cos \theta \neq 0 before you cancel terms out.

Alex Benfield
Aug 18, 2013

tanθ = sinθ / cosθ thus sinθ = 2; cosθ = 7

Using this we get 7+6/7-6 = 13/1

Moderator note:

As pointed out by other students, we may not assume that sin θ = 2 \sin \theta = 2 and cos θ = 7 \cos \theta = 7 . In fact, no real value of θ \theta exists which satisfies the claim.

\sin \theta and \cos \theta range from -1 to 1, so they cannot actually take on the values 2 and 7.

But we can derive their values by looking at a triangle with sides of length 2 and 7 (or any triangle with the ratio of its sides being 2/7).

By using pythagorean theorem, the hypotenuse of the triangle I described must be sqrt(2^2 + 7^2) = sqrt(53)

We can use this information to find \cos \theta and \sin \theta of this triangle.

\cos \theta = 7 / sqrt(53) \sin \theta = 2 / sqrt(53)

Plugging these values into the expression, we see it equals 13, since the denominators cancel out.

Connor Stack - 7 years, 9 months ago

Now that I look at it, what I said was quite ridiculous! So was it complete luck which led me to the answer? I feel quite embarrassed now... :)

Alex Benfield - 7 years, 9 months ago

But isn't it impossible for sine or cosine to take on a value greater than one?

Zak Marcone - 7 years, 9 months ago

sinθ=2?

Ronald Salim - 7 years, 9 months ago

Log in to reply

this is a supposition

Ewerton Cassiano - 7 years, 9 months ago
Parag Mundhada
Aug 25, 2013

sin A/cos A =tan A therefore sin A/cos A=2/7 gives that 3sin A/cos A=6/7
so cos A/3sin A=7/6 and (cosA +3sinA)/(cos A-3sin A)=(6+7)/(7-6)=13 (using compoundo dividendo)

Hasin Punno
Aug 24, 2013

tanθ=sinθ/cosθ ...Here tanθ=sinθ/cosθ=2/7.........so 3*sinθ/cos=6/7 ................and we can also write cosθ/sinθ=7/6..........by adding and subtracting , cosθ+sinθ/cosθ-sinθ=7+6/7-6=13

Basem Hesham
Aug 24, 2013

as tanθ=2/7 then cosθ = (7/√53) and sinθ = (2/√53) then sup in given format we get the answer = 13

Aniruddha Tayade
Aug 24, 2013

tan theta=2/7 (given)(1) but we know that..., tan theta=sin theta/cos theta (2) therefore, from (1) and (2) sin theta = 2 & cos theta = 7 now substitute the value of sin theta & cos theta in... cos theta+3 sin theta/cos theta - 3 sin theta = 7+3 2/ 7-3 2 =7+6/ 7-6 =13/1 =13 therefore the correct answer is 13 :)

Akira Sonoda
Aug 23, 2013

We have big problem on the hypotenuse, 53 \sqrt{53} . So, let's multiply by, say, 7 \sqrt{7} to make it a perfect square?

So, we have a = 2 , b = 7 , c = 53 a = 2 , b = 7, c = \sqrt{53} ;

we use this: { a = 2 7 , b = 7 7 , c = 19. a= 2\sqrt{7} , b = 7\sqrt{7} , c = 19. }

Equating sin and cos, we have:

7 7 19 + 6 7 19 7 7 19 6 6 19 \frac{\frac{7\sqrt{7}}{19} + \frac{6\sqrt{7}}{19}}{\frac{7\sqrt{7}}{19} - \frac{6\sqrt{6}}{19}} .

= 13 7 19 7 19 \frac{\frac{13\sqrt{7}}{19}}{\frac{\sqrt{7}}{19}}

= 247 7 19 7 \frac{247\sqrt{7}}{19\sqrt{7}}

Cancelling gives...

= 247 19 \frac{247}{19}

= 13 13

Though, you can easily not multiply by 7 \sqrt{7} . Just solve as is. I just did this for those who hate having a radical on the denominator

Akira Sonoda - 7 years, 9 months ago

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