Cosine

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ACT Math › Cosine

Questions 1 - 10
1

If and , what is the value of ?

Explanation

Based on this data, we can make a little triangle that looks like:

Rt1

This is because .

Now, this means that must equal . (Recall that the cosine function is negative in the second quadrant.) Now, we are looking for:

or . This is the cosine of a reference angle of:

Looking at our little triangle above, we can see that the cosine of is .

2

If and , what is the value of ?

Explanation

Based on this data, we can make a little triangle that looks like:

Rt1

This is because .

Now, this means that must equal . (Recall that the cosine function is negative in the second quadrant.) Now, we are looking for:

or . This is the cosine of a reference angle of:

Looking at our little triangle above, we can see that the cosine of is .

3

Given a function , what is a valid domain?

Explanation

The function is related to the parent function .

The domain of the parent function is . The values and will not affect the domain of the curve.

The answer is .

4

What is the domain of the function ?

Explanation

The domain of a function refers to all possible values of for which an answer can be obtained. Cosine, as a function, cycles endlessly between and (subject to modifiers of the amplitude). Because there is no real number value that can be inserted into in this case which does not produce a value between and , the domain of cosine is effectively infinite.

5

A man has a rope that is long, attached to the top of a small building. He pegs the rope into the ground at an angle of . How far away from the building did he walk horizontally to attach the rope to the ground? Round to the nearest inch.

Explanation

Begin by drawing out this scenario using a little right triangle:

Cos30

We know that the cosine of an angle is equal to the ratio of the side adjacent to that angle to the hypotenuse of the triangle. Thus, for our triangle, we know:

Using your calculator, solve for :

This is . Now, take the decimal portion in order to find the number of inches involved.

Thus, rounded, your answer is feet and inches.

6

What is the domain of the function ?

Explanation

The domain of a function refers to all possible values of for which an answer can be obtained. Cosine, as a function, cycles endlessly between and (subject to modifiers of the amplitude). Because there is no real number value that can be inserted into in this case which does not produce a value between and , the domain of cosine is effectively infinite.

7

Given a function , what is a valid domain?

Explanation

The function is related to the parent function .

The domain of the parent function is . The values and will not affect the domain of the curve.

The answer is .

8

A man has a rope that is long, attached to the top of a small building. He pegs the rope into the ground at an angle of . How far away from the building did he walk horizontally to attach the rope to the ground? Round to the nearest inch.

Explanation

Begin by drawing out this scenario using a little right triangle:

Cos30

We know that the cosine of an angle is equal to the ratio of the side adjacent to that angle to the hypotenuse of the triangle. Thus, for our triangle, we know:

Using your calculator, solve for :

This is . Now, take the decimal portion in order to find the number of inches involved.

Thus, rounded, your answer is feet and inches.

9

What is the domain of the function ?

Explanation

The domain of a function refers to all possible values of for which an answer can be obtained. Cosine, as a function, cycles endlessly between and (subject to modifiers of the amplitude). Because there is no real number value that can be inserted into in this case which does not produce a value between and , the domain of cosine is effectively infinite.

Note that adding to the end of the equation changes nothing with respect to domain, as there is no such thing as "infinity plus seven", nor "negative infinity plus seven". The function is still infinite in domain even when shifted up units.

10

What is the domain of the function ?

Explanation

The domain of a function refers to all possible values of for which an answer can be obtained. Cosine, as a function, cycles endlessly between and (subject to modifiers of the amplitude). Because there is no real number value that can be inserted into in this case which does not produce a value between and , the domain of cosine is effectively infinite.

Note that adding to the end of the equation changes nothing with respect to domain, as there is no such thing as "infinity plus seven", nor "negative infinity plus seven". The function is still infinite in domain even when shifted up units.

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