What is the reference angle for #(-15pi)/6#?

1 Answer
Oct 15, 2016

#pi/2#

Explanation:

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Definition

#"Reference angle of an angle is the smallest angle that we"#
#"can make from where the angle ends to the x-axis"#

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#color(blue)((-15pi)/6#

Let's convert it from radians to degrees

#rarr(-15pi)/6=(-15(180))/6#

#rarr(-15*cancel180^30)/cancel6^1#

#rarr-15*30#

#rArr-450^circ#

We need to find the reference angle of #-450^circ#

Let's mark the angle

enter image source here

From this we can say

#color(blue)(90^circ# #"is the reference angle of "# #color(red)(-450^circ#

As the smallest angle that we can make from #"x-axis"# is #90^circ#

Convert #90^circ# to radian measure using the formula

#color(brown)("Radians"="Degrees"*pi/180#

#rarr90^circ*pi/180# #"radians"#

#rarr(90^circ*pi)/180# #"radians"#

#rarr(cancel90^1*pi)/cancel180^2# #"radians"#

#color(green)(rArrpi/2# #color (green)("radians"#

For better understanding of reference angles,

Watch this video