Would someone mind explaining to me why I got this question wrong? Thank you so much for your help!

enter image source here

2 Answers
Jun 23, 2018

-sqrt5/555

Explanation:

"using the "color(blue)"half angle identity for cos"using the half angle identity for cos

•color(white)(x)cos(theta/2)=+-sqrt((1+costheta)/2)xcos(θ2)=±1+cosθ2

"given "pi< theta <(3pi)/2" then"given π<θ<3π2 then

pi/2< theta/2< (3pi)/4larrcolor(blue)"second quadrant"π2<θ2<3π4second quadrant

"where "cos(theta/2)<0where cos(θ2)<0

cos(theta/2)=-sqrt((1-3/5)/2)cos(θ2)=1352

color(white)(xxxxxx)=-sqrt(1/5)×××=15

color(white)(xxxxxx)=-1/sqrt5xxsqrt5/sqrt5=-sqrt5/5×××=15×55=55

Jun 23, 2018

See explanation.

Explanation:

Think about it logically. pi < theta < (3pi)/2π<θ<3π2, so thetaθ lies in the 3rd quadrant. To get to the 3rd quadrant, you take the basic acute angle and add piπ or 180^@180 to it. If you halve an angle between piπ and (3pi)/23π2, it will always be greater than pi/2π2 because the original angle was greater than piπ to begin with. Now, realize that since theta/2θ2 is in the 2nd quadrant, cos(theta/2)cos(θ2) will always be negative because costhetacosθ is negative in the 2nd and 3rd quadrant. This is why the correct answer should be -sqrt5/555.