How do you evaluate #sec ((3pi) / 2)#?

1 Answer
Apr 28, 2015

First of all, recall the definition of #sec#:
#sec(alpha)=1/cos(alpha)#

To determine #cos((3pi)/2)#, recall the definition of #cos# based on a concept of a unit circle:

#cos(alpha)# is an abscissa (X-coordinate) of a point on a unit circle, which radius makes an angle #alpha# with a positive direction of the X-axis, counting from that positive direction of X-axis counter-clockwise.

Angle #(3pi)/2# corresponds to a point with coordinates #(0,-1)# on a unit circle.
Therefore, #cos((3pi)/2)=0#.

Since #sec((3pi)/2)=1/cos((3pi)/2)# and #cos((3pi)/2)=0#, the value of #sec((3pi)/2)# is undefined.