How do you find sin2x if sinx = -3/5 and x is in quadrant 3?

1 Answer
Aug 19, 2015

find sin 2x, knowing #sin x = -3/5#

Ans: 0.96

Explanation:

There are 2 ways:
1. First way.
Calculator gives --> #sin x = -3/5 = - 0.60# --> x = -36.87 deg
and x = 180 + 36.87 = 216.87 (Quadrant III)
Then, 2x = 2(216.87) = 433.74 = (73.74 + 360) deg -->
--> sin 2x = sin 73.74 = 0.96

  1. Second way
    sin x = -0.6 --> #sin^2 x = 0.36# --> #cos^2 x = 1 - 0.36 = 0.64 #-->
    --> #cos x = +- 0.8#. Since x is located in Quadrant III, then,
    #cos x = - 0.8#

sin 2x = 2sinx.cos x = 2(-0.6)(-0.8) = 0.96