If csc(x)= 15/2, (In quadrant 1) what is sin(2x) (to the nearest four decimal places)?

1 Answer
Mar 11, 2018

#sin(2x) = 0.2643#

Explanation:

The cosecant function #color(red)csc x# is equivalent to #color(red)(1/sin x#.

Plugging this into the equality #csc x = 15/2#, you'll get

#1/sin x = 15/2 => sin x = 2/15#.

In order to find #sin 2x#, we have to use the #color(red)("sum formula")#, that exclaims

#sin(alpha+beta) = sinalphacosbeta+cosalphasinbeta#

#sin 2x# can be written as #sin (x+x)#, so we can apply the identity above :

#sin2x = sin(x+x) = sinxcosx+cosxsinx =2sinxcosx#.

From the identity #sin^color(red)2 x + cos^color(red)2x = 1#, it follows that #cos x = +-sqrt(1-sin^color(red)2x)#.

Because #x in# quadrant 1, #cos x# is positive :

#cos x = sqrt(1-(2/15)^2) = sqrt(1-4/225) = sqrt (221/225)= sqrt(221)/sqrt(225) = sqrt(221)/15#

Finally,

#sin 2x =2*2/15*sqrt(221)/15#

#color(red)(sin2x = 4sqrt(221)/225#

I would rather not make this answer any more longer and clustered, so I highly suggest checking out this algorithm of computing square roots:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methods_of_computing_square_roots#Decimal_(base_10)

Afterwards, you'll find #sqrt 221# to be equal to #~~14.8660#, up to #4# decimal places.

#color(red)(sin 2x ~~ 4*14.8660/225 ~~ 0.26428 = 0.2643#.