pythagoren identities: cosec Theta = a, give other ratios

[ianhendry]

I have a question that i am finding a different answer then one given. pleas explain where i am going wrong.
given: cosec Theta = a so i know sin = 1/a
asked to give remaining ratios. terminates in Quadrant 1

cos = sqrt (1-(1/a)^2)
how do they come up with sqrt (a^2-1)/a



i left school too early 22 years ago. college algebra wasn't so bad but this is turning my mind to mush, mental block.

Hope someone can explain this for me. and ill find the reciprocals etc through that.

[stapel_eliz]

cos = sqrt (1-(1/a)^2)
how do they come up with sqrt (a^2-1)/a

Simplify (1/a)². Convert 1 - (the simplified result) to a common denominator. Take the square root. What do you get?

[ianhendry]

hmm i see sqrt(1-1) 1/1 *a/a the a going back under the root gets ^2 theirfore sqrt (a^2 -1)....over a+a Denominators = a... simple fraction rules. i over thought that.

Thanks a 1000^2

[stapel_eliz]

hmm i see sqrt(1-1) 1/1 *a/a the a going back under the root gets ^2 theirfore sqrt (a^2 -1)

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean...?

What did you get when you simplified (1/a)²?

What did you get when you subtracted the result from 1, starting with converting the 1 = 1/1 to the common denominator?

What did you get when you split the square root of a fraction into a fraction made with two square roots, and then simplified the denominator?

Please show your steps. Thank you!

[ianhendry]

{{{ sqrt (1-1/a^2) }}}
sqrt1-1/1-a
a/a*1/1=a/a
sqrt (a^2-1)/a

[stapel_eliz]

{{{ sqrt (1-1/a^2) }}}
sqrt1-1/1-a

How did:

. . . . .

...become:

. . . . .



Instead, try following the steps provided earlier, starting with converting to a common denominator (in this case, would be the denominator) and then combining the two fractions.