Any angle trigonometry function example

Question:

a is an angle in Quadrant II, and sin a = 1/3. Find the value of sin (a + pi/2).

Solution:

sin (a + pi/2) = sin (pi/2 + a) = cos a

using the formula: sin²a + cos²a = 1

cos²a = 1 - sin²a = 1 - (1/3)² = 1 - 1/9 = 8/9

Because the angle a is an angle of Quadrant II, then the terminal side of the angle a lies in Quadrant II. P (x, y) is a point lies on the terminal side of the angle a. Since the point P lies in the Quadrant II, so the x-coordinate of the point P is a value of negative and the y-coordinate of the point P is a value of positive. By definition, cos a = x/r, in which r² = x² + y². The value of r is always positive. So, if the angle a is an angle of Quadrant II, then the value of cos a is negative.

cos a = - square root of 8/9 = - 2 (square root of 2)/3

Therefore, the value of sin (a + pi/2) is equal to negative two times square root of 2 divide by 3. Please watch the video for more detail.