228k views
1 vote
If q is between 0 and 90 degrees and tan theta=(7/8) find cos theta

User Lucky Man
by
5.1k points

2 Answers

6 votes

Answer: see below

Explanation:

tan θ = 7/8

θ = tan^-1 (7/8) = 41.2 degrees

cos θ = 0.7526

User Gijs Wobben
by
5.3k points
2 votes


\tan\theta=\frac78

Recall that


1+\tan^2\theta=\sec^2\theta

which means


\sec^2\theta=(113)/(64)\implies\cos^2\theta=(64)/(113)

Given that
0^\circ<\theta<90^\circ, we should expect
\cos\theta>0, so we when we take the square root, we assume a positive sign. Then


\cos\theta=\sqrt{(64)/(113)}=\frac8{√(113)}

User Sepidol
by
4.9k points