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Find the exact value of cot 300° in simplest form with a rational denominator.

User Tharanga Abeyseela
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1 Answer

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21 votes

Take into account that

cot x = cosx/sinx

use known values of cos300° and sin300° to determine the value of cot300°.

Use equivalents angles, as follow:

cos300° = cos(-60°) = cos60° = 1/2

sin300° = sin(-60°) = -sin60° = -√3/2

then, for cot300°, you obtain:

cot 300° = cos300°/sin300° = (1/2)/(-√3/2) = -2/(2√3) = -1/√3

due to the denominator must be rational, multiply both numerator and denominator of the previous fraction by √3:

(-1/√3)·(√3/√3) = -√3/3

Hence, the exact value of cot300° is -√3/3

User Lawrence Douglas
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