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By the definition of trigonometric functions, the points P and Q on the terminal sides of the angles a and b are labelled as shown in the figure < POA= a: <QOA= B. Use the distance Formula to show that: PQ²= 2-2(cosa cosB + sina sinB)​

User Teddy C
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Final answer:

To demonstrate the equation PQ² = 2 - 2(cosα cosβ + sinα sinβ), we locate points P and Q with coordinates based on their trigonometric relations, apply the distance formula, and simplify using the Pythagorean identity to reach the result.

Step-by-step explanation:

To show that PQ² = 2 - 2(cosα cosβ + sinα sinβ) using the distance formula, we begin by considering two points P and Q on the terminal sides of the angles α and β, respectively. The coordinates of P can be expressed as (cosα, sinα) and those of Q as (cosβ, sinβ), based on the unit circle definitions of sine and cosine.

Using the distance formula:

PQ² = (cosα - cosβ)² + (sinα - sinβ)²

Expanding this equation, we get:

PQ² = cos²α - 2cosαcosβ + cos²β + sin²α - 2sinαsinβ + sin²β

Combining like terms and knowing that sin²α + cos²α = 1 (from the Pythagorean identity), we simplify the equation to:

PQ² = 2 - 2(cosαcosβ + sinαsinβ), which is the desired result.

User Architect Jamie
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