187k views
3 votes
The point p=(x, (sqrt(5))/3) lies on the unit circle shown below. What is the value of x in simplest form?

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

To find the value of x for the point on the unit circle, we substitute the given y-coordinate into the unit circle equation x² + y² = 1 and solve for x, yielding two possible values: ±2/3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking to find the value of x for the point p=(x, (sqrt(5))/3) that lies on the unit circle. The equation of a unit circle is x² + y² = 1. Substituting the given y-coordinate into this equation yields:

x² + ((sqrt(5))/3)² = 1

To simplify, we square the y-coordinate:

x² + (5/9) = 1

Then, isolating the x-coordinate, we get:

x² = 1 - (5/9)

x² = (9/9) - (5/9)

x² = 4/9

Taking the square root of both sides, we find that:

x = ±(2/3)

Since the unit circle consists of all points where the x-coordinate is less than or equal to 1 and greater than or equal to -1, x must be either 2/3 or -2/3. Without additional information about the quadrant, both solutions are valid.

User Lebatsnok
by
9.1k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories