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evaluate the expression under the given conditions tan(2theta); cos(theta) = 8/17, theta in quadrant 1

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Final answer:

To evaluate tan(2theta) given cos(theta) = 8/17 in quadrant 1, we use the Pythagorean identity to find sin(theta) and then apply the double angle formula for tangent to find tan(2theta) = -15/32.

Step-by-step explanation:

To evaluate the expression tan(2theta) under the given conditions where cos(theta) = 8/17 and theta is in quadrant 1, we need to use trigonometric identities.

First, we can determine the value of sin(theta) in the first quadrant using the Pythagorean identity:

  • sin^2(theta) = 1 - cos^2(theta) = 1 - (8/17)^2

Since theta is in the first quadrant, where both sine and cosine are positive, we take the positive square root:

  • sin(theta) = sqrt(1 - (64/289)) = sqrt(225/289) = 15/17

Now, we'll use the double angle formula for tangent:

  • tan(2theta) = 2 * tan(theta) / (1 - tan^2(theta))

And since tan(theta) = sin(theta)/cos(theta), we can substitute:

  • tan(theta) = (15/17) / (8/17) = 15/8

Finally, substituting into the double angle formula, we get:

tan(2theta) = 2 * (15/8) / (1 - (15/8)^2)

= 30/8 / (1 - 225/64)

= 30/8 / (64/64 - 225/64)

= 30/8 / (-161/64)

= -30/8 * 64/161 = -480/1288 = -15/32

So, tan(2theta) = -15/32 when cos(theta) = 8/17.

User Michael Roland
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