107k views
3 votes
Cos (x) = -0.6. if x and y are complementary, what is sin (y)?

User UncleGene
by
4.2k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:

Explanation:

cos(x) = -.6 means that you are looking for the angle, x, that has a cosine of -.6. If you do this on your calculator, you press the 2nd button, then cos (in degree mode, NOT radian mode!) and then -.6 and enter. You get an angle measure of 53.13010235°. If that angle is complementary to angle y, then angle x and y added together have to equal 90°. Therefore,

90 - 53.13010235 = 36.86989765°

Take the sin of this angle by hitting sin and then entering in the 36.86989765. This gives you a value of .6000000000001 which, for all intents and purposes, is .6

User Boanerges
by
3.9k points