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The point P=\left(-1/7, y) lies on the unit circle shown below. What is the value of y in its simplest form?

User Mwardm
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1 Answer

15 votes
15 votes

Explanation:

The unit circle is a circle in the form of


{x}^(2) + {y}^(2) = 1

while x = cos t

y= sin t

, where t is an angle

So we plug in -1/7, for x to find y


( ( - 1)/(7) ) {}^(2) + {y}^(2) = 1


{y}^(2) = (49)/(49) - (1)/(49)


y = (4 √(3) )/(7)

If the point is in the 2nd quadrant, your value of y is positive

If it in the third quadrant, the y value is negative

User Muthu R
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2.8k points