Find the value of cos(theta) using the unit circle when theta = 5pi/4
To find the value of $ \cos(\theta) $ using the unit circle when $ \theta = \frac{5\pi}{4} $, we first locate this angle on the unit circle.
The angle $ \theta = \frac{5\pi}{4} $ lies in the third quadrant.
We know that $ \theta = \frac{5\pi}{4} $ is equivalent to $ 225^{\circ} $.
In the third quadrant, both sine and cosine are negative.
On the unit circle, the coordinates for $ 225^{\circ} $ are $ (-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}) $.
Therefore, $ \cos(\frac{5\pi}{4}) = -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} $.