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Find the angles on the unit circle where $cos( heta) = -frac{1}{2}$.

Answer 1

Abigail Nelson

Thomas Walker

To find the angles where $\cos(\theta) = -\frac{1}{2}$ on the unit circle, we need to consider the unit circle properties and the cosine function.

1. The cosine of an angle represents the x-coordinate on the unit circle.

2. $\cos(\theta) = -\frac{1}{2}$ corresponds to the x-coordinate -1/2.

3. The angles with $\cos(\theta) = -\frac{1}{2}$ are in the second and third quadrants because cosine is negative in these quadrants.

4. The reference angle for $\cos(\theta) = \frac{1}{2}$ is $\theta = \frac{\pi}{3}$.

5. Therefore, the angles are:

$\theta = \pi – \frac{\pi}{3} = \frac{2\pi}{3}$

$\theta = \pi + \frac{\pi}{3} = \frac{4\pi}{3}$

Thus, the angles are $\frac{2\pi}{3}$ and $\frac{4\pi}{3}$.

Answer 2

Alex Thompson

Alex Thompson

To determine the angles where $cos( heta) = -frac{1}{2}$, follow these steps:

1. Locate the unit circle and identify where the cosine value is -1/2.

2. The cosine value represents the horizontal coordinate on the unit circle.

3. Cosine is negative in the second and third quadrants.

4. The reference angle for $cos( heta) = frac{1}{2}$ is $frac{pi}{3}$.

5. Therefore, the angles can be calculated as:

$ heta = pi – frac{pi}{3} = frac{2pi}{3}$

$ heta = pi + frac{pi}{3} = frac{4pi}{3}$

Hence, the angles where cosine equals -1/2 are $frac{2pi}{3}$ and $frac{4pi}{3}$.

Answer 3

Amelia Mitchell

Emily Hall

To find the angles where $cos( heta) = -frac{1}{2}$:

1. Identify the unit circle sections where cosine is -1/2.

2. These sections are the second and third quadrants.

3. The reference angle is $frac{pi}{3}$.

4. Calculate the angles:

$ heta = pi – frac{pi}{3} = frac{2pi}{3}$

$ heta = pi + frac{pi}{3} = frac{4pi}{3}$

The angles are $frac{2pi}{3}$ and $frac{4pi}{3}$.