Determine the exact values of sine and cosine for the angle π/4 using the unit circle
To find the exact values of sine and cosine for the angle $ \frac{\pi}{4} $, we use the unit circle.
For $ \theta = \frac{\pi}{4} $, the coordinates on the unit circle are:
$$ ( \cos( \frac{\pi}{4} ), \sin( \frac{\pi}{4} )) $$
Since $ \frac{\pi}{4} $ is an angle in the first quadrant where sine and cosine values are positive, we use the 45-degree reference angle values. We have:
$$ \cos( \frac{\pi}{4}) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} $$
$$ \sin( \frac{\pi}{4}) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} $$
Thus, the exact values are:
$$ \cos( \frac{\pi}{4}) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} $$
$$ \sin( \frac{\pi}{4}) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} $$