Solve for the trigonometric value of tan(x) when cos(x) = 1/2 on the unit circle
To solve for $ \tan(x) $ given $ \cos(x) = \frac{1}{2} $ on the unit circle, we must first determine the corresponding $ \sin(x) $. On the unit circle:
$$ \cos(x) = \frac{1}{2} $$
We know that at $ x = \frac{\pi}{3} $ and $ x = -\frac{\pi}{3} $, $ \cos(x) = \frac{1}{2} $. Correspondingly, $ \sin(x) $ at these points are:
$$ \sin(\frac{\pi}{3}) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} $$
$$ \sin( – \frac{\pi}{3}) = – \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} $$
Using the identity for tangent:
$$ \tan(x) = \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos(x)} $$
For $ x = \frac{\pi}{3} $:
$$ \tan(\frac{\pi}{3}) = \frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}{\frac{1}{2}} = \sqrt{3} $$
For $ x = -\frac{\pi}{3} $:
$$ \tan(-\frac{\pi}{3}) = \frac{ – \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}{\frac{1}{2}} = – \sqrt{3} $$