Determine the exact value of a trigonometric expression involving radians on the unit circle
Consider the trigonometric expression $$ \cos\left(\frac{7\pi}{4}\right) + \sin\left(\frac{7\pi}{4}\right) $$. Determine its exact value using the unit circle.
First, convert the given angles to radians within the unit circle:
$$ \frac{7\pi}{4} $$ radians is equivalent to -$$ \frac{\pi}{4} $$ radians (since it is in the fourth quadrant).
The coordinates of the angle -$$ \frac{\pi}{4} $$ are given by:
$$ (\cos(-\frac{\pi}{4}), \sin(-\frac{\pi}{4})) = \left( \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \right) $$
Thus:
$$ \cos\left(\frac{7\pi}{4}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} $$
$$ \sin\left(\frac{7\pi}{4}\right) = -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} $$
Adding these values:
$$ \cos\left(\frac{7\pi}{4}\right) + \sin\left(\frac{7\pi}{4}\right) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} + \left(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right) = 0 $$