The easiest way to proceed with this is to recognize that cos^2(x) + sin^2(x) = 1.
So, no matter what x is, even if it is p/3, the sum is 1.
Pythagorean thm works - think of the unit circle:
hypotenuse (or radius) is always 1 on the unit circle, so c^2 = a^2 + b^2 is the same as hyp^2 = cos^2 + sin^2 - right?
find the sum cos^2(j) + sin^2(j), if j = p/3
-do I have to use a pythagorean identity?
4 answers
Thanks I was using it and getting 1 as the answer but since I have to plug in six more of the "p" fractions with different denominators I thought it didn't make since that for each one would be 1
they're just trying to drive the idea home with a hammer
your first instincts were right on target
your first instincts were right on target
sorry - lost my name somewhere along the way