Find cos(t) where the terminal ray of the angle t radians in standard position passes though the point (-4,-3).

5 answers

make a sketch of the triangle by drawing a line from (-4,-3) to the x-axis
x = -4 , y = -3, by Pythagoras, r = 5
cos t = x/r = -4/5
okay so if I was suppose to find tan (t)it would be
tan= -3/-4?
or would it be (-3/5)/(-4/5)
same thing

tan t = -3/-4 = 3/4

or

tan t = (-3/5) / (-4/5)
= (-3/5)(5/-4) = 3/4

since tan t = sin t/cos t is an identity you would HAVE to get the same result.
Okay, I feel silly not realizing that the second reduced to 3/4