[Math] evaluating compositions of trigonometric functions that do not use standard points or angles from the unit circle

trigonometry

I need to find the exact value (so not with a calculator) of trig functions such as the following: cos(arctan(3/4))

I know how to solve these compositions when they use standard points and values from the unit circle but when they use any other points or values I have no idea where to start. My textbook says something about using a triangle but I am not quite understanding the example :/ could anyone lend a hand?

Best Answer

Let $\theta = \arctan(3/4)$. Draw a right triangle with an angle $\theta$ that has that tangent: since $\tan(\theta)$ equals the length of the opposite side divided by the length of the adjacent side, the simplest way to draw such a triangle is to make the opposite side have length 3, and the adjacent side have length 4.

That means that the hypothenuse has length $\sqrt{3^2+4^2} = \sqrt{25} = 5$, by the Pythagorean theorem.

Now you can just read off what $\cos(\theta) = \cos(\arctan(3/4))$ is: since the adjacent side to $\theta$ has length $4$ and the hypothenuse has length $5$, then $$\cos(\arctan(3/4)) = \cos(\theta) = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypothenuse}} = \frac{4}{5}.$$


Alternatively, you can use the basic properties of the angles. Let $\theta$ be an angle with $\tan(\theta) = \frac{3}{4}$. Then $$\sin^2\theta + \cos^2\theta = 1.$$ Dividing through by $\cos^2\theta$ we get $$\tan^2\theta + 1 = \frac{1}{\cos^2\theta}.$$ Since $\tan(\theta) = \frac{3}{4}$, then $$\tan^2\theta + 1 = \left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^2 + 1 = \frac{9}{16}+1 = \frac{25}{16}.$$ So $$\begin{align*} \frac{25}{16} &= \frac{1}{\cos^2\theta}\\ \cos^2\theta &= \frac{16}{25}&\quad&\text{(cross-multiplying)}\\ |\cos\theta| &=\sqrt{\frac{16}{25}} = \frac{4}{5}. \end{align*}$$ Since $-\frac{\pi}{2}\lt \arctan(3/4)\lt \frac{\pi}{2}$, then $\theta$ is in either the first or fourth quadrants, so $\cos\theta$ is positive. Therefore, $\cos\theta = \frac{4}{5}$, same as before.