How do you find the exact value of the six trigonometric functions of the angle whose terminal side passes through (x, 4x)?

1 Answer
May 10, 2017

sintheta=4/sqrt17, costheta=1/sqrt17, tantheta=4,

cottheta=1/4, sectheta=sqrt17, csctheta=sqrt17/4

Explanation:

As the terminal side passes through (x,4x), we have y=4x and hence its distance from origin is sqrt(x^2+(4x)^2)=sqrt(x^2+16x^2)=xsqrt17

Now consider the diagram below for a typical theta, whose six trigonometrical ratios are

sintheta=y/r, costheta=x/r, tantheta=y/x and

cottheta=x/y, sectheta=r/x, csctheta=r/y

enter image source here

As we have y=4x and r=xsqrt17,

the six trigonometric ratios are

sintheta=(4x)/(xsqrt17)=4/sqrt17, costheta=(x)/(xsqrt17)=1/sqrt17,

tantheta=(4x)/x=4, cottheta=x/(4x)=1/4,

sectheta=(xsqrt17)/x=sqrt17, csctheta=(xsqrt17)/(4x)=sqrt17/4