Question 3

Find [tex]$\cos (\theta)$[/tex] if [tex]$\sin (\theta)=\frac{8}{17}$[/tex] and [tex][tex]$\theta$[/tex][/tex] terminates in QI. Answer exactly.

[tex]\cos (\theta)= [/tex] [tex]\square[/tex]

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Answer :

To find [tex]\(\cos(\theta)\)[/tex] given that [tex]\(\sin(\theta) = \frac{8}{17}\)[/tex] and knowing that [tex]\(\theta\)[/tex] lies in the first quadrant (QI), we can follow these steps:

1. Recall the Pythagorean Identity:
[tex]\[ \sin^2(\theta) + \cos^2(\theta) = 1 \][/tex]

2. Substitute the given [tex]\(\sin(\theta)\)[/tex] into the identity:
[tex]\[ \sin(\theta) = \frac{8}{17} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \sin^2(\theta) = \left(\frac{8}{17}\right)^2 \][/tex]

3. Calculate [tex]\(\sin^2(\theta)\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \sin^2(\theta) = \frac{64}{289} \][/tex]

4. Use the Pythagorean Identity to find [tex]\(\cos^2(\theta)\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \cos^2(\theta) = 1 - \sin^2(\theta) \][/tex]
Substituting the value of [tex]\(\sin^2(\theta)\)[/tex] we get,
[tex]\[ \cos^2(\theta) = 1 - \frac{64}{289} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos^2(\theta) = \frac{289}{289} - \frac{64}{289} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos^2(\theta) = \frac{225}{289} \][/tex]

5. Calculate [tex]\(\cos(\theta)\)[/tex]:
Since [tex]\(\theta\)[/tex] is in the first quadrant where cosine is positive:
[tex]\[ \cos(\theta) = \sqrt{\cos^2(\theta)} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos(\theta) = \sqrt{\frac{225}{289}} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \cos(\theta) = \frac{15}{17} \][/tex]

Therefore, the exact value of [tex]\(\cos(\theta)\)[/tex] is:
[tex]\[ \boxed{\frac{15}{17}} \][/tex]