If is an altitude to the hypotenuse of right triangle (with right angle at ), which statement is necessarily true?
Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles40m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
0. Review of College Algebra
Pythagorean Theorem & Basics of Triangles
Struggling with Trigonometry?
Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Based on Pythagorean identities, which equation is true?
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Verified step by step guidance1
Recall the fundamental Pythagorean identity in trigonometry, which states that for any angle \(x\), the sum of the squares of sine and cosine equals 1: \(\sin^{2}x + \cos^{2}x = 1\).
Examine the given equations and identify which one matches the Pythagorean identity. Notice that the identity involves the sum of \(\sin^{2}x\) and \(\cos^{2}x\), not their difference.
Understand that the equation \(\sin^{2}x - \cos^{2}x = 1\) is not true because subtracting \(\cos^{2}x\) from \(\sin^{2}x\) does not yield 1 for all \(x\).
Similarly, the equation \(\sin^{2}x - \cos^{2}x = 0\) is not the Pythagorean identity, and neither is \(\sin^{2}x + \cos^{2}x = 0\) because the sum of squares of sine and cosine cannot be zero for any real angle \(x\).
Therefore, the correct Pythagorean identity is the equation where the sum of \(\sin^{2}x\) and \(\cos^{2}x\) equals 1: \(\sin^{2}x + \cos^{2}x = 1\).
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Pythagorean Theorem & Basics of Triangles practice set

