Written Assignment Unit 7

Foundations of Trigonometry
University of the People
Instructor: Godson Chukwuma

1. Find the length of an arc in a circle of radius 10 centimeters subtended by the

To find the length of an arc in a circle, you can use the formula for arc length.
The formula is:
Arc Length = (θ / 360) * 2πr
Where:
 Arc Length is the length of the arc.
 θ is the central angle in degrees.
 π (pi) is approximately 3.14159.
 r is the radius of the circle.
Our circle has radius of 10cm.
Substitute these values into the formula:
Arc Length = (50° / 360) * 2 * π * 10 cm
First, calculate the fraction inside the parentheses:
Arc Length = (50 / 360) * 2 * π * 10 cm
Now, simplify the fraction:
Arc Length = (5 / 36) * 2 * π * 10 cm
Next, calculate the product of the fraction and the other numbers:
Arc Length = (5/36) * 20π cm
Now, multiply 5/36 by 20:
Arc Length = (5/36) * 20 * π cm
Arc Length = (100/36) * π cm
Simplify the fraction:
Arc Length = (25/9) * π cm
Now, you can calculate the approximate value in decimal form:
Arc Length ≈ (25/9) * 3.14159 cm
Arc Length ≈ 8.73044 cm (rounded to five decimal places)
So, the length of the arc in a circle with a radius of 10 centimeters and a central angle of 50
degrees is approximately 8.73044cm.

2. Graph on [-4π, 4π] and verbalize how the graph varies from
the graphs of .

To graph the function f(x) = x sin(x) on the interval [-4, 4π], and compare it to the graphs of
f(x) = 2, we need to understand the behavior of each function.
Graph of f(x) = x sin(x):
1. This function combines the linear function with the sine function sin(r).
2. The sine function oscillates between -1 and 1 as 2 varies.
3. Multiplying by sin(z) will result in a graph that oscillates in amplitude as I changes,
following the sine function, but with the added effect of determining the overall growth or
decay
Graph of f(x) 2:
1. This is a linear function. The graph is a straight line with a slope of 1, passing through the
origin.
Graph of f(x)=-1:
1. Similar to the previous function, but with a negative slope of -1. It's also a straight
line passing through the origin but slopes downward.
Now, let's analyze how f(x) = x sin(x) varies from f(x) = ±x on the interval [-4π, 4π]:
1. For f(x)=x, it's a linear function that grows steadily as increases.
2. For f(x)=-x, it's also a linear function, but it decreases steadily as a increases.
3. In contrast, f(x)=x sin x combines the oscillatory behavior of sin(x) with the linear growth
of x. This results in a more complex graph. The amplitude of the oscillations is determined by
the value of x, which increases as x moves away from the origin, giving the graph a wave-
like pattern. It goes both above and below the straight lines f(x) = x and f(x)=-x.
So, on the interval [—4π, 4π], the graph of ƒ (x) = x sin(x) exhibits oscillations superimposed
on a linear growth, while the graphs of f (x) = x and f(x) = -x are simple linear functions
without the oscillatory behavior. This illustrates the distinctive combination of linear and
sinusoidal characteristics in ƒ(x) = x sin(x), making it more complex compared to the
straightforward linear functions (x) = x and ƒ (x) = -x.

Graph on the window [−5π, 5π] and describe freely what the graph
shows.

The graph of f(x) = sin(x)/x starts at a value of 1 at x = 0. It then oscillates between positive
and negative values, with the amplitude of the oscillations decreasing as x approaches
positive or negative infinity. The graph approaches 0 as x goes to positive or negative infinity.
The function is also symmetric about the y-axis.
The graph can be thought of as a "damped" version of the sine function. The damping is
caused by the 1/x term. The larger the value of x, the smaller the value of 1/x, and the more
the damping effect.
The graph of f(x) = sin(x)/x has many applications in mathematics and physics. For example,
it is used to model the motion of a damped spring-mass system.
 2. A 23-ft ladder leans against a building so that the angle between the ground and
the ladder is 80°. How high does the ladder reach up the side of the building?
Show the steps of your reasoning.

To find out how high the ladder reaches up the side of the building, we can use trigonometry,
specifically the sine function. Here's how to calculate it step by step:
1. First, identify the information given in the problem:
 The length of the ladder (hypotenuse), denoted as "c," is 23 feet.
 The angle between the ground and the ladder (angle θ) is 80°.
2. We want to find the height (opposite side) to which the ladder reaches up the side of
the building. We'll call this height "h."
3. We can set up a right triangle where the ladder represents the hypotenuse (c), the
ground is the base (b), and the height we want to find is the opposite side (h).
4. We can use the sine function, which is defined as: sin(θ) = opposite / hypotenuse
In this case, we have: sin(80°) = h / 23
5. Now, solve for "h" by multiplying both sides by 23: h = 23 * sin(80°)
6. Calculate the value of sin(80°). You can use a calculator for this.
7. Calculate h: h = 23 * sin(80°)
8. Calculate the value: h ≈ 23 * 0.9848
9. Multiply to get the final result: h ≈ 22.65 feet
So, the ladder reaches up the side of the building to a height of approximately 22.65 feet.