Q:

If sinθ = 3/4 and is in the first quadrant, then cosθ = _____.

Accepted Solution

A:
The trick here is to recognize that "sin omega = 3/4" provides us with the length of the opposite side of a first-quadrant triangle and the length of the hypotenuse; they are 3 and 4 respectively.

Find the length of the adjacent side (x) using the Pythagorean Theorem:  3^2 + x^2 = 4^2, or x^2 = 16 - 9 = 7.  Then the length of the adj. side, x, is sqrt(7).

The cosine of omega is  adj / hyp, or sqrt(7) / 4.