Skip to content
Exercise: Trigonometric Identities · Q13

Q.If cot⁡θ=−512\cot\theta = -\dfrac{5}{12} and θ\theta lies in the second quadrant, find the values of sin⁡θ\sin\theta and sec⁡θ\sec\theta.

West Bengal WbchseTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★est
47% · 15/32 Questions
✓ Free question

cot⁡θ=−512\cot\theta=-\dfrac{5}{12} means cos⁡θsin⁡θ=−512\dfrac{\cos\theta}{\sin\theta}=-\dfrac{5}{12}, so the

magnitudes of cosine and sine are in the ratio 5:125:12, giving a 55-1212-1313 right-triangle

relationship: ∣cos⁡θ∣=513, ∣sin⁡θ∣=1213|\cos\theta|=\dfrac{5}{13},\ |\sin\theta|=\dfrac{12}{13} (since

52+122=1325^2+12^2=13^2). In the second quadrant, sine is positive and cosine is negative (Section 5),

so sin⁡θ=1213\sin\theta=\dfrac{12}{13} and cos⁡θ=−513\cos\theta=-\dfrac{5}{13} -- consistent, since

cot⁡θ=−5/1312/13=−512\cot\theta=\dfrac{-5/13}{12/13}=-\dfrac{5}{12} as given. Then

sec⁡θ=1cos⁡θ=1−5/13=−135.\sec\theta = \frac{1}{\cos\theta} = \frac{1}{-5/13} = -\frac{13}{5}.

✓Final answer

sin⁡θ=1213, sec⁡θ=−135\sin\theta=\dfrac{12}{13},\ \sec\theta=-\dfrac{13}{5}

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.