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Exact Reciprocal Values

Part of the Right-Triangle Trigonometry section of Coddy's Trigonometry journey. Lesson 37 of 46.

At 30°, 45° and 60° the reciprocal ratios are exact too: flip the value from the table, then tidy the root.

csc⁡(30∘)\csc\left(30^{\circ}\right) is 1/(1/2), which is 2. sec⁡(45∘)\sec\left(45^{\circ}\right) is 1/(√2/2), which is 2/√2, or √2. cot⁡(60∘)\cot\left(60^{\circ}\right) is 1/√3, which is √3/3. So sec⁡(60∘)+csc⁡(30∘)\sec\left(60^{\circ}\right)+\csc\left(30^{\circ}\right) is 2 + 2, which is 4, with no decimals anywhere.

Squares work the same way: square the value, and the root disappears. (√3)² is 3 and (√2)² is 2.

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Challenge

Work out the expression on the board exactly. Then press Check.

Try it yourself

csc⁡230∘−cot⁡230∘\csc^{2} 30^{\circ}-\cot^{2} 30^{\circ}

Simplify

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