Trigonometry : Determine Which Values of Trigonometric Functions are Undefined
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Example Question #121 : Trigonometric Functions And Graphs
Which of the following trigonometric functions is undefined?
Trigonometric functions are equal to 0, 1, -1 or undefined when the angle lies on an axis, meaning that the angle is equal to 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees (0, (pi)/2, pi or 3(pi)/2 in radians.) Trigonometric functions are undefined when they represent fractions with denominators equal to zero. Tangent is defined as the ratio between the side length opposite to the angle in question and the side length adjacent to it (TOA, or tan x = opposite/adjacent). In a triangle created by the angle x and the x-axis, the adjacent side length lies along the x-axis; however, when the angle x lies on the y-axis, no length can be drawn along the x-axis to represent the angle. As a result, the denominator of the fraction created by the definition tan x = opposite/adjacent is equal to zero for any angle along the y-axis (90 or 270 degrees, or pi/2 or 3pi/2 in radians.) Therefore, tan (pi)/2 is undefined.
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