## anonymous 4 years ago given sec(theta)= 5... find cot(90-theta)

1. asnaseer

do you know what sec(theta) represents in terms of cos(theta)?

2. anonymous

yesh.. it represents its recioprical

3. anonymous

pardon the spelling

4. asnaseer

:) thats ok - we all make mishtakes :D

5. anonymous

asnaseer why did u report me

6. anonymous

wlbrt316 were busy in here..

7. asnaseer

ok, so you know:$\sec(\theta)=\frac{1}{\cos(\theta)}$which means you now know:$\cos(\theta)=\frac{1}{\sec(\theta)}=\frac{1}{5}$

8. anonymous

great so now we know cos(theta). but i dont see how that helps us find cot(90-theta)

9. asnaseer

|dw:1328138885501:dw|

10. asnaseer

so if you now use the Pythagoras theorem to work out x, then you should be able to work out the answer to your question.

11. anonymous

still sort of lost

12. anonymous

i guess im trying to find theta

13. asnaseer

do you know how to work out the value of x?

14. anonymous

yeah its sqrroot of 24 i think

15. asnaseer

correct. so now do you know what $$\cot(\theta)$$ is from the diagram above?

16. asnaseer

sorry, I meant $$\cot(90-\theta)$$

17. anonymous

1/sqrt24

18. anonymous

uhh

19. asnaseer

what you gave was the value of $$\cot(\theta)$$, what would $$\cot(90-\theta)$$ be?

20. anonymous

idk really

21. asnaseer

|dw:1328139244893:dw|

22. anonymous

wait

23. anonymous

isnt it sqrt 24/1

24. asnaseer

perfect - well done!

25. anonymous

ohh.. ok i think i get it. i wasnt visualizing it, my college prof. is a fluttering idiot pardod my french, and he's taking vicadon, and he doesnt explain anything. in fact so far he hasnt given us any notes.. he's just went through examples of things and walked us through them. but i appreciate the help

26. anonymous

lol.. fluddering

27. asnaseer

yw