Solved on Feb 19, 2024

Find the angle whose cosine is 2/2-\sqrt{2}/2.

STEP 1

Assumptions
1. We need to find the value of the inverse cosine function, cos1\cos^{-1}, for the argument 22-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}.
2. The range of the principal value for cos1x\cos^{-1}x is [0,π][0, \pi] in radians.

STEP 2

Recall the definition of the inverse cosine function, cos1\cos^{-1}. It gives the angle whose cosine is the given number.
cos1(22)=θ    cos(θ)=22\cos^{-1}\left(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right) = \theta \implies \cos(\theta) = -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}

STEP 3

Recognize that the cosine of an angle is negative in the second and third quadrants of the unit circle.

STEP 4

Recall the special angles and their cosine values. The cosine of π4\frac{\pi}{4} (or 45 degrees) is 22\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}.

STEP 5

Since the cosine value we are looking for is negative, we need to find the angle in the second quadrant that corresponds to the positive cosine value in the first quadrant.

STEP 6

The angle in the second quadrant that has the same cosine value (ignoring the sign) as π4\frac{\pi}{4} is ππ4\pi - \frac{\pi}{4}.

STEP 7

Calculate the angle in the second quadrant.
θ=ππ4\theta = \pi - \frac{\pi}{4}

STEP 8

Simplify the expression to find the value of θ\theta.
θ=4π4π4\theta = \frac{4\pi}{4} - \frac{\pi}{4}

STEP 9

Combine the terms to get the final value of θ\theta.
θ=3π4\theta = \frac{3\pi}{4}
Therefore, cos1(22)=3π4\cos^{-1}\left(-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\right) = \frac{3\pi}{4}.

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