Question

Given $\sin x=\dfrac{4}{7}$ and $\cos x=-\dfrac{\sqrt{33}}{7}$, how do you find cot x?

Answer 1

This type of problem is based on the concept of trigonometry. We have been given values of sin x and cos x. We know that the expansion of cot x is $\cot x=\dfrac{\cos x}{\sin x}$. Substitute the values of sin x and cos x. the, using the property of division that is $\dfrac{\dfrac{a}{b}}{\dfrac{c}{d}}=\dfrac{a}{b}\times \dfrac{d}{c}$, we can further simplify the given equation. Here, we get a= $-\sqrt{33}$, b=7, c=4 and d=7. Cancel 7 from the numerator and denominator. Do necessary calculations and find the value of x.

Complete step by step solution:
According to the question, we are asked to find the value of cot x.
We have been given the values of $\sin x=\dfrac{4}{7}$ ------------(1)
And $\cos x=-\dfrac{\sqrt{33}}{7}$
We can express the value of cos x as $\cos x=\dfrac{-\sqrt{33}}{7}$. ----------(2)
We know that the expansion of cot x is cos x divided by sin x.
That is $\cot x=\dfrac{\cos x}{\sin x}$.
Let us substitute the values from (1) and (2) to the expansion.
$\Rightarrow \cot x=\dfrac{\dfrac{-\sqrt{33}}{7}}{\dfrac{4}{7}}$
We know that $\dfrac{\dfrac{a}{b}}{\dfrac{c}{d}}=\dfrac{a}{b}\times \dfrac{d}{c}$. Let us use this property of division in the above expression.
Here, we get a= $-\sqrt{33}$, b=7, c=4 and d=7.
$\Rightarrow \cot x=\dfrac{-\sqrt{33}}{7}\times \dfrac{7}{4}$
We find that 7 are common in both the numerator and denominator. On cancelling 7 from the numerator and denominator, we get
$\cot x=\dfrac{-\sqrt{33}}{1}\times \dfrac{1}{4}$
Therefore, we get $\cot x=\dfrac{-\sqrt{33}}{4}$.

Hence, the value of cot x when $\sin x=\dfrac{4}{7}$ and $\cos x=-\dfrac{\sqrt{33}}{7}$ is $\dfrac{-\sqrt{33}}{4}$.

Note: We can also solve this problem by first finding the value of tan x by dividing the value of sin x by cos x and then taking the reciprocal of tan x, that is $\cot x=\dfrac{1}{\tan x}$. This method will have more steps. We have to cancel all the common terms from the fraction. Don’t get confused by the expansion of cot x and tan x. The expansion of tan x is $\tan x=\dfrac{\sin x}{\cos x}$ and the expansion of cot x is $\cot x=\dfrac{\cos x}{\sin x}$.