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So cos(θ) = -0.5 (meaning θ = 120 or 240 degrees) and sin(θ) = 0 (meaning θ = 0 or 180 degrees). How do I determine which θ value is the correct one (question says value rather than values). Also, the last line doesn't make any sense?

P = (3cos(θ), 2sin(θ)) so surely if you plug in cos(θ) = -0.5
and sin(θ) = 0 you get P = (-3/2, 0) ?
Reply 1
Original post by GPODT




So cos(θ) = -0.5 (meaning θ = 120 or 240 degrees) and sin(θ) = 0 (meaning θ = 0 or 180 degrees). How do I determine which θ value is the correct one (question says value rather than values). Also, the last line doesn't make any sense?

P = (3cos(θ), 2sin(θ)) so surely if you plug in cos(θ) = -0.5
and sin(θ) = 0 you get P = (-3/2, 0) ?


Is this a mark scheme you've quoted or something out of a book?

I haven't time to look in detail now, but it certainly looks like there is more than one possbility for theta!
Reply 2
Original post by davros
Is this a mark scheme you've quoted or something out of a book?

I haven't time to look in detail now, but it certainly looks like there is more than one possibility for theta!


Its out of a book. The questions says value so there can only be one value for theta in this case (unless the question is wrong?).
Reply 3
Original post by GPODT
Its out of a book. The questions says value so there can only be one value for theta in this case (unless the question is wrong?).


as far as I can see from looking at the working above, there are 4 values of theta that will generate 4 different values for P (in fact there can be even more values of theta because of the periodicity of sin and cos, but these don't generate any new coordinates)

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