How do you evaluate #cos^-1(cos((pi)/10))#?

1 Answer
Dec 12, 2016

The answer is #pi/10#

Explanation:

By definition, #cos^(-1)(x)# is an angle #phi# that satisfies two requirements:

(1) #cos phi = x# (the main part of a definition)

(2) #0<=phi<=pi# (to assure uniqueness of the result)

In our case #x=cos(pi/10)#, so the first requirement is #cos(phi)=cos(pi/10)# and the obvious candidate for #phi# is #pi/10#.

For this #phi=pi/10# the second requirement is held.

Therefore, the answer is #pi/10#.