Given and sec theta=sqrt of 10 and tan theta=3, determine cot(90-theta)

Question

anonymous · Answer

cot(pi/2 - x) = tanx [identity], therefore cot(90-theta)=3

mertsj · Answer

First note that if the secant and tangent are both positive, it must be a first quadrant angle.

mertsj · Answer

Secondly remember that cofunctions of complements are equal

anonymous · Answer

what are cofunctions of complements?

mertsj · Answer

co functions are these:  sine and COsine
                                     tangent and COtangent
                                     secant and COsecant

mertsj · Answer

complements are angles whose sum is 90 like 40 and 50
30 and 60
45 and 45
3 and 87 
x and 90-x

mertsj · Answer

so sin30=cosine60
tan30=cotangent60
secant30=cosecant60 and so on.

anonymous · Answer

alrigth, but i still don't understand how to use the tangent and the secant to find cot

mertsj · Answer

Did you read what I wrote earlier?
You don't need the secant to answer the question.  Sometimes problems give you information which is not needed.

anonymous · Answer

yeah, my bad, it's just that I've never learned this stuff and i have a final about it tomorrow

mertsj · Answer

Good luck.