# Math Help - basic trig questions

1. ## basic trig questions

cos13pie/12=?

cos-pie/2=?

sorry i cant do the symbols. thanks.

2. Originally Posted by thatsnotalion
cos13pie/12=?

cos-pie/2=?

sorry i cant do the symbols. thanks.
I'm not sure what can be assumed to be known, but here is one way to do it

$\cos\frac{13\pi}{{\color{red}12}}=\cos\left(\pi+\f rac{\pi}{12}\right)=-\cos\frac{\pi}{12}$

Now bring the Addition Formula into play

$=-\left[\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{3}-\frac{\pi}{4}\right)\right]=-\left[\cos\frac{\pi}{3}\cdot\cos\frac{\pi}{4}+\sin\frac{ \pi}{3}\cdot\sin \frac{\pi}{4}\right]=\ldots$

As to the second problem, all you have to know is that $\cos$ is an even function, thus

$\cos\left( -\frac{\pi}{2}\right)=\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right )=0$

P.S: I'm a little surprised that the second problem is so much simpler, even trivial, whereas the first requires something like the Addition Formula. Is it possible that the first problem really was to determine the value of $\cos\frac{13\pi}{{\color{red}2}}$?