Complete the table with exact trigonometric function values for 300 degrees.
Check the final answer first, then review the worked steps.
Check the final answer first, then review the worked steps.
1. Identify the angle and its quadrant: The angle is $300^{\circ}$. This angle is in the fourth quadrant ($270^{\circ} < 300^{\circ} < 360^{\circ}$).
2. Find the reference angle: The reference angle is the acute angle formed by the terminal side of the angle and the x-axis. For $300^{\circ}$, the reference angle is $360^{\circ} - 300^{\circ} = 60^{\circ}$.
3. Determine the signs of trigonometric functions in the fourth quadrant: In the fourth quadrant, cosine and secant are positive, while sine, cosecant, tangent, and cotangent are negative.
4. Calculate $\cos(300^{\circ})$: The cosine of the reference angle $60^{\circ}$ is $\cos(60^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{2}$. Since $300^{\circ}$ is in the fourth quadrant, cosine is positive. Therefore, $\cos(300^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{2}$.
5. Calculate $\cot(300^{\circ})$: The cotangent of the reference angle $60^{\circ}$ is $\cot(60^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{\tan(60^{\circ})} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$. Since $300^{\circ}$ is in the fourth quadrant, cotangent is negative. Therefore, $\cot(300^{\circ}) = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$.
6. Verify with given values: The table provides $\sin(300^{\circ}) = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$, $\tan(300^{\circ}) = -\sqrt{3}$, and $\sec(300^{\circ}) = 2$, and $\csc(300^{\circ}) = -\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}$.
- $\sin(300^{\circ})$ is negative in the 4th quadrant, and $\sin(60^{\circ}) = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$, so $\sin(300^{\circ}) = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$. This matches.
- $\cos(300^{\circ})$ is positive in the 4th quadrant, and $\cos(60^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{2}$, so $\cos(300^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{2}$.
- $\tan(300^{\circ}) = \frac{\sin(300^{\circ})}{\cos(300^{\circ})} = \frac{-\sqrt{3}/2}{1/2} = -\sqrt{3}$. This matches.
- $\cot(300^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{\tan(300^{\circ})} = \frac{1}{-\sqrt{3}} = -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}$.
- $\sec(300^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{\cos(300^{\circ})} = \frac{1}{1/2} = 2$. This matches.
- $\csc(300^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{\sin(300^{\circ})} = \frac{1}{-\sqrt{3}/2} = -\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} = -\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}$. This matches.