# Using Pythagorean Identities to Solve for Values

I'm doing homework for my trig class, and it's asking for us to use Pythagorean identities to solve for other trig values. I got through the first 10 fine, but I'm stuck on the last three. My teacher has specified that we have to use the pythagorean trig identities...aka

• $\sin^2 \theta + \cos^2 \theta = 1$
• $1 + \tan^2 \theta = \sec^2$
• $\cot^2 \theta + \ 1 = \csc^2 \theta$

The questions are...

1. Given that x is in the first quadrant and csc x is 1, what is sin x?
2. Given that x is in the first quadrant and sec x is $\sqrt{2}$, what is cos x?
3. Given that x is in the first quadrant and sin x is 1/2, what is csc x?

I have no idea where to start using the Pythagorean Identities. Help?

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I don't see any reason to use the Pythagorean identities. Here's a reminder that should help: $\csc \theta = 1 / \sin \theta$ and $\sec \theta = 1 / \cos \theta$. – JohnJamesSmith Feb 7 '12 at 2:45

Along with pythagorean identities, there are also elementary identities like, \begin{align*}\cos x &= \dfrac{1}{\sec x}\\ \sin x&=\dfrac{1}{\csc x}\end{align*} use them to get your result. And, note that, you don't need to know in which quadrant does $x$ lie and so on to use these identities.
However, if you were asked to calculate $\sin x$ from $\sec x$, you do require that fact to fix the sign of $\sin x$.