cos (A - B) is 36/85
<h3>How to simply the identity</h3>
Expand cos(A - B) with the identity
You get, cos(A - B) = cos(A) cos(B) + sin(A) sin(B)
Since A is in quadrant II, so sin(A) > 0,
B is in quadrant I, so sin(B) > 0.
Using the Pythagorean identity, we get
cos²(A) + sin²(A) = 1
Make sin A the subject of formula
= (
)²)
Find the square root of both sides, square root cancels square
= 4/5
Repeat the same for the second value
= 15/17
Substitute values into cos(A - B)
cos(A - B) = cos(A) cos(B) + sin(A) sin(B) = (-3/5) * 8/17 + 4/5 * 15/17
cos (A - B) = 36/85
Therefore, cos (A - B) is 36/85
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