Use a calculator to find the approximate value of the expression rounded to two decimal places.
-$\cot \frac { \pi } { 8 }$
A) 1.26
B) 91.30
C) 1.38
D) 91.18

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cotangent of an angle is the reciprocal of its tangent. To find $\cot \frac{\pi}{8}$, we can calculate $\tan \frac{\pi}{8}$ and then take its reciprocal. Using a calculator, $\tan \frac{\pi}{8} \approx 0.4142$, so $\cot \frac{\pi}{8} = \frac{1}{\tan \frac{\pi}{8}} \approx \frac{1}{0.4142} \approx 2.4142$. It seems there was a mistake in my initial calculation. Correctly calculating $\cot \frac{\pi}{8}$ should give a value close to 2.41, not the options provided. Let's correct the approach: $\cot \frac{\pi}{8}$ is indeed calculated as the reciprocal of $\tan \frac{\pi}{8}$, but the correct approximation to two decimal places should match one of the given options. Given the error in the initial explanation, none of the provided options exactly match the correct calculation of $\cot \frac{\pi}{8}$, suggesting a need to re-evaluate the calculation or the options provided. However, aiming for the closest approximation based on typical values and the context of the question, the closest expected value would be around 2.41, which is not listed. Therefore, let's address the correct approach without relying on the incorrect options:To accurately find $\cot \frac{\pi}{8}$, one should:1. Calculate $\tan \frac{\pi}{8}$.2. Take the reciprocal of that value.Given the mistake in the provided options and explanation, the correct step involves recalculating or re-evaluating the options based on the standard mathematical procedure for finding cotangent values.

Use a Calculator to Find the Approximate Value of the Expression