Answer:
A.
The student made an error in step 3 because a is positive in Quadrant IV; therefore,
[tex]cos\theta = \frac{a\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{a^2 + b^2}[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
Given
[tex]P\ (a,b)[/tex]
[tex]r = \± \sqrt{(a)^2 + (b)^2}[/tex]
[tex]cos\theta = \frac{-a}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}} = -\frac{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{a^2 + b^2}[/tex]
Required
Where and which error did the student make
Given that the angle is in the 4th quadrant;
The value of r is positive, a is positive but b is negative;
Hence;
[tex]r = \sqrt{(a)^2 + (b)^2}[/tex]
Since a belongs to the x axis and b belongs to the y axis;
[tex]cos\theta[/tex] is calculated as thus
[tex]cos\theta = \frac{a}{r}[/tex]
Substitute [tex]r = \sqrt{(a)^2 + (b)^2}[/tex]
[tex]cos\theta = \frac{a}{\sqrt{(a)^2 + (b)^2}}[/tex]
[tex]cos\theta = \frac{a}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}[/tex]
Rationalize the denominator
[tex]cos\theta = \frac{a}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}} * \frac{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}[/tex]
[tex]cos\theta = \frac{a\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}}{a^2 + b^2}[/tex]
So, from the list of given options;
The student's mistake is that a is positive in quadrant iv and his error is in step 3