How do you solve sin x + cos x = 1?

2 Answers

Refer to explanation

Explanation:

Squaring both sides of the equation yields to

sinx+cosx=1=>(sinx+cosx)^2=1^2=>sin^2x+cos^2x+2cosxsinx=sin^2x+cos^2x=>sinx*cosx=0=>sinx=0 or cosx=0

The solutions to sinx=0 or cosx=0 are 0,90,270,360 but 270 does not satisfy the original equation.
So the solutions are 0^o,90^o,360^o

The following identities were used

sin^2x+cos^2x=1

(a+b)^2=a^2+b^2+2ab

Sep 23, 2015

Solve sin x + cos x = 1

Ans: x = 0 and x = pi/2 and x = 2pi

Explanation:

Use the trig identity: sin x + cos x = sqrt2.sin (x + pi/4)
We get:
sin (x + pi/4) = sqrt2/2 --> (x + pi/4) = sin pi/4
and (x + pi/4) = sin ((3pi)/4)

a. x + pi/4 = pi/4 --> x = 0 and x = 2pi
b. x + pi/4 = ((3pi)/4) --> x = ((3pi)/4) - pi/4 = pi/2

Check.
x = 0 --> sin x = 0; cos x = 1. Then 0 + 1 = 1. OK
x = pi/2 --> sin x = 1; cos x = 0. Then 1 + 0 = 1 . OK