How do I solve this questions?

Solve the given equation:
1) tantheta-3cottheta=0
2) costheta-sintheta=1

2 Answers
Feb 10, 2018

For the equation cos(theta)-sin(theta)=1, the solution is theta=2kpi and -pi/2+2kpi for integers k

Explanation:

The second equation is cos(theta)-sin(theta)=1.

Consider the equation sin(pi/4)cos(theta)-cos(pi/4)sin(theta)=sqrt(2)/2. Notice that this is equivalent to the previous equation as sin(pi/4)=cos(pi/4)=sqrt(2)/2.

Then, using the fact that sin(alphapmbeta)=sin(alpha)cos(beta)pmcos(alpha)sin(beta), we have the equation:
sin(pi/4-theta)=sqrt(2)/2.

Now, recall that sin(x)=sqrt(2)/2 when x=pi/4+2kpi and x=(3pi)/4+2kpi for integers k.

Thus,
pi/4-theta=pi/4+2kpi
or
pi/4-theta=(3pi)/4+2kpi

Finally, we have theta=2kpi and -pi/2+2kpi for integers k.

Feb 10, 2018

For the equation tan(theta)-3cot(theta)=0, the solution is theta=pi/3+kpi or theta=(2pi)/3+kpi for integers k.

Explanation:

Consider the first equation tan(theta)-3cot(theta)=0. We know that tan(theta)=1/cot(theta)=sin(theta)/cos(theta).

Thus, sin(theta)/cos(theta)-(3cos(theta))/sin(theta)=0.

Then, (sin^2(theta)-3cos^2(theta))/(sin(theta)cos(theta))=0.

Now, if sin(theta)cos(theta)≠0, we can safely multiply both sides by sin(theta)cos(theta). This leaves the equation:
sin^2(theta)-3color(red)(cos^2(theta))=0

Now, use the identity cos^2(theta)=color(red)(1-sin^2(theta)) into the red part of the equation above. Substituting this in gives us:
sin^2(theta)-3(color(red)(1-sin^2(theta)))=0
4sin^2(theta)-3=0
sin^2(theta)=3/4
sin(theta)=pmsqrt(3)/2

The solution is thus theta=pi/3+kpi or theta=(2pi)/3+kpi for integers k.

(Recall that we required sin(theta)cos(theta)≠0. None of the solutions above would give us sin(theta)cos(theta)=0, so we're fine here.)