Question #5a4e4

1 Answer
May 9, 2016

x=pi/6,(5pi)/6,(7pi)/6,(11pi)/6

Explanation:

We have the equation:

6sec^2x+3tan^2x-9=0

The Pythagorean identity can give us the following relation between sec^2x and tan^2x:

tan^2x+1=sec^2x

Thus, in the first equation, we can replace sec^2x with (tan^2x+1), giving the new equation:

6(tan^2x+1)+3tan^2x-9=0

Divide both sides of the equation by 3:

2(tan^2x+1)+tan^2x-3=0

Distribute the 2.

2tan^2x+2+tan^2x-3=0

Combine like terms.

3tan^2x-1=0

Add 1 to both sides of the equation.

3tan^2x=1

Divide both sides of the equation by 3.

tan^2x=1/3

Take the square root of both sides of the equation. Recall that the positive and negative versions are valid.

tanx=+-sqrt(1/3)

Note that sqrt(1/3)=1/sqrt3=sqrt3/3.

tanx=+-sqrt3/3

This is a commonly known value of tangent, that is, you should know that tan(pi/6)=sqrt3/3.

Since the positive and negative versions of this are allowed and the domain is 0<x<2pi, the four solutions are the four angles in each quadrant with a reference angle of pi/6, which are:

x=overbrace(0+pi/6)^"QI",overbrace(pi-pi/6)^"QII",overbrace(pi+pi/6)^"QIII",overbrace(2pi-pi/6)^"QIV"

Which, when simplified, give

x=pi/6,(5pi)/6,(7pi)/6,(11pi)/6