For what value of x does sin(x)+cos(x)=x?

1 Answer
Nov 6, 2017

Assuming we are working in radians then
color(white)("XXX")x~~1.2587

Explanation:

I suspect this question is invalid, but in case it is not (and in order to clear it from the unanswered question list), here is what I was able to come up with:

If I graph f(x)=sin(x)+cos(x) and f(x)=x
I get an intersection point that is between x=1.2 and x=1.3
enter image source here
Using a spreadsheet and a variant of the Newton Method I was able to approximate this more closely at about x=1.2587

NOTE This is not intended to be a "proper" solution. Perhaps there is some way to use the Taylor Expansion for arctan to get a better solution but, since I was uncertain that the question was even correct, this is the best I could do without excessive analysis.