How do you find all solutions to cos( x+pi/6)=-0.5 on [0,2pi)?

1 Answer
Apr 11, 2016

(13pi)/12 and (5pi)/12.

Explanation:

Cosine is negative for angles in the 2nd and the 3rd quadrants
cos(pi+-a)=-cos a..

From the given equation,
x+pi/6=arc cos (-1/2), pi+-arc cos(1/2)= pi+-pi/3.

x= pi+-pi/3-pi/4
=pi(1+1/3-1/4) and pi(1-1/3-1/4)
=(13pi)/12 and (5pi)/12.