How do you find the general solutions for cosx tanx - 2 cos^2x = -1cosxtanx2cos2x=1?

1 Answer
Aug 22, 2015

For AAn in ZZ
color(white)("XXXX")x=pi/6+npi or (5pi)/6+npi or (3pi)/2+npi

Explanation:

cos(x)*tan(x) - 2cos^2(x) = -1
rarrcolor(white)("XXX")cancel(cos(x))*sin(x)/cancel(cos(x))-2 (1-sin^2(x)) = -1

rarrcolor(white)("XXX")2sin^2(x)+sin(x)-1 = 0

rarrcolor(white)("XXX")(2sin(x)-1)*(sin(x)+1) = 0#

rarrcolor(white)("XXX")sin(x) = 1/2 or sin(x)=-1

Within [0,2pi]
color(white)("XXX")sin(x)=1/2color(white)("XXX")rarrcolor(white)("XXX")x=pi/6 or x=(5pi)/6

color(white)("XXX")sin(x) = -1color(white)("XXX")rarrcolor(white)("XXX")x=(3pi)/2