How do you solve cos^3x+cos^2x-cosx=1 for 0<=x<=2pi?

1 Answer
Sep 26, 2016

x=0, pi and 2pi.

Explanation:

This is a cubic equation in cos x.

Sum of the coefficients is 0. So, cos x = 1 is a solution.

And so, factorizing,

(cos x - 1)(cos^2+ 2cos x + 1)=0

The other factor is (cos x + 1)^2.

It follows that the other two solutions are cos x= -1, -1.

In brief, cos x = +-1

Easily, x in [0. 2pi] are 0, pi and 2pi#.