Thread: Need help solving a trigonometric equation.

thanks for the help
how will it be then if you have one like this 4 sin2(x) + 8 cos(x) = 7 ?

If, as I assume, then use the identity

Your equation will be which does factorise but it's probably easier to use the formula to solve for cos(x). You can then find x.

Here's a kicker,

Originally Posted by paulaa

4sin²x + 8cosx = 7

sin²(x) + cos²(x) = 1 <=> sin²(x)=1-cos²(x)

replace sin²(x) with 1-cos²(x)

4(1-cos²(x)) + 8cos(x) - 7 = 0 <=> 4cos²(x) + 8cos(x) - 3 = 0You missed the negative sign before 4cos^2x

move on..

i saw that now, but it will be the same answer ?

sorry i was wrong.

thank you : )

i didn´t understod everything so i did it this way

4sin²x + 8cosx = 7

sin²(x) + cos²(x) = 1 <=> sin²(x)=1-cos²(x)

replace sin²(x) with 1-cos²(x)

4(1-cos²(x)) + 8cos(x) - 7 = 0 <=> 4cos²(x) + 8cos(x) - 3 = 0

replace cos(x) with t

4t² + 8t - 3 = 0

t² + 2t - 3/4 = 0

(t+1)² = 4/4 + 3/4 = 7/4

t1 = (7/4)^0.5 - 1

t2 = -(7/4)^0.5 - 1

x1 = cos^-1(((7/4)^0.5)-1)

but is this right to ?


Moderator edit: After deleting posts and moving things around, the ordering of how the posts should appear got messed up. For some of the responses in this thread to make sense, note that this post should come before post #4 (harish21's response).

Originally Posted by paulaa

i didn´t understod everything so i did it this way

4sin²x + 8cosx = 7

sin²(x) + cos²(x) = 1 <=> sin²(x)=1-cos²(x)

replace sin²(x) with 1-cos²(x)

4(1-cos²(x)) + 8cos(x) - 7 = 0 <=> 4cos²(x) + 8cos(x) - 3 = 0



4(1-cos²(x)) + 8cos(x) - 7 = 0 <=> 4 - 4cos²(x) + 8cos(x) - 7 = -4cos²(x) + 8cos(x) - 3 = 0

4cos²(x) - 8cos(x) + 3 = 0

[2cos(x) - 1][2cos(x) - 3] = 0

can you finish?

the first equation:

i cant find the worong :/

sin(5x-((4x)/3) = 1/2

t=5x-((4x)/3)

sin(t)=1/2=sin(pi/6 +n*2pi)

5x - 4pi/3 = pi/6 + n*2pi

5x = 4pi/3 + pi/6 + n*2pi

5x = 9pi/6 + n*2pi

x = (9pi/6 + n*2pi)/5

x = 3pi/10 + n * 2pi/5

i think you will have 2 solutions will the other one be x = pi - 3pi/10 + n * 2pi/5

?