# Math Help - General trig question

1. ## General trig question

When cos(x) + sin(x) = 0 I can see how cos(x) cannot equal 0.

But when written as cos(x)[1 + tan(x)] = 0 cos(x) can be 0?

Could someone please try to explain this to me

2. ## Re: General trig question

Originally Posted by kinhew93
When cos(x) + sin(x) = 0 I can see how cos(x) cannot equal 0.

But when written as cos(x)[1 + tan(x)] = 0 cos(x) can be 0?

Could someone please try to explain this to me
If $\cos (x) = 0$ then $\tan(x)=\infty$, and the product of $0 \times \infty$ is undefined. So no: if $\cos(x)=0$, then $\cos(x)[ 1 + \tan(x)] \ne 0$.

3. ## Re: General trig question

Hello, kinhew93!

$\text{When }\,\cos x + \sin x \:=\:0,\,\text{ I can see that }\cos x \ne 0$

$\text{But when written as: }\,\cos x(1 + \tan x) \:=\:0,\: \cos x\text{ can be 0.}$

$\text{Could someone please try to explain this to me?}$

We have: . $\sin x \:=\:-\cos x$

. . . . . . . . $\frac{\sin x}{\cos x} \:=\:-1$ . . . You are right: $\cos x \ne 0$

. . . . . . . . $\tan x \:=\:-1$

Therefore: n . $x \:=\:-\tfrac{\pi}{4} + \pi n$