# Math Help - [SOLVED] cos x - sin x = 1, How To Solve This?

1. ## [SOLVED] cos x - sin x = 1, How To Solve This?

Hi,

cos x - sin x = 1, How do we solve it?
I think x = 0, 3(pi)/2, but how do we solve it mathematically?

Thank you!

2. Originally Posted by Questions
Hi,

cos x - sin x = 1, How do we solve it?
I think x = 0, 3(pi)/2, but how do we solve it mathematically?

Thank you!
Start by squaring both sides:
$(cos(x) - sin(x))^2 = 1$

$cos^2(x) - 2sin(x)cos(x) + sin^2(x) = 1$

$1 - sin(2x) = 1$

$sin(2x) = 0$

For what values of x does this happen?
$x = 0$ and $x = \frac{\pi}{2}$ and $x = \pi$ and $x = \frac{3 \pi}{2}$.

Since we squared the original equation we need to go back to the original and see if we have any extra solutions. When you go back to check you will see that only two solutions work: $x = 0, \frac{3 \pi}{2}$.

-Dan

3. cosX - sinX = 1

Express one function in terms of the other.
Say, cosX into sinX terms.

sqrt[1 -sin^2(X)] -sinX = 1
sqrt[1 -sin^2(X)] = 1 +sinX
Square both sides,
1 -sin^2(X) = 1 +2sinX +sin^2(X)
-sin^2(X) -2sinX -sin^2(X) = 0
2sin^2(X) +2sinX = 0
(2sinX)(sinX +1) = 0
sinX = 0 or -1

When sinX = 0,
X = arcsin(0) = 0 or pi
if X = 0, cos(0) -sin(0) =? 1 -----------yes.
if X = pi, cos(pi) -sin(pi) =? 1 ---------no.
So, here, X = 0 only.

When sinX = -1,
X = arcsin(-1) = 3pi/2
cos(3pi/2) -sin(3pi/2) =? 1 ------yes.

Therefore, X = 0 or 3pi/2 --------------------------answer.