# Thread: help: solving equation (cos^2x)(sin^2x)=0

1. ## help: solving equation (cos^2x)(sin^2x)=0

i need some help resolvong $\cos^2 x \sin^2 x = 0$ over the interval [0 degrees and 360 degrees]

2. Originally Posted by darkmoon123
i need some help resolvong $\cos^2 x \sin^2 x = 0$ over the interval [0 degrees and 360 degrees]
So either $\sin x = 0$ or $\cos x = 0$.

Solve these two equations over the given domain.

3. I think i have the answer but i am not sure, can someone check this:

$(cos^2x)(sin^2x)=0$

$(1-sin^2x ) = 0$ $(1-cos^2x) = 0$

$sin^2x=1$ square root both sides $cos^2x=1$ square root both sides

$sinx=1$ $cosx=1$

{90 degrees, 0 degrees} ?

4. Originally Posted by darkmoon123
I think i have the answer but i am not sure, can someone check this:

$(cos^2x)(sin^2x)=0$

$(1-sin^2x ) = 0$ $(1-cos^2x) = 0$

$sin^2x=1$ square root both sides $cos^2x=1$ square root both sides

$sinx=1$ $cosx=1$

{90 degrees, 0 degrees} ?
Did you read what I posted?

And you have only found solutions over [0 degrees, 90 degrees]. And what about the other solutions?

5. Originally Posted by darkmoon123
$(cos^2x)(sin^2x)=0$

$(1-sin^2x ) = 0$ $(1-cos^2x) = 0$

$sin^2x=1$ square root both sides $cos^2x=1$ square root both sides

$sinx=1$ $cosx=1$
If you want to use this method, instead of the one explained earlier, you'll need to use what you learned back in algebra about solving quadratic equations.

In particular, if $1\, -\, \sin^2(x)\, =\, 0$, then $(1\, -\, \sin(x))(1\, +\, \sin(x))\, =\, 0$, so $\sin(x)\, =\, \pm 1$. And so forth.