## SOLVING TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS

Note: If you would like a review of trigonometry, click on trigonometry.

Problem 9.10b:

Solve for x in the equation

where n is an integer.

The approximate values of these solutions are

where n is an integer.

Solution:

There are an infinite number of solutions to this problem.

We can make the solution easier if we convert all the trigonometric terms to like trigonometric terms.

One common trigonometric identity is If we replace the term with , all the trigonometric terms will be secant terms.

Replace with in the original equation and simplify.

Isolate the secant term. since the left side of the equation is not easily factored, we can solve for using the Quadratic Formula.

How do we isolate the x in each of these equations? We could take the inverse (arccosine) of both sides of each equation. However, the cosine function is not a one-to-one function.

Let's restrict the domain so the function is one-to-one on the restricted domain while preserving the original range. The graph of the cosine function is one-to-one on the interval If we restrict the domain of the cosine function to that interval , we can take the arccosine of both sides of each equation.

The angle x is the reference angle. We know that

Therefore, if , then , and if , then .

Since the period of equals , these solutions will repeat every units. The exact solutions are

and

where n is an integer.

The approximate values of these solutions are

where n is an integer.

You can check each solution algebraically by substituting each solution in the original equation. If, after the substitution, the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation, the solution is valid.

You can also check the solutions graphically by graphing the function formed by subtracting the right side of the original equation from the left side of the original equation. The solutions of the original equation are the x-intercepts of this graph.

Algebraic Check:

Check solution

Left Side:

Right Side:

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute 1.87548898 for x, then 1.87548898is a solution.

Check solution

Left Side:

Right Side:

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute -1.87548898 for x, then -1.87548898is a solution.

Check solution

Left Side:

Right Side:

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute 0.84106867 for x, then 0.84106867is a solution.

Check solution

Left Side:

Right Side:

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute -0.84106867 for x, then -0.84106867is a solution.

Graphical Check:

Graph the equation or

Note that the graph crosses the x-axis many times indicating many solutions. Let's check a few of these x-intercepts against the solutions we derived.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at 1.87548898. Since the period is , you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at 1.87548898+6.2831853=8.158674 and at , etc.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at -1.87548898. Since the period is , you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at -1.87548898+6.2831853=4.4076963 and at , etc.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at 0.84106867. Since the period is , you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at 0.84106867+6.2831853=7.158674287 and at , etc.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at -0.84106867. Since the period is , you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at -0.84106867+6.2831853=5.4421166 and at , etc.

Note: If the problem were to find the solutions in the interval , then you choose those solutions from the set of infinite solutions that belong to the set 1.87548898, 4.4076963, and

If you would like to review another solution, click on solution.

If you would like to test yourself by working some problems similar to this example, click on Problem.

If you would like to go to the next section, click on Next.

[Algebra] [Trigonometry]
[Geometry] [Differential Equations]
[Calculus] [Complex Variables] [Matrix Algebra]

Author: Nancy Marcus