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Popular Trigonometry >

2cos^2(x)-1=0

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Solution

2cos2(x)−1=0

Solution

x=0.78539…+2πn,x=2π−0.78539…+2πn,x=2.35619…+2πn,x=−2.35619…+2πn
+1
Degrees
x=45∘+360∘n,x=315∘+360∘n,x=135∘+360∘n,x=−135∘+360∘n
Solution steps
2cos2(x)−1=0
Solve by substitution
2cos2(x)−1=0
Let: cos(x)=u2u2−1=0
2u2−1=0:u=21​​,u=−21​​
2u2−1=0
Move 1to the right side
2u2−1=0
Add 1 to both sides2u2−1+1=0+1
Simplify2u2=1
2u2=1
Divide both sides by 2
2u2=1
Divide both sides by 222u2​=21​
Simplifyu2=21​
u2=21​
For x2=f(a) the solutions are x=f(a)​,−f(a)​
u=21​​,u=−21​​
Substitute back u=cos(x)cos(x)=21​​,cos(x)=−21​​
cos(x)=21​​,cos(x)=−21​​
cos(x)=21​​:x=arccos(21​​)+2πn,x=2π−arccos(21​​)+2πn
cos(x)=21​​
Apply trig inverse properties
cos(x)=21​​
General solutions for cos(x)=21​​cos(x)=a⇒x=arccos(a)+2πn,x=2π−arccos(a)+2πnx=arccos(21​​)+2πn,x=2π−arccos(21​​)+2πn
x=arccos(21​​)+2πn,x=2π−arccos(21​​)+2πn
cos(x)=−21​​:x=arccos(−21​​)+2πn,x=−arccos(−21​​)+2πn
cos(x)=−21​​
Apply trig inverse properties
cos(x)=−21​​
General solutions for cos(x)=−21​​cos(x)=−a⇒x=arccos(−a)+2πn,x=−arccos(−a)+2πnx=arccos(−21​​)+2πn,x=−arccos(−21​​)+2πn
x=arccos(−21​​)+2πn,x=−arccos(−21​​)+2πn
Combine all the solutionsx=arccos(21​​)+2πn,x=2π−arccos(21​​)+2πn,x=arccos(−21​​)+2πn,x=−arccos(−21​​)+2πn
Show solutions in decimal formx=0.78539…+2πn,x=2π−0.78539…+2πn,x=2.35619…+2πn,x=−2.35619…+2πn

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