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Popular Trigonometry >

cos(2x)+sqrt(3)cos(x)=-1

  • Pre Algebra
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Solution

cos(2x)+3​cos(x)=−1

Solution

x=2π​+2πn,x=23π​+2πn,x=65π​+2πn,x=67π​+2πn
+1
Degrees
x=90∘+360∘n,x=270∘+360∘n,x=150∘+360∘n,x=210∘+360∘n
Solution steps
cos(2x)+3​cos(x)=−1
Subtract −1 from both sidescos(2x)+3​cos(x)+1=0
Rewrite using trig identities
1+cos(2x)+cos(x)3​
Use the Double Angle identity: cos(2x)=2cos2(x)−1=1+2cos2(x)−1+3​cos(x)
Simplify 1+2cos2(x)−1+3​cos(x):2cos2(x)+3​cos(x)
1+2cos2(x)−1+3​cos(x)
Group like terms=2cos2(x)+3​cos(x)+1−1
1−1=0=2cos2(x)+3​cos(x)
=2cos2(x)+3​cos(x)
2cos2(x)+cos(x)3​=0
Solve by substitution
2cos2(x)+cos(x)3​=0
Let: cos(x)=u2u2+u3​=0
2u2+u3​=0:u=0,u=−23​​
2u2+u3​=0
Write in the standard form ax2+bx+c=02u2+3​u=0
Solve with the quadratic formula
2u2+3​u=0
Quadratic Equation Formula:
For a=2,b=3​,c=0u1,2​=2⋅2−3​±(3​)2−4⋅2⋅0​​
u1,2​=2⋅2−3​±(3​)2−4⋅2⋅0​​
(3​)2−4⋅2⋅0​=3​
(3​)2−4⋅2⋅0​
(3​)2=3
(3​)2
Apply radical rule: a​=a21​=(321​)2
Apply exponent rule: (ab)c=abc=321​⋅2
21​⋅2=1
21​⋅2
Multiply fractions: a⋅cb​=ca⋅b​=21⋅2​
Cancel the common factor: 2=1
=3
4⋅2⋅0=0
4⋅2⋅0
Apply rule 0⋅a=0=0
=3−0​
Subtract the numbers: 3−0=3=3​
u1,2​=2⋅2−3​±3​​
Separate the solutionsu1​=2⋅2−3​+3​​,u2​=2⋅2−3​−3​​
u=2⋅2−3​+3​​:0
2⋅2−3​+3​​
Add similar elements: −3​+3​=0=2⋅20​
Multiply the numbers: 2⋅2=4=40​
Apply rule a0​=0,a=0=0
u=2⋅2−3​−3​​:−23​​
2⋅2−3​−3​​
Add similar elements: −3​−3​=−23​=2⋅2−23​​
Multiply the numbers: 2⋅2=4=4−23​​
Apply the fraction rule: b−a​=−ba​=−423​​
Cancel the common factor: 2=−23​​
The solutions to the quadratic equation are:u=0,u=−23​​
Substitute back u=cos(x)cos(x)=0,cos(x)=−23​​
cos(x)=0,cos(x)=−23​​
cos(x)=0:x=2π​+2πn,x=23π​+2πn
cos(x)=0
General solutions for cos(x)=0
cos(x) periodicity table with 2πn cycle:
x06π​4π​3π​2π​32π​43π​65π​​cos(x)123​​22​​21​0−21​−22​​−23​​​xπ67π​45π​34π​23π​35π​47π​611π​​cos(x)−1−23​​−22​​−21​021​22​​23​​​​
x=2π​+2πn,x=23π​+2πn
x=2π​+2πn,x=23π​+2πn
cos(x)=−23​​:x=65π​+2πn,x=67π​+2πn
cos(x)=−23​​
General solutions for cos(x)=−23​​
cos(x) periodicity table with 2πn cycle:
x06π​4π​3π​2π​32π​43π​65π​​cos(x)123​​22​​21​0−21​−22​​−23​​​xπ67π​45π​34π​23π​35π​47π​611π​​cos(x)−1−23​​−22​​−21​021​22​​23​​​​
x=65π​+2πn,x=67π​+2πn
x=65π​+2πn,x=67π​+2πn
Combine all the solutionsx=2π​+2πn,x=23π​+2πn,x=65π​+2πn,x=67π​+2πn

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