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Popular Trigonometry >

3+2cos(x)=4cos(x/2)

  • Pre Algebra
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Solution

3+2cos(x)=4cos(2x​)

Solution

x=32π​+4πn,x=310π​+4πn
+1
Degrees
x=120∘+720∘n,x=600∘+720∘n
Solution steps
3+2cos(x)=4cos(2x​)
Subtract 4cos(2x​) from both sides3+2cos(x)−4cos(2x​)=0
Let: u=2x​3+2cos(2u)−4cos(u)=0
Rewrite using trig identities
3+2cos(2u)−4cos(u)
Use the Double Angle identity: cos(2x)=2cos2(x)−1=3+2(2cos2(u)−1)−4cos(u)
Simplify 3+2(2cos2(u)−1)−4cos(u):4cos2(u)−4cos(u)+1
3+2(2cos2(u)−1)−4cos(u)
Expand 2(2cos2(u)−1):4cos2(u)−2
2(2cos2(u)−1)
Apply the distributive law: a(b−c)=ab−aca=2,b=2cos2(u),c=1=2⋅2cos2(u)−2⋅1
Simplify 2⋅2cos2(u)−2⋅1:4cos2(u)−2
2⋅2cos2(u)−2⋅1
Multiply the numbers: 2⋅2=4=4cos2(u)−2⋅1
Multiply the numbers: 2⋅1=2=4cos2(u)−2
=4cos2(u)−2
=3+4cos2(u)−2−4cos(u)
Simplify 3+4cos2(u)−2−4cos(u):4cos2(u)−4cos(u)+1
3+4cos2(u)−2−4cos(u)
Group like terms=4cos2(u)−4cos(u)+3−2
Add/Subtract the numbers: 3−2=1=4cos2(u)−4cos(u)+1
=4cos2(u)−4cos(u)+1
=4cos2(u)−4cos(u)+1
1−4cos(u)+4cos2(u)=0
Solve by substitution
1−4cos(u)+4cos2(u)=0
Let: cos(u)=u1−4u+4u2=0
1−4u+4u2=0:u=21​
1−4u+4u2=0
Write in the standard form ax2+bx+c=04u2−4u+1=0
Solve with the quadratic formula
4u2−4u+1=0
Quadratic Equation Formula:
For a=4,b=−4,c=1u1,2​=2⋅4−(−4)±(−4)2−4⋅4⋅1​​
u1,2​=2⋅4−(−4)±(−4)2−4⋅4⋅1​​
(−4)2−4⋅4⋅1=0
(−4)2−4⋅4⋅1
Apply exponent rule: (−a)n=an,if n is even(−4)2=42=42−4⋅4⋅1
Multiply the numbers: 4⋅4⋅1=16=42−16
42=16=16−16
Subtract the numbers: 16−16=0=0
u1,2​=2⋅4−(−4)±0​​
u=2⋅4−(−4)​
2⋅4−(−4)​=21​
2⋅4−(−4)​
Apply rule −(−a)=a=2⋅44​
Multiply the numbers: 2⋅4=8=84​
Cancel the common factor: 4=21​
u=21​
The solution to the quadratic equation is:u=21​
Substitute back u=cos(u)cos(u)=21​
cos(u)=21​
cos(u)=21​:u=3π​+2πn,u=35π​+2πn
cos(u)=21​
General solutions for cos(u)=21​
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​​​​
u=3π​+2πn,u=35π​+2πn
u=3π​+2πn,u=35π​+2πn
Combine all the solutionsu=3π​+2πn,u=35π​+2πn
Substitute back u=2x​
2x​=3π​+2πn:x=32π​+4πn
2x​=3π​+2πn
Multiply both sides by 2
2x​=3π​+2πn
Multiply both sides by 222x​=2⋅3π​+2⋅2πn
Simplify
22x​=2⋅3π​+2⋅2πn
Simplify 22x​:x
22x​
Divide the numbers: 22​=1=x
Simplify 2⋅3π​+2⋅2πn:32π​+4πn
2⋅3π​+2⋅2πn
Multiply 2⋅3π​:32π​
2⋅3π​
Multiply fractions: a⋅cb​=ca⋅b​=3π2​
=32π​+2⋅2πn
Multiply the numbers: 2⋅2=4=32π​+4πn
x=32π​+4πn
x=32π​+4πn
x=32π​+4πn
2x​=35π​+2πn:x=310π​+4πn
2x​=35π​+2πn
Multiply both sides by 2
2x​=35π​+2πn
Multiply both sides by 222x​=2⋅35π​+2⋅2πn
Simplify
22x​=2⋅35π​+2⋅2πn
Simplify 22x​:x
22x​
Divide the numbers: 22​=1=x
Simplify 2⋅35π​+2⋅2πn:310π​+4πn
2⋅35π​+2⋅2πn
2⋅35π​=310π​
2⋅35π​
Multiply fractions: a⋅cb​=ca⋅b​=35π2​
Multiply the numbers: 5⋅2=10=310π​
2⋅2πn=4πn
2⋅2πn
Multiply the numbers: 2⋅2=4=4πn
=310π​+4πn
x=310π​+4πn
x=310π​+4πn
x=310π​+4πn
x=32π​+4πn,x=310π​+4πn

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is the general solution for 3+2cos(x)=4cos(x/2) ?

    The general solution for 3+2cos(x)=4cos(x/2) is x=(2pi)/3+4pin,x=(10pi)/3+4pin
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