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Popular Trigonometry >

sec^4(x)-4=0

  • Pre Algebra
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Solution

sec4(x)−4=0

Solution

x=4π​+2πn,x=47π​+2πn,x=43π​+2πn,x=45π​+2πn
+1
Degrees
x=45∘+360∘n,x=315∘+360∘n,x=135∘+360∘n,x=225∘+360∘n
Solution steps
sec4(x)−4=0
Solve by substitution
sec4(x)−4=0
Let: sec(x)=uu4−4=0
u4−4=0:u=2​,u=−2​,u=2​i,u=−2​i
u4−4=0
Move 4to the right side
u4−4=0
Add 4 to both sidesu4−4+4=0+4
Simplifyu4=4
u4=4
Rewrite the equation with v=u2 and v2=u4v2=4
Solve v2=4:v=4​,v=−4​
v2=4
For (g(x))2=f(a) the solutions are g(x)=f(a)​,−f(a)​
v=4​,v=−4​
v=4​,v=−4​
Substitute back v=u2,solve for u
Solve u2=4​:u=2​,u=−2​
u2=4​
Simplify 4​:2
4​
Factor the number: 4=22=22​
Apply radical rule: 22​=2=2
For x2=f(a) the solutions are x=f(a)​,−f(a)​
u=2​,u=−2​
Solve u2=−4​:u=2​i,u=−2​i
u2=−4​
4​=2
4​
Factor the number: 4=22=22​
Apply radical rule: 22​=2=2
u2=−2
For x2=f(a) the solutions are x=f(a)​,−f(a)​
u=−2​,u=−−2​
Simplify −2​:2​i
−2​
Apply radical rule: −a​=−1​a​−2​=−1​2​=−1​2​
Apply imaginary number rule: −1​=i=2​i
Simplify −−2​:−2​i
−−2​
Simplify −2​:2​i
−2​
Apply radical rule: −a​=−1​a​−2​=−1​2​=−1​2​
Apply imaginary number rule: −1​=i=2​i
=−2​i
u=2​i,u=−2​i
The solutions are
u=2​,u=−2​,u=2​i,u=−2​i
Substitute back u=sec(x)sec(x)=2​,sec(x)=−2​,sec(x)=2​i,sec(x)=−2​i
sec(x)=2​,sec(x)=−2​,sec(x)=2​i,sec(x)=−2​i
sec(x)=2​:x=4π​+2πn,x=47π​+2πn
sec(x)=2​
General solutions for sec(x)=2​
sec(x) periodicity table with 2πn cycle:
x06π​4π​3π​2π​32π​43π​65π​​sec(x)1323​​2​2Undefined−2−2​−323​​​xπ67π​45π​34π​23π​35π​47π​611π​​sec(x)−1−323​​−2​−2Undefined22​323​​​​
x=4π​+2πn,x=47π​+2πn
x=4π​+2πn,x=47π​+2πn
sec(x)=−2​:x=43π​+2πn,x=45π​+2πn
sec(x)=−2​
General solutions for sec(x)=−2​
sec(x) periodicity table with 2πn cycle:
x06π​4π​3π​2π​32π​43π​65π​​sec(x)1323​​2​2Undefined−2−2​−323​​​xπ67π​45π​34π​23π​35π​47π​611π​​sec(x)−1−323​​−2​−2Undefined22​323​​​​
x=43π​+2πn,x=45π​+2πn
x=43π​+2πn,x=45π​+2πn
sec(x)=2​i:No Solution
sec(x)=2​i
NoSolution
sec(x)=−2​i:No Solution
sec(x)=−2​i
NoSolution
Combine all the solutionsx=4π​+2πn,x=47π​+2πn,x=43π​+2πn,x=45π​+2πn

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Popular Examples

cos(3θ)=(sqrt(3))/2sin(y)=-1/2sin(x+pi/2)+cos^2(x)=0sin(3x)=sin^2(x)2cot(x)+3=0

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is the general solution for sec^4(x)-4=0 ?

    The general solution for sec^4(x)-4=0 is x= pi/4+2pin,x=(7pi)/4+2pin,x=(3pi)/4+2pin,x=(5pi)/4+2pin
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