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Solving a linear equation involving the sine function

Find all possible exact solutions for the equation sin t = 1 2 .

Solving for all possible values of t means that solutions include angles beyond the period of 2 π . From [link] , we can see that the solutions are t = π 6 and t = 5 π 6 . But the problem is asking for all possible values that solve the equation. Therefore, the answer is

t = π 6 ± 2 π k   and   t = 5 π 6 ± 2 π k

where k is an integer.

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Given a trigonometric equation, solve using algebra .

  1. Look for a pattern that suggests an algebraic property, such as the difference of squares or a factoring opportunity.
  2. Substitute the trigonometric expression with a single variable, such as x or u .
  3. Solve the equation the same way an algebraic equation would be solved.
  4. Substitute the trigonometric expression back in for the variable in the resulting expressions.
  5. Solve for the angle.

Solve the linear trigonometric equation

Solve the equation exactly: 2 cos θ 3 = 5 , 0 θ < 2 π .

Use algebraic techniques to solve the equation.

2 cos θ 3 = 5 2 cos θ = 2 cos θ = 1 θ = π
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Solve exactly the following linear equation on the interval [ 0 , 2 π ) : 2 sin x + 1 = 0.

x = 7 π 6 , 11 π 6

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Solving equations involving a single trigonometric function

When we are given equations that involve only one of the six trigonometric functions, their solutions involve using algebraic techniques and the unit circle (see [link] ). We need to make several considerations when the equation involves trigonometric functions other than sine and cosine. Problems involving the reciprocals of the primary trigonometric functions need to be viewed from an algebraic perspective. In other words, we will write the reciprocal function, and solve for the angles using the function. Also, an equation involving the tangent function is slightly different from one containing a sine or cosine function. First, as we know, the period of tangent is π , not 2 π . Further, the domain of tangent is all real numbers with the exception of odd integer multiples of π 2 , unless, of course, a problem places its own restrictions on the domain.

Solving a problem involving a single trigonometric function

Solve the problem exactly: 2 sin 2 θ 1 = 0 , 0 θ < 2 π .

As this problem is not easily factored, we will solve using the square root property. First, we use algebra to isolate sin θ . Then we will find the angles.

2 sin 2 θ 1 = 0   2 sin 2 θ = 1 sin 2 θ = 1 2 sin 2 θ = ± 1 2 sin θ = ± 1 2 = ± 2 2 θ = π 4 , 3 π 4 , 5 π 4 , 7 π 4
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Solving a trigonometric equation involving cosecant

Solve the following equation exactly: csc θ = 2 , 0 θ < 4 π .

We want all values of θ for which csc θ = 2 over the interval 0 θ < 4 π .

csc θ = 2 1 sin θ = 2 sin θ = 1 2 θ = 7 π 6 , 11 π 6 , 19 π 6 , 23 π 6
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Solving an equation involving tangent

Solve the equation exactly: tan ( θ π 2 ) = 1 , 0 θ < 2 π .

Recall that the tangent function has a period of π . On the interval [ 0 , π ) , and at the angle of π 4 , the tangent has a value of 1. However, the angle we want is ( θ π 2 ) . Thus, if tan ( π 4 ) = 1 , then

θ π 2 = π 4 θ = 3 π 4 ± k π

Over the interval [ 0 , 2 π ) , we have two solutions:

θ = 3 π 4   and  θ = 3 π 4 + π = 7 π 4
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Find all solutions for tan x = 3 .

π 3 ± π k

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Identify all solutions to the equation involving tangent

Identify all exact solutions to the equation 2 ( tan x + 3 ) = 5 + tan x , 0 x < 2 π .

We can solve this equation using only algebra. Isolate the expression tan x on the left side of the equals sign.

2 ( tan x ) + 2 ( 3 ) = 5 + tan x 2 tan x + 6 = 5 + tan x   2 tan x tan x = 5 6 tan x = 1

There are two angles on the unit circle that have a tangent value of −1 : θ = 3 π 4 and θ = 7 π 4 .

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Questions & Answers

Ayele, K., 2003. Introductory Economics, 3rd ed., Addis Ababa.
Widad Reply
can you send the book attached ?
Ariel
?
Ariel
What is economics
Widad Reply
the study of how humans make choices under conditions of scarcity
AI-Robot
U(x,y) = (x×y)1/2 find mu of x for y
Desalegn Reply
U(x,y) = (x×y)1/2 find mu of x for y
Desalegn
what is ecnomics
Jan Reply
this is the study of how the society manages it's scarce resources
Belonwu
what is macroeconomic
John Reply
macroeconomic is the branch of economics which studies actions, scale, activities and behaviour of the aggregate economy as a whole.
husaini
etc
husaini
difference between firm and industry
husaini Reply
what's the difference between a firm and an industry
Abdul
firm is the unit which transform inputs to output where as industry contain combination of firms with similar production 😅😅
Abdulraufu
Suppose the demand function that a firm faces shifted from Qd  120 3P to Qd  90  3P and the supply function has shifted from QS  20  2P to QS 10  2P . a) Find the effect of this change on price and quantity. b) Which of the changes in demand and supply is higher?
Toofiq Reply
explain standard reason why economic is a science
innocent Reply
factors influencing supply
Petrus Reply
what is economic.
Milan Reply
scares means__________________ends resources. unlimited
Jan
economics is a science that studies human behaviour as a relationship b/w ends and scares means which have alternative uses
Jan
calculate the profit maximizing for demand and supply
Zarshad Reply
Why qualify 28 supplies
Milan
what are explicit costs
Nomsa Reply
out-of-pocket costs for a firm, for example, payments for wages and salaries, rent, or materials
AI-Robot
concepts of supply in microeconomics
David Reply
economic overview notes
Amahle Reply
identify a demand and a supply curve
Salome Reply
i don't know
Parul
there's a difference
Aryan
Demand curve shows that how supply and others conditions affect on demand of a particular thing and what percent demand increase whith increase of supply of goods
Israr
Hi Sir please how do u calculate Cross elastic demand and income elastic demand?
Abari
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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