A trig question

Standard memberRemoved
Posers and Puzzles 31 Mar '08 03:51
  1. R
    Standard memberRemoved
    Joined
    10 Dec '06
    Moves
    8528
    31 Mar '08 03:512 edits
    How is the following equation solved

    2 sin(2t) - sqrt(2)tan(2t) = 0

    I come up with cost = sqrt(2)/4 & sint = sqrt(14)/4

    I think I'm wrong?

    If i am right , how do you derrive the t values for [0, 2pi]
  2. In Christ
    Joined
    30 Apr '07
    Moves
    172
    31 Mar '08 04:512 edits
    It's pretty simple actually.

    {x} = the square root of x

    2 sin(2t) - {2}tan(2t) = 0 : Factor out sin(2t)
    sin(2t)[2 - {2}sec(2t)] = 0

    Two possibilities:

    Possibility (1): 2 - {2}sec(2t) = 0 => {2}sec(2t) = 2 => sec(2t) = {2} => cos(2t) = {2}/2
    => 2t = pi/4, 7pi/4, 9pi/4, 15pi/4
    t = pi/8, 7pi/8, 9pi/8, 15pi/8

    Possibility (2): sin(2t) = 0 => 2t = 0, pi, 2pi, 3pi, 4pi
    => t = 0, pi/2, pi, 3pi/2, 2pi

    So the solution set is:
    t = 0, pi/8, pi/2, 7pi/8, pi, 9pi/8, 3pi/2, 15pi/8, 2pi
  3. Joined
    02 Mar '06
    Moves
    17881
    31 Mar '08 05:30
    as Jirakon used, but it may not be entirely obvious, the identity tan(2t) = sin(2t)/cos(2t) was used at the beginning.

    then factoring the sin(2t) leads to 2 - sqrt(2)/cos(2t) or, more simply: 2 - sqrt(2)*sec(2t).

    hope this helps

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