Solving Trig Equations

Ways to solve:

    1. Isolate trig expression
    2. Square root both sides
    3. Factor
    4. Square both sides
    5. Rewrite using a single trig function

 

Example:

cos(x)sin(x)=3cos(x),\ [0,\ 2\pi)

cos(x)sin(x)-3cos(x)=3cos(x)-3cos(x)

cos(x)sin(x)-3cos(x)=0

cos(x)(sin(x)-3)=0

sin(x)-3=0\rightarrow sin(x)-3+3=0+3\rightarrow sin(x)=3\rightarrow no\ solution

cos(x)=0\rightarrow x=\frac{\pi}{2}\ or\ \frac{3\pi}{2}