Lesson 3.

8
Trigonometric Equations
3.8.1 Solving Trigonometric Equations
To solve a trigonometric equation, use standard
algebraic techniques such as
collecting like terms and factoring. Your preliminary
goal in solving a trigonometric
equation is to
isolate the trigonometric function involved in the
equation. For example,
to solve the equation
2 sin x = 1,
divide each side by 2 to obtain
sin
푥
=
1
2
To solve for
x, note in Figure 3.71
that the equation
sin
푥
=
1
2
has solutions
x=
π/6
and
x = 5π/6
in t
he
interval [0, 2π].
Moreover,
because
sin x
has a period of
2π
there
are infinitely many other solutions, which can be
written as
푥
=
휋
6
+
2
푛휋
푎푛푑
푥
5
휋
6
+
2
푛휋
퐺푒푛푒푟푎푙
푠표푙푢푡푖표푛
Where n is an integer, as shown in Figure 3.7
1.
Another way to show that the equation
sin
푥
=
1
2
has infinitely many solu
tions
is indicated in Figure 3.72
. Any angles that are coterminal with
π/6
or
5π/6
will also be
solutions of the equation.
Figure 3.71
Figure 3.72
When
solving trigonometric equations, you should write
your answer(s) using
exact values rather than decimal approximations.
Example:
Collecting Like Terms
Solve
sin
푥
+
√
2
=
−
sin
푥
Solution:
Begin by rewriting the equation so that is isolated on
one side of the
equation.
Because
sin x
has a period of
2π,
first find all solutions in the interval
[0, 2π].
These solutions are
x = 5π/4
and
x = 7π/4.
Finally, add multiples of
2π
to each of
these solutions to get the general form
푥
=
5
휋
4
+
2
푛휋
푎푛푑
푥
=
7
휋
4
+
2
푛휋
퐺푒푛푒푟푎푙
푠표푙푢푡푖표푛
where is an integer
.
Example:
Extracting Square Roots
Solve 3
푡푎푛
2
푥
−
1
=
0
.
Solution:
Begin by rewriting the equation so that is isolated on
one side of the equation.
Because
tan x
has a period of
π,
first find all solutions in the interval
[0, π].
These solutions are
x = π/6
and
x = 5π/6.
Finally, add multiples of
π
to each of these
solutions to get the general form