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-3cos(pi/2 - X) = tanX
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cos() = sin(X), according to reduction formula.
Therefore, your equation takes the form
-3*sin(X) = tan(X).
Rewrite it in the form
-3*sin(X) = , or, even better :)
-3*sin(X) =
Now introduce the new variable u = sin(X) and square both sides of the last equation. You will get an equation for u:
= .
Simplify it and solve step by step:
= -----> = -----> = -----> = .
The last equation comes apart in two equations. First one is
= -----> sin(X) = 0 -----> X = 0, +- , +/- , . . . , +/- , . . . , k= 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .
The second one is
= -----> = -----> = +/- -----> sin(X) = +/- .
It generates two families of potential roots:
(a) X = +/- arcsin() + , k = 0, +/-1, +/-2, +/-3, . . . and
(b) X = +/- [] + , k = 0, +/-1, +/-2, +/-3, . . .
Figure. Plots -3*sin(x) (in red) and tan(x) (in green)
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The roots (a) X = +/- arcsin() + are excessive. They are not the solutions.
The roots (b) X = +/- [] + are the solutions.