SOLUTION: Solve the equation 4sin(2theta)-3cos=0 for all values on the interval {{{"0°"<=theta<"360°"}}}. Express any non-integer answers to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: Solve the equation 4sin(2theta)-3cos=0 for all values on the interval {{{"0°"<=theta<"360°"}}}. Express any non-integer answers to the nearest tenth of a degree.      Log On


   



Question 282663: Solve the equation 4sin(2theta)-3cos=0 for all values on the interval %220%B0%22%3C=theta%3C%22360%B0%22. Express any non-integer answers to the nearest tenth of a degree.
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

You left off the angle for the cosine, so I can't tell whether
you meant the equation to be this: 

4sin%282theta%29-3cos%28theta%29=0 

or this:

4sin%282theta%29-3cos%282theta%29=0

So I'll do it both ways:

-----------------------------

If it is the first way,

4sin%282theta%29-3cos%28theta%29=0

Use the identity sin%282theta%29=2sin%28theta%29cos%28theta%29

4%282sin%28theta%29cos%28theta%29%29-3cos%28theta%29=0

8sin%28theta%29cos%28theta%29-3cos%28theta%29=0

Factor out cos%28theta%29

cos%28theta%29%288sin%28theta%29-3%29=0

Use the zero-factor principle.

Set the first factor = 0:

cos%28theta%29=0

The only angles between 0° and 360° which have their
cosine equaling to zero are 90° and 270°.  So those
are two of the solutions.

Set the second factor = 0:

8sin%28theta%29-3=0

8sin%28theta%29=3

sin%28theta%29=3%2F8

With a calculator we find the inverse sine of 3%2F8
is the first quadrant angle 22.02431284°.  However the
angle in the second quadrant whioch has 22.02431284° as
its reference angle is 157.9756872°.

So the four solutions on the interval %220%B0%22%3C=theta%3C%22360%B0%22,
with the decimals rounded to the nearest tenth of a degree are:

theta=%220%B0%22, theta=%22270%B0%22, theta=%2222.0%B0%22, theta=%22158.0%B0%22 

------------------------

If it was supposed to have been the second way:

4sin%282theta%29-3cos%282theta%29=0

4sin%282theta%29=3cos%282theta%29

Divide both sides by cos%282theta%29

4sin%282theta%29%2Fcos%282theta%29=3

Divide both sides by 4:

sin%282theta%29%2Fcos%282theta%29=3%2F4

Use the identity sin%28alpha%29%2Fcos%28alpha%29=tan%28alpha%29

tan%282theta%29=3%2F4

With a calculator we find the inverse tangent of 3%2F4
is the first quadrant angle 36.86989765°.  However the
angle in the third quadrant which has 36.86989765° as
its reference angle is 216.8698976°.

Now since the angle is 2theta and not just theta,
we must find all solutions for 2theta in twice the interval, 
that is the interval %220%B0%22%3C=2theta%3C%22720%B0%22, so that theta
will be in the interval %220%B0%22%3C=theta%3C%22360%B0%22.   

So we must add 360° to each of those two values, so that when
we find theta by dividing by 2 we will have all the
solutions in the interval %220%B0%22%3C=theta%3C%22360%B0%22.

So we have

2theta=%2236.86989765%B0%22, 2theta=%22216.86989765%B0%22, 2theta=%22396.86989765%B0%22, 2theta=%22576.86989765%B0%22,

Now solving for theta, we have:

theta=%2218.43494882%B0%22, theta=%22108.4349488%B0%22, theta=%22198.4349488%B0%22, theta=%22288.4349488%B0%22,

Or rounded to the nearest tenth of a degree:

theta=%2218.4%B0%22, theta=%22108.4%B0%22, theta=%22198.4%B0%22, theta=%22288.4%B0%22.

Edwin