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| Question 672584:  Here is an example of a Trig function we are working on that I HAVE been able to solve, I think:
 solve trig equations algrebraically;          sin^2(t)=2sin(t)+1
 first set everything to zero;                 sin^2(t)-2sin(t)-1=0
 then in this case I can use the foil method;  (sin(t)-1)(sin(t)-1=0
 then solve for (t);                          t=4.7+l(2pi) and  t=pi-4.7i(2pi)
 This may seem like a more simple equation but....I'm just not sure about it still. Please help me solve: sec(t) = tan(t)
 I know to set everything equal to zero.    sec(t)-tan(t)=0
 I know sec=1/cos, but not sure if that would apply here....
 thank you for your time
 Answer by Alan3354(69443)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Here is an example of a Trig function we are working on that I HAVE been able to solve, I think: solve trig equations algrebraically;          sin^2(t)=2sin(t)+1
 first set everything to zero;                 sin^2(t)-2sin(t)-1=0
 then in this case I can use the foil method;  (sin(t)-1)(sin(t)-1=0
 then solve for (t);                          t=4.7+l(2pi) and  t=pi-4.7i(2pi)
 
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 first set everything to zero;                 sin^2(t)-2sin(t)-1=0
 then in this case I can use the foil method;  (sin(t)-1)(sin(t)-1=0
 (sin(t)-1)(sin(t)-1=0
 **** That doesn't factor
 ---------------------
 Sub x for sin(t) to save typing.
 
  
 
 | Solved by pluggable solver: SOLVE quadratic equation (work shown, graph etc) |  | Quadratic equation  (in our case  ) has the following solutons: 
 
  
 For these solutions to exist, the discriminant
  should not be a negative number. 
 First, we need to compute the discriminant
  :  . 
 Discriminant d=8 is greater than zero. That means that there are two solutions:
  . 
 
  
  
 Quadratic expression
  can be factored: 
  Again, the answer is: 2.41421356237309, -0.414213562373095.
Here's your graph:
 
  |  =======================
 Ignore the 1st solution, it's > 1 --> no real solution.
 x = 1 - sqrt(2)
 sin(t) =~ -0.41421
 t = 204.47, 335.53 + n*360 degs, n = -,1,2,3...
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