Solving Trig Equations — Question 3

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Question 3

Solve the equation sin⁡(x)cos⁡(x)=12\sin(x)\cos(x) = \frac{1}{2} for all x∈[0,2π]x \in [0, 2\pi].

Original worksheet page 1: question and worked solution for 1-4-003
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Question 3 - Solution

We begin by using a known identity: sin⁡(2x)=2sin⁡(x)cos⁡(x)⇒sin⁡(x)cos⁡(x)=12sin⁡(2x)\sin(2x) = 2\sin(x)\cos(x) \Rightarrow \sin(x)\cos(x) = \frac{1}{2} \sin(2x)

Substitute into the equation: 12sin⁡(2x)=12⇒sin⁡(2x)=1\frac{1}{2} \sin(2x) = \frac{1}{2} \Rightarrow \sin(2x) = 1

Now solve: sin⁡(2x)=1⇒2x=π2+2nπfor integer n⇒x=π4+nπ\sin(2x) = 1 \Rightarrow 2x = \frac{\pi}{2} + 2n\pi \quad \text{for integer } n \Rightarrow x = \frac{\pi}{4} + n\pi

Find solutions in [0,2π][0, 2\pi]:

n=0⇒x=π4n = 0 \Rightarrow x = \frac{\pi}{4} n=1⇒x=5π4n = 1 \Rightarrow x = \frac{5\pi}{4} n=2⇒x=9π4>2πn = 2 \Rightarrow x = \frac{9\pi}{4} > 2\pi → discard

x=π4,5π4\boxed{x = \frac{\pi}{4},\ \frac{5\pi}{4}}

Original worksheet page 2: question and worked solution for 1-4-003

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