## marasofia1616 Group Title Find all solutions to the equation. cos2x + 2 cos x + 1 = 0 one year ago one year ago

1. rsnoob Group Title

For cos(2x) * (2cos(x) + 1) = 0, use the double angle identity for cos(2x), which is cos^2 x - sin^2 x = cos^2 x - (1-cos^2) = 2cos^2 x - 1. So we have (2cos^2 x - 1)(2cos x + 1) = 0. So 2cos^2 x -1 = 0 or x = 0 and 2pi. For 2sec^2 x + tan^2 x - 3 = 0, use the identity sec^2 x = tan^2 x + 1, so we have 2(tan^2 x + 1) + tan^2 x - 3 = 0 or 2tan^2 x + tan^2 x - 1 = 0 or 3 tan^2 x = 1. So x = pi/2, pi/2 + pi = 3pi/2.

2. marasofia1616 Group Title

hi the first thing I tried to solve this problem was to factor it so I have (cos x+1)(cos x+1) but now I dont know what to next

3. tkhunny Group Title

Unclear how to proceed. What is the first term, $$\cos(2x)$$ or $$\cos^{2}(x)$$?

4. marasofia1616 Group Title

cos $\cos^{2}x$

5. tkhunny Group Title

Perfect. The we have only to solve - by factoring. $$\cos^{2}x + 2\cos x + 1 = 0$$ $$(\cos(x) + 1)^{2} = 0$$ Now what?

6. marasofia1616 Group Title

That is where I got stuck I am not sure what to do after factoring

7. tkhunny Group Title

What's the point of factoring? Why do we do that at all? If a*b = 0, what do we know about a or b? To contract, if a*b = 4, what do we NOT know about either a or b?

8. marasofia1616 Group Title

what each of the equal?

9. marasofia1616 Group Title

them*

10. tkhunny Group Title

Kind of. a*b = 0 tells us that either a = 0 or b = 0. What can we tell about a and b when it isn't zero? a*b = 4, for example? Is one of them zero? Aboslutely not, but that's about all we can tell. Is a = 4? Maybe. Is b = 12? Maybe. Not a clue. Only "=0" is particularly helpful. So, what should we do with that factored expression?

11. chaguanas Group Title

tkhunny your explanations are more complex than the problem itself :)

12. tkhunny Group Title

That's why we invent notation, so that problems can be simpler than explanations. If we have this: Factor1 * Factor2 = 0 Then we must have Either this Factor1 = 0 or this Factor2 = 0 How can we apply this to your factored equation?

13. marasofia1616 Group Title

cos x+1(0)=0 I am not sure

14. tkhunny Group Title

$$(\cos(x)+1)^{2} = 0$$ We have two factors, but hey are exactly the same. This limits the possible results. $$\cos(x) + 1 = 0$$ $$\cos(x) = -1$$ $$x = \dfrac{3\pi}{2} + 2k\pi$$ where $$k\in \mathbb{Z}$$ Do you know what all that means?

15. marasofia1616 Group Title

I do... but if cos(x)=-1 wouldn't [x=\pi\]

16. marasofia1616 Group Title

$x=$

17. marasofia1616 Group Title

x=pi*

18. marasofia1616 Group Title

anyway I got it ... thanks for the help!

19. tkhunny Group Title

Awesome. How did I do that?! Right you are. $$x = \pi + 2k\pi$$