Question

Find all solutions to the equation.

cos^2x + 2 cos x + 1 = 0

Answer 1

`\bf cos^2(x)+2cos(x)+1=0\implies \stackrel{\textit{let's notice, this is simply }ax^2+bx+c=0}{[cos(x)]^2+2cos(x)+1=0} \\[2em] [cos(x)+1][cos(x)+1]=0 \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill\\\\ cos(x)+1=0\implies cos(x)=-1\implies x=cos^(-1)(-1)\implies \stackrel{\textit{for the range }[0,2\pi ]}{x=\pi } \\\\[-0.35em] \rule{34em}{0.25pt}\\\\ ~\hfill \stackrel{\textit{all solutions}}{x=\pi +2\pi n~~,~~ n \in \mathbb{Z}}~\hfill`