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Arctanx=arccos(-5/13)

i know that there is no solution but i need to know how to get there

help me solve the trig equation for x!!

User Matthew C
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1 Answer

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23 votes

If φ = arccos(-5/13), then cos(φ) = -5/13. Since this is negative, you know φ is an angle that terminates either the second or third quadrant.

arctan(x) has a range of -π/2 < arctan(x) < π/2, which is to say that arctan(x) is an angle that terminates in either the first or fourth quadrant.

These quadrants don't overlap, so there is no solution to the equation.

User Yali
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