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Solve the equation for 0 <= x < 2pi.

(2sin x - 1)(2cos^2 x - 1) = 0

Solve the equation for 0 <= x < 2pi. (2sin x - 1)(2cos^2 x - 1) = 0-example-1

1 Answer

6 votes

If

(2 sin(x) - 1) (2 cos²(x) - 1) = 0

then either

2 sin(x) - 1 = 0 or 2 cos²(x) - 1 = 0

sin(x) = 1/2 or cos(2x) = 0

The first equation gives two families of solutions,

x = arcsin(1/2) + 2nπ = π/6 + 2nπ

x = π - arcsin(1/2) + 2nπ = 5π/6 + 2nπ

where n is any integer; we get the solutions x = π/6 and x = 5π/6 in the interval 0 ≤ x < 2π when n = 0.

The second equation also gives two families of solutions,

2x = arccos(0) + 2nπ = π/2 + 2nπ

2x = -arccos(0) + 2nπ = -π/2 + 2nπ

Divide both sides by 2 :

x = π/4 + nπ

x = -π/4 + nπ

Then the solutions we want are x = π/4 and x = 5π/4 (when n = 0 and 1 in the first family, respectively) and x = 3π/4 and x = 7π/4 (when n = 1 and 2 in the second family).

We have 6 solutions, so A is the correct choice.

User Dulaj Kulathunga
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