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$3\sin^2x=\cos^2x;$ $0\leq x\leq 2\pi$ Solve for $x$:

I honestly have no idea how to start this. Considering I'm going to get a number, I am clueless. I have learned about $\sin$ and $\cos$ but I do not know how to approach this problem. If anyone can go step-by-step with hints. That would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT:
$3\sin^2x=1-\sin^2x$ $4\sin^2x=1$ $\sin^2x=\frac{1}{4}$ $\sqrt{\sin^2x}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{4}}$ $\sin x=\pm \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$

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Hint: $\cos^2 x=1-\sin^2 x$.${}{}{}{}{}{}{}$

Substitute. We get after some simplification $4\sin^2 x=1$. Can you finish from here?

Added: You just need to find $\sin^2 x$, then $\sin x$. You should get $\sin x=\pm\frac{1}{2}$. Then identify the angles from your knowledge about "special angles." One of the angles will turn out to be $\frac{\pi}{6}$, the good old $30^\circ$ angle. There are $3$ others.

Remark: The way you started is fine too, you got $3(1-\cos^2 x)=\cos^2 x$. Now we need to "isolate" $\cos^2 x$. It is easiest to multiply through by $3$ on the left, getting $3-3\cos^2 x=\cos^2 x$. Bring all the $\cos^2 x$ terms to one side. We get $3=4\cos^2 x$, which I prefer to write as $4\cos^2 x=3$. So we get $\cos^2 x=\frac{3}{4}$.

Take the square roots. We get $\cos x=\pm \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}.$

Following the hint given at the start happens to be a little easier, same principles, nicer numbers.

  • 0
    Draw your own picture of sine, between $0$ and $2\pi$, or more. Give the sine of the special angles, $0$,$\pi/4$, $\pi/2$, $3\pi/4$, $\pi$, $5\pi/4$, $3\pi/2$, $7\pi/4$, $2\pi$, also $\pi/6$, $\pi/3$, $2\pi/3$, $5\pi/6$, $7\pi/6$, and so on.2012-07-16
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$ 3\sin^2 x = \cos^2 x $ $ 3\sin^2 x = 1 - \sin^2 x $ $ 3u^2 = 1 - u $ That's a quadratic equation. After you solve it for $u$, write $\sin x = \text{whatever you got for }u$ and then find $x$.

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You can also do this. Divide out to get $\tan^2(x) = \left({\sin(x)\over \cos(x)}\right)^2 = {1\over 3}.$ This gives $\tan(x) = \pm 1/\sqrt{3}$.