SOLVING TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS

Note: If you would like a review of trigonometry, click on trigonometry.

Problem 9.12a:        Solve for x in the equation

$$84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6=0$$

Answer:    The exact answers are

$$\begin{array}{rclll} && \\ x_{1} &=&\sin ^{-1}\left( \displa... ...( \displaystyle \frac{3}{7}\right) \pm 2n\pi \\ && \end{array}$$

where n is an integer.

The approximate values of these solutions are

$$\begin{array}{rclll} && \\ x_{1} &\approx &0.72972766\pm 6.2... ...&& \\ x_{6} &\approx &2.69868\pm 6.2831853n \\ && \end{array}$$

$\quad$where n is an integer.

Solution:

There are an infinite number of solutions to this problem. Let's simplify the problem by rewriting it in an equivalent factored form.

$$\begin{array}{rclll} 84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6 &=&0 ... ...\sin x+1\right) \left( 7\sin x-3\right) &=&0 \\ && \end{array}$$

The only way the product equals zero is if at least one of the factors equals zero. Therefore, $84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6=0$ if $3\sin x-2=0$ , $4\sin x+1=0,$ or $7\sin x-3=0.$

$$\begin{array}{rclll} && \\ \left( 1\right) \qquad 3\sin x-2 ... ... \sin x &=&\displaystyle \frac{3}{7} \\ && \\ && \end{array}$$

How do we isolate the x in each of these equations? We could take the inverse (arcsine) of both sides of the equation. However, the sine function is not a one-to-one function.

Let's restrict the domain so the function is one-to-one on the restricted domain while preserving the original range. The sine function is one-to-one on the interval $\left[ -\displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{\pi }{2},\displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{\pi }{2}\right] .$ If we restrict the domain of the sine function to that interval , we can take the arcsine of both sides of each equation.

$$\begin{array}{rclll} \left( 1\right) \qquad \sin x_{1} &=&\di... ...laystyle \frac{3}{7}\right) \approx 0.442911 \\ && \end{array}$$

We know that $\sin x=\sin \left( \pi -x\right) .\$Therefore, if .

$$\begin{array}{rclll} && \\ If\ \ \sin x &=&\displaystyle \fr... ...le \frac{3}{7}\right) \approx 2.69868 \\ && \\ && \end{array}$$

Since the period of $\sin x$ equals $2\pi$, these solutions will repeat every $2\pi$ units. The exact solutions are

$$\begin{array}{rclll} && \\ x_{1} &=&\sin ^{-1}\left( \displa... ... -\displaystyle \frac{3}{7}\right) \pm 2n\pi \\ && \end{array}$$

where n is an integer.

The approximate values of these solutions are

$$\begin{array}{rclll} && \\ x_{1} &\approx &0.72972766\pm 6.2... ...&& \\ x_{6} &\approx &2.69868\pm 6.2831853n \\ && \end{array}$$

where n is an integer.

You can check each solution algebraically by substituting each solution in the original equation. If, after the substitution, the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation, the solution is valid.

You can also check the solutions graphically by graphing the function formed by subtracting the right side of the original equation from the left side of the original equation. The solutions of the original equation are the x-intercepts of this graph.

Algebraic Check:

Check solution $\qquad x_{1}=\sin ^{-1}\left( \displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\right) \approx 0.72972766$

Left Side:

$$\begin{array}{rclll} 84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6\\ &\... ...ox& 0 \\ \par\special{src: 268 S9121101.TEX} % \par\end{array}$$

Right Side:        $0\bigskip$

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute 0.72972766 for x, then 0.72972766is a solution.

Check solution $\qquad x_{2}=\sin ^{-1}\left( -\displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\right) \approx 2.411865$

Left Side:

$$\begin{array}{rclll} 84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6\\ &\... ... +\sin \left( 2.411865\right) +6\\ &\approx& 0 \\ \end{array}$$

Right Side:        $0\bigskip$

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute 2.411865 for x, then 2.411865 is a solution.

Check solution $\qquad x_{3}=\sin ^{-1}\left( \displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{3}{7}\right) \approx 0.442911$

Left Side:

$$\begin{array}{rclll} 84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6\\ &\... ...ox& 0 \\ \par\special{src: 326 S9121101.TEX} % \par\end{array}$$

Right Side:        $0\bigskip$

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute 0.442911 for x, then 0.442911 is a solution.

Check solution $\qquad x_{4}=\pi -\sin ^{-1}\left( \displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\right) \approx 2.411865$

Left Side:

$$\begin{array}{rclll} 84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6\\ &\... ... +\sin \left( 2.411865\right) +6\\ &\approx& 0 \\ \end{array}$$

Right Side:        $0\bigskip$

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute 2.411865 for x, then 2.411865 is a solution.

Check solution $\qquad x_{5}=\pi -\sin ^{-1}\left( -\displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\right) \approx 3.394273$

Left Side:

$$\begin{array}{rclll} 84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6\\ &\... ...)+\sin \left( 3.394273\right) +6\\ &\approx& 0 \\ \end{array}$$

Right Side:        $0\bigskip$

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute 3.394273 for x, then 0.72972766 is a solution.

Check solution $\qquad x_{6}=\pi -\sin ^{-1}\left( \displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{3}{7}\right) \approx 2.69868$

Left Side:

$$\begin{array}{rclll} 84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6\\ &\... ...t)+\sin \left( 2.69868\right) +6\\ &\approx& 0 \\ \end{array}$$

Right Side:        $0\bigskip$

Since the left side of the original equation equals the right side of the original equation when you substitute 2.69868 for x, then 2.69868 is a solution.

We have just verified algebraically that the exact solutions are $x=\sin ^{-1}\left( \displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\right) ,\ \pi -\sin ... ...right) \ \pi -\sin ^{-1}\left( \displaystyle \displaystyle \frac{3}{7}\right)$ and these solutions repeat every $\pm 2\pi$units.

The approximate values of these solutions are $% x\approx 0.729728,\ 2.411865,\ -0.252680,\ 3.394273,$ $0.442911,\$and <tex2html_comment_mark> 2.69868 and these solutions repeat every $\pm 6.2831853$ units.

Graphical Check:

Graph the function $f(x)=84\sin ^{3}x-71\sin^ {2}x+\sin x+6$, formed by subtracting the right side of the original equation from the left side of the original equation. The x-intercepts are the real solutions.

. Note that the graph crosses the x-axis many times indicating many solutions. Let's check a few of these x-intercepts against the solutions we derived.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at -0.252680. Since the period is $% 2\pi \approx 6.2831853$, you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at -0.252680+6.2831853=6.0305053 and at $-0.252680+2\left( 6.2831853\right) =12.31369$, etc.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at 0.442911. Since the period is $2\pi \approx 6.2831853$, you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at 0.442911+6.2831853=6.7260963 and at $0.442911+2\left( 6.2831853\right) =$13.009282, etc.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at 0.729728. Since the period is $2\pi \approx 6.2831853$, you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at 0.729728+6.2831853=7.0129133 and at $0.729728+2\left( 6.2831853\right) =13.2960986,$ etc.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at 2.411865. Since the period is $2\pi \approx 6.2831853$, you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at 2.411865+6.2831853=8.6950503 and at $2.411865+2\left( 6.2831853\right) =14.978236$, etc.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at 2.69868. Since the period is $2\pi \approx 6.2831853$, you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at 2.69868+6.2831853=8.9818653 and at $2.69868+2\left( 6.2831853\right) =15.2650506,$ etc.

Verify the graph crosses the x-axis at 3.394273. Since the period is $2\pi \approx 6.2831853$, you can verify that the graph also crosses the x-axis again at 3.394273+6.2831853=9.6774583 and at $3.394273+2\left( 6.2831853\right) =15.960644$ etc.

Note: If the problem were to find the solutions in the interval $\left[ 0,2\pi \right]$, then you choose those solutions from the set of infinite solutions that belong to the set $\left[ 0,2\pi \right] :$ $x\approx 0.442911,\ 0.729728,\ 2.411865,\ 2.69868,\ 3.394273$ and $% 6.03305053.\bigskip\bigskip\bigskip\bigskip$

If you would like to review the solution of another problem, click on solution.

If you would like to go back to the equation table of contents, click on Contents.

[Algebra] [Trigonometry] [Geometry] [Differential Equations] [Calculus] [Complex Variables] [Matrix Algebra]

S.O.S MATHematics home page

Copyright © 1999-2004 MathMedics, LLC. All rights reserved.
Math Medics, LLC. - P.O. Box 12395 - El Paso TX 79913 - USA