Nice Question (1 Viewer)

Kutay

University
Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Messages
600
Location
Castle Hill
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
" Solve cosx + root 3 sinx = 0.5 for 0 <(orequal) x <(orequal) , answer the 3 sig figures"

i am pretty sure fro this question i got to use like not the T-method because cant work it out but that other way anyhow anyone know how to do it step by step?
 

Slidey

But pieces of what?
Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
6,600
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
Divide both sides by two:
1/2 * cosx + sqrt3/2 * sinx = 1/4
By inspection:
cos(pi/3) * cosx + sin(pi/3) * sinx = 1/4
cos(x-pi/3)=1/4
x=2.36 rad
I think. I'm not good with significant figures.

I haven't done transformations for a while, so I'm sorry, but somebody else will have to help you there.
 
Last edited:

Trev

stix
Joined
Jun 28, 2004
Messages
2,037
Location
Pine Palace, St. Lucia, Brisbane.
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
By transformation:
acostheta + bsintheta = rcos(theta - alpha) where r = (a² + b²)^1/2 and alpha = b/a.
Therefore, in this case
r =(1² + (3^1/2)²)^1/2 = (1 + 3)^1/2 = 2
tanalpha = (3^1/2)/1
angle alpha = 60 degrees
= 2cos(theta - 60) = .5
cos(theta - 60) = .25
theta - 60 = 75°31', 284°29'

theta = 135°31', 344°29'
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top