Solve the following for x, where 0 < x < 2 pi.

Question

2 cos^2 x + cos x = 1

Answer 1

2 y^2 + y = 1
y^2 + (1/2)y = 1/2
y^2 + (1/2)y + 1/16 = 8/16+1/16 = 9/16
(y+1/4)^2 = 9/16
y+1/4 = -3/4 or +3/4
y = -1 or 1/2
so
cos x = -1 or cos x = 1/2

find all those places for example cos pi = -1 and cos pi/3 or 60 degrees = 1/2 as does cos of -pi/3 which is 5pi/3