those solutions where 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π
2cos^2x-5cosx+2=0
this is a standard quadratic where your variable is cosx
How about doing this ?
let t = cosx
then we have
2t^2 - 5t + 2 = 0 , which factors to
(2t - 1)(t - 2) = 0
t = 1/2 or t = 2
so cosx = 1/2 or cosx = 2
that last part is silly, since cos(anything) lies between -1 and +1
so cosx = +1/2, which tells me that the angle x must be in quads I or IV by the CAST rule
we know that x = 60° or π/3
We are in I or IV
so x = 60 = 60° or π/3
or x = 360-60 = 300° or 5π/3
solve 2cos^2x-5cosx+2=0 for principal values of x
I don't understand this question...what are principal values?
1 answer