How do you solve cos2x = sinx on the interval 0 <= x<= 2pi?

1 Answer
Apr 16, 2015

If cos(2x) = sin(x)
then
1-2sin^2(x) = sin(x)

2sin^2(x) +sin(x) -1 =0

Substituting k=sin(x)
2k^2+k-1 = 0

(2k-1)(k+1) = 0

sin(x) = 1/2 or sin(x) =-1

If sin(x) = 1/2 (for 0<=x<=2pi)
x=pi/6 =30^o or x= (5pi)/6 = 150^o

If sin(x) = -1 (for 0<=x<=2pi)
x=(3pi)/2 = 270^o

So x epsilon {pi/6, (5pi)/6, (3pi)/2}
(or their equivalent in degrees)