Given that 7tan a + 2 cos a= 5sec a,derive a quadratic equation for sin a. Hence, find all values of a in the interval [0,pi] which satisfy the given equation?
1 Answer
Explanation:
You will use three trigonometric identities to solve this equation
#tanx = sinx/cosx" "# ,#" "secx = 1/cosx#
and
#cos^2x + sin^2x = 1#
Start by replacing
#7 * sin(a)/cos(a) + 2 cos(a) = 5 * 1/cos(a)#
Right from the start, any value of
For the interval
So, multiply
#7 * sin(a)/cos(a) + 2 cos^2(a)/cos(a) = 5 * 1/cos(a)#
This is equivalent to
#7 * sin(a) + 2cos^2(a) - 5 = 0#
Use
#7 * sin(a) + 2[1-sin^2(a)] - 5 = 0#
The quadratic form of this equaation will thus be
#-2sin^2(a) + 7sin(a) - 3= 0#
Use the quadratic formula to get the two roots of the quadratic
#sin_(1,2)(a) = (-7 +- sqrt(7^2 - 4 * (-2) * (-3)))/(2 * (-2))#
#sin_(1,2)(a) = (-7 +- sqrt(25))/((-4)) = (-7 +- 5)/((-4))#
The two roos will thus be
#color(red)(cancel(color(black)(sin_1(a) = (-7-5)/((-4)) = 3)))" "# and#" "sin_2(a)= (-7 + 5)/((-4)) = 1/2" "color(green)(sqrt())#
Since
The value of
#a = color(green)(pi/6)" "# or#" "a = color(green)(30^@)#
Do a quick check to make sure that the calculations are correct
#7 * tan(pi/6) + 2 * cos(pi/6) = 5 * sec(pi/6)#
#7 * sqrt(3)/3 + 2 * sqrt(3)/2 = 5 * 2/sqrt(3)#
#14sqrt(3) + 6sqrt(3) = 20sqrt(3)" "color(green)(sqrt())#