How do you solve #2 sin x + 1 = 0#?

1 Answer
May 2, 2015

Subtract 1, divide by 2.

#sinx = -1/2#

#sinx = pm1/2# at #30^o#, #150^o#, #210^o#, and #330^o#.
#sinx = -1/2# at #210^o# and #330^o#.

So, you have two answers. Really though, you have infinite answers if you consider that there are equivalent angles at every #pm360^o#. What you get, then, is:

#210^o/180^o*pi = (7pi)/6#

#330^o/180^o*pi = (11pi)/6#

Therefore, #sinx = -1/2# at #(7pi)/6#, #(11pi)/6#, #(19pi)/6#, #(23pi)/6#, etc.

Notice how #(11pi)/6# = #2pi - pi/6#, and #(7pi)/6 = 0 + (7npi)/6#. Recall how #sin 0 = sin 2pi = sin 2npi#, where n#in ZZ# (n is in the set of integers). Thus, you can write:

#x = 2npi-pi/6#

#x = 2npi+(7pi)/6#