Exact Values of sinx & cosx for tan2x=-24/7

  • Thread starter Thread starter glass.shards
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
For tan2x = -24/7, the exact values of sinx and cosx are derived as sinx = ±3/5, ±4/5 and cosx = ±3/5, ±4/5. However, upon calculating x and substituting back, the confirmed values are sinx = 3/5, 4/5 and cosx = 3/5, -4/5. The discrepancy arises from the ± in the initial calculations, leading to extra false solutions. Justification for the final values involves verifying each possibility to ensure they yield the correct results.
glass.shards
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
If tan2x=(-24/7), find the exact value(s) of sinx and cosxWorking out the answers by hand, I get

sinx = ±3/5, ±4/5
cosx = ±3/5, ±4/5But by actually calculating x and plugging it into sinx and cosx, I get

sinx = 3/5, 4/5
cosx = 3/5, -4/5I'm pretty sure that the latter are the answers, but how do I justify it given the ±?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Here's what I did:

tan2x = -24/7

so to find cosx and sinx, I established that on a graph:
y = -24
x = 7
r = 25

OR

y = 24
x = -7
r = 25

Thus, cos2x = ±7/25. By breaking down cos2x into (1-2(sinx)^2) and (2(cosx)^2-1) and working out the answers, I got those four values.
 
You get extra false solutions from taking both positive and negative values from the square root. The only way to justify the latter answers is to verify each of the possibilities and saying some did not evaluate to the correct value.
 
I tried to combine those 2 formulas but it didn't work. I tried using another case where there are 2 red balls and 2 blue balls only so when combining the formula I got ##\frac{(4-1)!}{2!2!}=\frac{3}{2}## which does not make sense. Is there any formula to calculate cyclic permutation of identical objects or I have to do it by listing all the possibilities? Thanks
Since ##px^9+q## is the factor, then ##x^9=\frac{-q}{p}## will be one of the roots. Let ##f(x)=27x^{18}+bx^9+70##, then: $$27\left(\frac{-q}{p}\right)^2+b\left(\frac{-q}{p}\right)+70=0$$ $$b=27 \frac{q}{p}+70 \frac{p}{q}$$ $$b=\frac{27q^2+70p^2}{pq}$$ From this expression, it looks like there is no greatest value of ##b## because increasing the value of ##p## and ##q## will also increase the value of ##b##. How to find the greatest value of ##b##? Thanks
Back
Top