Another Trigonometric Equation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving the trigonometric equation sin(3t)cos(t) + cos(3t)sin(t) = -1/2. The problem is simplified using the sum identity to sin(4t) = -1/2. The solutions for 4t are identified as 7π/6 + 2πn and 11π/6 + 2πn, leading to the general solutions for t as 7π/24 + πn/2 and 11π/24 + πn/2. Corrections were made regarding the division by 4 to isolate t correctly.

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Homework Statement



Solve for t

sin3tcost+cos3tsint=-1/2

Homework Equations



Sum and Difference Identities

The Attempt at a Solution



I saw this problem the the sum identity sin([itex]\alpha[/itex]+[tex]\beta[/tex]) looked like the way to begin solving for t.

This condenses to sin(3t+t)= -1/2 which is sin(4t)= -1/2

I let 4t=x and now have sin x= -1/2

The answers for this are 7[itex]\pi[/itex]/6+2[itex]\pi[/itex]n and 11[itex]\pi[/itex]+2[itex]\pi[/itex]n.

This means that 4t equals both 7[itex]\pi[/itex]/6+2[itex]\pi[/itex]n and 11[itex]\pi[/itex]+2[itex]\pi[/itex]n. I need to divide the four out to get t by itself.

The general solutions (I think) are t=7[itex]\pi[/itex]/24+[itex]\pi[/itex]n/2 and 11[itex]\pi[/itex]/6+[itex]\pi[/itex]n/2.

Did I miss anything or does this look correct?

Thanks!
 
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TrueStar said:

Homework Statement



Solve for t

sin3tcost+cos3tsint=-1/2

Homework Equations



Sum and Difference Identities

The Attempt at a Solution



I saw this problem the the sum identity sin([itex]\alpha[/itex]+[tex]\beta[/tex]) looked like the way to begin solving for t.

This condenses to sin(3t+t)= -1/2 which is sin(4t)= -1/2

I let 4t=x and now have sin x= -1/2
In the next couple of lines, the 2nd expression should be 11[itex]\pi[/itex]/6 +2[itex]\pi[/itex]n, which it appears you caught later.
TrueStar said:
The answers for this are 7[itex]\pi[/itex]/6+2[itex]\pi[/itex]n and 11[itex]\pi[/itex]+2[itex]\pi[/itex]n.

This means that 4t equals both 7[itex]\pi[/itex]/6+2[itex]\pi[/itex]n and 11[itex]\pi[/itex]+2[itex]\pi[/itex]n. I need to divide the four out to get t by itself.
In the next line, you got the "divided by 6" back in the second expression, but forgot to divide by 4.
TrueStar said:
The general solutions (I think) are t=7[itex]\pi[/itex]/24+[itex]\pi[/itex]n/2 and 11[itex]\pi[/itex]/6+[itex]\pi[/itex]n/2.
Make the above t=7[itex]\pi[/itex]/24+[itex]\pi[/itex]n/2 and 11[itex]\pi[/itex]/24+[itex]\pi[/itex]n/2.
TrueStar said:
Did I miss anything or does this look correct?

Thanks!
 
You're right. I had that written on my paper, but it's a typo here on the board. Thank you for reading my post!
 

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