How do I solve for the solutions of sin 2θ = sin θ in degrees?

  • Thread starter Thread starter patriots1049
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Trigonometric
AI Thread Summary
To solve the equation sin 2θ = sin θ, the identity sin 2θ = 2sinθcosθ is used. This leads to the equation 2sinθcosθ = sin θ. By factoring out sin θ, it is determined that sin θ = 0 gives solutions of θ = 0° and θ = 180°. If sin θ is not zero, dividing by sin θ leads to cos θ = 1, which gives θ = 0° as well. The valid solutions within the range of 0° to 360° are confirmed to be 0° and 180°.
patriots1049
Messages
10
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


sin 2θ = sin θ Find the solutions in degrees.


Homework Equations



sin 2θ = 2sinθcosθ

The Attempt at a Solution


sin 2θ = sin θ
2sinθcosθ = sin θ
sinθ *cosθ/sin θ = 1

That's as far as I can get, and I think that is wrong. How do I procede from 2sinθcosθ = sin θ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
patriots1049 said:

Homework Statement


sin 2θ = sin θ Find the solutions in degrees.


Homework Equations



sin 2θ = 2sinθcosθ

The Attempt at a Solution


sin 2θ = sin θ
2sinθcosθ = sin θ
One obvious possibility is sin(\theta)= 0. What values of \theta give that?
IF sin(\theta)\ne 0, you can divide by it.

sinθ *cosθ/sin θ = 1
So cancel the sin(\theta)s, giving cos(\theta)= 1[/math]. What values of \theta give that?<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> That&#039;s as far as I can get, and I think that is wrong. How do I procede from 2sinθcosθ = sin θ? </div> </div> </blockquote>
 
Therefore the answer would be 0 degrees and 180 degrees? The book states that answers must greater or equal to one and less than 360.
 
Back
Top