MHB JustWar's question at Yahoo Answers regarding horizontal tangents

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The function f(x) = x + 2sin(x) has horizontal tangents where its first derivative, f'(x) = 1 + 2cos(x), equals zero. This occurs when cos(x) = -1/2, leading to the solutions x = 2π/3 and x = 4π/3 within the interval [0, 2π]. A plot of the function illustrates the tangent lines at these points. The values of x where the graph has horizontal tangents are therefore 2π/3 and 4π/3. Understanding these points is crucial for analyzing the behavior of the function.
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Here is the question:

Horizontal tangents?

For what values of x in [0,2π] does the graph of f(x)=x+2sinx have a horizontal tangent?
List the values of x below. Separate multiple values with commas.

x=

I have posted a link there to this thread so the OP can view my work.
 
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Hello JustWar,

We are given the function:

$$f(x)=x+2\sin(x)$$

To find where there are horizontal tangents, we must equate the first derivative to zero, and then solve for $x$ over the given interval.

$$f'(x)=1+2\cos(x)=0\,\therefore\,\cos(x)=-\frac{1}{2}$$

Hence, we find:

$$x=\frac{2\pi}{3},\,\frac{4\pi}{3}$$

Here is a plot of $f(x)$ over the given interval and the resulting tangent lines:

$$y_1=\frac{2\pi}{3}+\sqrt{3}$$

$$y_2=\frac{4\pi}{3}-\sqrt{3}$$

View attachment 2206
 

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Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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