Since [tex]k \,=\,\sin\theta\cos\theta[/tex], we see that: .[tex]|k| \,<\,1.[/tex]
Quadratic Formula: .[tex]x \:=\:\frac{-k \pm \sqrt{k^2-4k}}{2}[/tex]
[tex]\text{Let: }\:\begin{Bmatrix}\sin\theta &=& \frac{-k + \sqrt{k^2-4k}}{2} \\ \cos\theta &=& \frac{-k -\sqrt{k^2-4k}}{2} \end{Bmatrix}[/tex]
[tex]\text{Then: }\:\begin{Bmatrix}\sin^2\theta &=& \frac{2k^2 - 4k + 2k\sqrt{k^2-4k}}{4} \\ \cos^2\theta &=& \frac{2k^2 - 4k - 2k\sqrt{k^2-4k}}{4} \end{Bmatrix}[/tex]
[tex]\text{Add: }\:\sin^2\theta + \cos^2\theta \:=\:\frac{4k^2 - 8k}{4} \:=\:1[/tex]
[tex]\text{And we have: }\:k^2 - 2k - 1\:=\:0[/tex]
[tex]\text{Hence: }\:k \:=\:1\pm\sqrt{2}[/tex][tex]\text{Since }|k| < 1\!:\;k \:=\:1-\sqrt{2}[/tex]