# Homework Help: System of Non-Linear EQs

1. Oct 3, 2009

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

This problem shows up in Anton's Elementary Linear Algebra in the first chapter. It's one of the last problems, so I don't think that it is crucial for me to 'solve' it. But I would like to clear up some conceptual questions I have.

First here is the problem statement:

Solve the following system of nonlinear EQs for the unknown angles $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\gamma$, where

$0\le\alpha\le2\pi$, $0\le\beta\le2\pi$, $0\le\gamma\le\pi$.

$2\sin\alpha - \cos\beta + 3\tan\gamma = 3$
$4\sin\alpha + 2\cos\beta - 2\tan\gamma = 2$
$6\sin\alpha - 3\cos\beta + \tan\gamma = 9$

Here are my questions:

1) In all of this chapter (on elimination methods), we use Gaussian Elimination on systems of linear EQs. Can the elimination methods be used on a nonlinear system?

2) Since tan(gamma) is not defined at pi/2 , well..., I don't know what I am trying to ask.
But surely this restriction will have some sort of impact on the solution(?).

Thoughts?

2. Oct 3, 2009

### aPhilosopher

it's linear in the trigonometric functions so you can just use linear techniques to solve for them. It's invertible too, if I'm not mistaken. So you will get three trig equations to solve. pi/2 is not a valid solution for gamma.

3. Oct 3, 2009

### LCKurtz

Call $$x = sin(\alpha),\ y = \cos(\beta),\ z = \tan(\gamma)$$

and proceed.

4. Oct 3, 2009