MHB What are the first two positive x-intercepts for the given sinusoidal function?

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The discussion focuses on finding the first two positive x-intercepts for the function y = -2cos(3(x-25°)) + 1. The equation is simplified to find where cos(3(x - 25)) equals 1/2, leading to the angles 30° and 300°. These angles correspond to the equations 3(x - 25) = 30 and 3(x - 25) = 300. Solving these gives the x-intercepts at 45° and 65°. The calculations involve understanding the properties of the cosine function and its relation to right triangles.
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Find the first two positive x-intercepts for y= -2cos(3(x-25°)) +1
(Can someone help me for this)
 
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mathuravasant said:
Find the first two positive x-intercepts for y= -2cos(3(x-25°)) +1
(Can someone help me for this)
Well, some basic algebra first:
[math]0 = -2 ~ cos(3 (x - 25) ) + 1[/math]

[math]-1 = -2 ~ cos(3 (x - 25) )[/math]

[math]\dfrac{1}{2} = cos(3 (x - 25) )[/math]

Where are the first two places you find cos(y) = 1/2?

Can you finish?

-Dan
 
im not sure if I did it right but would the answer be 1452.4 degree +k*120 degree , 1532.4 degree +k*120 degree ??
 
No. Even if the numbers were right where are you getting the k's from?

Start here: Where are the first two places you find cos(y) = 1/2? If you need to use your calculator! Graph it! Do something. I have no idea how you got your answer so I can't address what you might have done wrong. Please tell us how you are doing your calculations.

The first two places you find cos(y) = 1/2 are y = 30 and y = 300 degrees. So solve 3(x - 25) = 30 and 3(x - 25) = 300.

-Dan
 
Cosine is "near side over hypotenuse". So if cos(y)= 1/2 we can represent it as a right triangle with hypotenuse of length 2 and one leg of length 1. Two of those right triangles, placed together gives a triangle with two sides of length 2 and the third side of length 1+ 1= 2. That's an equilateral triangle! Its three angles, and in particular the one whose cosine is 1/2, are all 60 degrees.

Since cos(3(x-25))= 1/2, 3(x- 25)= 3x- 75= 60 so 3x= 60+ 75= 135, x= 45 degrees.
Since cos(180- x)= COS(x), cos(180- 60)= cos(120)= 1/2 so we can also have 3x- 75= 120, 3x= 195, x= 65 degrees.
 
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