Skip to main content
Ch. 3 - Trigonometric Identities and Equations
Blitzer - Trigonometry 3rd Edition
Blitzer3rd EditionTrigonometryISBN: 9780137316601Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 3.RE.54

In Exercises 54–67, solve each equation on the interval [0, 2𝝅). Use exact values where possible or give approximate solutions correct to four decimal places. cos 2x = -1

Verified step by step guidance
1
Recognize that the equation is \( \cos 2x = -1 \). Our goal is to find all values of \( x \) in the interval \( [0, 2\pi) \) that satisfy this equation.
Recall that \( \cos \theta = -1 \) occurs at specific angles. Specifically, \( \cos \theta = -1 \) when \( \theta = \pi + 2k\pi \), where \( k \) is any integer.
Set \( 2x = \pi + 2k\pi \) to match the form where cosine equals \( -1 \). This gives the equation \( 2x = \pi + 2k\pi \).
Solve for \( x \) by dividing both sides by 2: \( x = \frac{\pi}{2} + k\pi \).
Find all values of \( x \) within the interval \( [0, 2\pi) \) by substituting integer values of \( k \) and checking which \( x \) values lie in the interval.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
8m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Double-Angle Identity for Cosine

The double-angle identity expresses cos(2x) in terms of x, commonly as cos(2x) = 2cosΒ²(x) - 1 or cos(2x) = 1 - 2sinΒ²(x). This identity allows rewriting or solving equations involving cos(2x) by relating it to single-angle trigonometric functions.
Recommended video:
05:06
Double Angle Identities

Solving Trigonometric Equations on a Given Interval

Solving trig equations on [0, 2Ο€) means finding all angle solutions within one full rotation. It requires considering the periodicity of trig functions and identifying all angles that satisfy the equation within the specified domain.
Recommended video:
4:34
How to Solve Linear Trigonometric Equations

Exact and Approximate Values of Trigonometric Functions

Exact values refer to well-known angles where trig functions have simple radical or fractional values (e.g., cos(Ο€) = -1). Approximate values are numerical estimates rounded to a specified decimal place, used when exact values are not easily expressible.
Recommended video:
6:04
Introduction to Trigonometric Functions