Have You Got Them All?

Geometry Level 4

( sin θ + 1 ) ( tan 2 θ 3 ) = 0 \large (\sin \theta + 1)(\tan^2 \theta - 3) = 0

How many values are there for θ [ 0 , 2 π ] \theta \in [0, 2\pi] such that the above is true?

1 2 3 4 5 6

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2 solutions

Sharky Kesa
Aug 30, 2016

Relevant wiki: Trigonometric Equations - Problem Solving - Medium

A lot of people are being tricked by this problem, so I will explain what they are doing incorrectly. BTW, this was one of the problems in a 2015 Maths test for Grade 12 in my school, and none of them got it right.

The starting is fairly standard. Either one of the two given brackets must be 0. If tan 2 θ 3 = 0 \tan^2 \theta - 3 = 0 , tan θ = ± 3 \tan \theta = \pm \sqrt{3} , so we get solutions θ = π 3 , 2 π 3 , 4 π 3 , 5 π 3 \theta = \frac {\pi}{3}, \frac {2\pi}{3}, \frac {4\pi}{3}, \frac {5\pi}{3} , which are all possible solutions. If we have sin θ + 1 = 0 \sin{\theta}+1=0 , we get sin θ = 1 \sin \theta = -1 , so θ = 3 π 2 \theta = \frac {3\pi}{2} . (Here comes the trick) However, if θ = 3 π 2 \theta=\frac {3\pi}{2} , tan 2 θ \tan^2 \theta is infinity, and the product of 0 and infinity is undefined, so this cannot be a solution.

Therefore, there are only 4 satisfying solutions.

And I suddenly feel proud of myself for solving this correctly.

Rishik Jain - 4 years, 9 months ago

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LOL! You should feel proud!

Sharky Kesa - 4 years, 9 months ago

Can we use limits here? 😅

Prince Loomba - 4 years, 9 months ago

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No, not at all.

Sharky Kesa - 4 years, 9 months ago

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Haha why? Its 0×infty

Prince Loomba - 4 years, 9 months ago

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@Prince Loomba Which is undefined.

Sharky Kesa - 4 years, 9 months ago

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@Sharky Kesa No it can be calculated (I havent calculated till now) usimg limits

Prince Loomba - 4 years, 9 months ago

If we use limit, as θ 3 π 2 \theta\to\frac{3\pi}{2} , the limit of LHS is 1 2 \frac{1}{2} , not 0. In this sense 3 π 2 \frac{3\pi}{2} is still not a solution.

Wei Chen - 4 years, 9 months ago

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That's a good observation you did there!

Atomsky Jahid - 4 years, 9 months ago

We graph the function between 0 a n d 2 π 0\ \ and\ \ 2\pi and we get four values only cosponsoring to T a n 2 θ 3 = 0 , b u t S i n θ + 1 = 0 , m a k e s T a n θ 2 3 = . A n d 0 n o t d e f i n e d . Tan^2\theta -3 =0,\ but Sin\theta + 1=0,\ makes\ Tan\theta^2-3= \ \infty. \ And\ 0* \infty\ not\ defined. .

Last line is wrong =0 wont come

Prince Loomba - 4 years, 9 months ago

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Thanks corrected.

Niranjan Khanderia - 4 years, 9 months ago

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It should be +infty

Prince Loomba - 4 years, 9 months ago

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@Prince Loomba Thanks again. I missed the square!

Niranjan Khanderia - 4 years, 9 months ago

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@Niranjan Khanderia And t a n 2 θ 3 = 0 tan^{2} \theta-3=0 not t a n 2 θ 1 = 0 tan^{2} \theta-1=0

Prince Loomba - 4 years, 9 months ago

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@Prince Loomba Oh God! What have I done!! Thanks a lot. Corrected. Three mistakes in a row!!!

Niranjan Khanderia - 4 years, 9 months ago

Prince loomba what all have u cleared that ur trying to find mistake in others solution, just post ur solution and then topper forever will make a thousand correction In that Mr arrogant Prince loonba

Topper Forever - 4 years, 3 months ago

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Actually correcting others is not arrogant and I would be overjoyed to be corrected. Even I am not 100% correct!

Prince Loomba - 4 years, 3 months ago

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