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Geometry Level 3

Number of solutions to sin x + 2 sin 2 x sin 3 x = 3 \sin { x } +2\sin { 2x } -\sin { 3x } =3 x ( 0 , π ) \forall x\in (0,\pi ) is


The answer is 0.

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2 solutions

Using the identities

sin ( 2 x ) = 2 sin ( x ) cos ( x ) \sin(2x) = 2\sin(x)\cos(x) and

sin ( 3 x ) = 3 sin ( x ) 4 sin 3 ( x ) \sin(3x) = 3\sin(x) - 4\sin^{3}(x) , the equation becomes

sin ( x ) + 4 sin ( x ) cos ( x ) 3 sin ( x ) + 4 sin 3 ( x ) = 3 \sin(x) + 4\sin(x)\cos(x) - 3\sin(x) + 4\sin^{3}(x) = 3

4 sin ( x ) cos ( x ) + 4 sin 3 ( x ) 2 sin ( x ) = 3 \Longrightarrow 4\sin(x)\cos(x) + 4\sin^{3}(x) - 2\sin(x) = 3 .

Now let f ( x ) = 4 sin ( x ) cos ( x ) + 4 sin 3 ( x ) 2 sin ( x ) f(x) = 4\sin(x)\cos(x) + 4\sin^{3}(x) - 2\sin(x) . We can rewrite f ( x ) f(x) as

2 sin ( x ) ( 2 cos ( x ) + 2 sin 2 ( x ) 1 ) = 2 sin ( x ) ( 2 cos 2 ( x ) + 2 cos ( x ) + 1 ) = 2 sin ( x ) ( 2 ( cos ( x ) 1 2 ) 2 + 3 2 ) 2\sin(x)(2\cos(x) + 2\sin^{2}(x) - 1) = 2\sin(x)(-2\cos^{2}(x) + 2\cos(x) + 1) = 2\sin(x)(-2(\cos(x) - \frac{1}{2})^{2} + \frac{3}{2}) ,

which can only equal 3 3 when sin ( x ) = 1 \sin(x) = 1 and cos ( x ) = 1 2 \cos(x) = \frac{1}{2} . Since these conditions can't coexist, we can conclude that f ( x ) < 3 f(x) \lt 3 for all x x on the given interval, and hence there are no solutions to the original equation.

I am sorry but you used a wrong expression for sin3x????? So your solution is wrong.

Сергей Кротов - 6 years, 9 months ago

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Edit: Sorry for the error. Thanks for correcting the solution!

The expression is correct. You should review the Triple Angle Identity .

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 9 months ago

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He was correct in pointing out a mistake I made before making my edits. I made a mess of my solution on the first attempt and I don't like my present version either, but at least I think it is error-free now.

Brian Charlesworth - 6 years, 9 months ago

Another way to deal with f ( x ) f(x) is to write it as

f ( x ) = 2 cos x + 4 ( 1 cos 2 x ) 2 = 2 + 2 cos x 4 cos 2 x = 2 + 2 y 4 y 2 f(x) = 2 \cos x + 4 ( 1 - \cos ^2 x ) - 2 \\ = 2 + 2 \cos x - 4 \cos^2 x = 2 + 2y - 4y^2

Then, the maximum occurs when y = 2 2 × ( 4 ) y = - \frac{ 2}{ 2 \times ( -4) } .

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 9 months ago

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Thanks for this note; my f ( x ) f(x) has changed now with my edits, but your approach gave me the necessary guidance to find a solution free of any WolframAlpha assistance. :)

Brian Charlesworth - 6 years, 9 months ago

Now everything is OK.

Сергей Кротов - 6 years, 9 months ago

As to the wrong answer in "my" answer that happened due to my grand-son who didn't want to think and simply tried to guess clicking the answer space. This is really a very old and rather good problem.

Сергей Кротов - 6 years, 9 months ago

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Haha. Maybe that will teach your grandson to think a bit more next time and not resort to guessing. :) Thanks again for pointing out my mistake; I'm glad that everything is o.k. now.

Brian Charlesworth - 6 years, 9 months ago

Thank you all.

Сергей Кротов - 6 years, 9 months ago
Priyank Gaur
Aug 28, 2014

Since the max value of sin x is 1, therefore the individual sin expressions must be equal to 1 to give 3 on RHS.

But then we see that sin 3x doesn't equal -1 (because it has to add up) in the given domain. So that leaves the possibility of 2 sin 2x being equal to 2 and sin x being equal to 1, for which there is no common solution.

Hence, no. of solutions = 0.

What do you mean by "The individual sin expressions"?

Mark Kong - 6 years, 9 months ago

I disagree with your solution.

Why can't sin 3 x \sin 3x be negative, which means that we do not need sin x + 2 sin 2 x = 3 \sin x + 2 \sin 2x = 3 ?

Calvin Lin Staff - 6 years, 8 months ago

Wow! Its really nice to see such a nice and easy analytical solution! Upvoted!

Jayakumar Krishnan - 6 years, 9 months ago

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Thank you for your kind words. I believe most of the students preparing for competitive exams would follow that method. Saves time.

Priyank Gaur - 6 years, 9 months ago

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nice one ..........................................

math man - 6 years, 8 months ago

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