Solve sec &#x2061;<!-- ⁡ --> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> x </mrow> + tan

Yahir Crane

Yahir Crane

Answered question

2022-06-21

Solve sec x + tan x = 4
Find x for 0 < x < 2 π
Eventually I get
cos x = 8 17
x = 61.9
The answer I obtained is the only answer, another respective value of x in 4-th quadrant does not solve the equation, how does this happen? I have been facing the same problem every time I solved this kind of trigonometric equation.

Answer & Explanation

marktje28

marktje28

Beginner2022-06-22Added 22 answers

Using t-formula
Let t = tan x 2 , then cos x = 1 t 2 1 + t 2 and tan x = 2 t 1 t 2
Now
1 + t 2 1 t 2 + 2 t 1 t 2 = 4 ( 1 + t ) 2 1 t 2 = 4 1 + t 1 t = 4 ( t 1 ) t = 3 5 tan x 2 = 3 5 x = 2 ( n π + tan 1 3 5 ) x = 2 tan 1 3 5 ( 0 < x < 2 π )

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