Appendix
A-7: Trigonometry
Example A-7.4
For the equation , find all solutions in the interval .
Solution
Mathematical Solution
Figure A-7.4(a), a graph of , suggests that the given equation has four solutions in the interval , and that and might well be two of these four solutions.
However, two different functions appear in the equation, and the trig identity must be used to convert the equation to one quadratic in .
The transformed equation is then , which factors to .
Figure A-7.4(a) Graph of
By the Zero Principle, either or both factors must themselves be zero, so the following two equations must be solved: and .
The solutions of the first equation are and . (The cosine function is positive in the first and fourth quadrants; hence, the two solutions.)
The solutions of the second equation are and .
Maple Solution - Interactive
Solution by Context Panel
Tools≻Load Package: Student Calculus 1
Loading Student:-Calculus1
Control-drag the equation and press the Enter key.
Context Panel: Student Calculus 1≻Find Roots Enter bounds as per Figure A-7.4(b)
Context Panel: Approximate≻5 (digits)
Figure A-7.4(b) Bounds for roots
Solution from first principles
Expression palette: Evaluation template Evaluate equation with . Press the Enter key.
Context Panel: Move to Right
Context Panel: Right-hand Side
Context Panel: Factor
Control-drag the first factor equate to zero. Press the Enter key.
Control-drag the second factor; equate to zero. Press the Enter key.
Maple Solution - Coded
Tools≻Load Package: Student Calculus 1 (Skip this step if package already loaded.)
Assign the equation to the name .
Apply the Roots command with the appropriate bound on .
Apply the evalf command with 5 as the optional digits parameter.
Apply the simplify command, which has a preference for over .
Use the lhs and rhs commands to move all terms to the right.
Apply the factor command to the equation.
Use the lhs (left-hand side) command to select the left side of the factored equation.
Apply the Roots and evalf commands to each factor, extracting factors with the op command
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