Question

How to solve the equation: Sinx-cosx=0.5 by using the accurately drawn sine and cosine curves?

Answer 1

i guess you have to draw the curve
i would use wolfram
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sin%28x%29-cos%28x%29

Answer 2

then see if you can find where you get \(y=\frac{1}{2}\)
again i would use wolfram, there is no pretty solution for this
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sin%28x%29-cos%28x%29%3D1%2F2

if you want a decimal solution, click on "approximate form"

Answer 3

The curve is already there. Here's a link to the past paper I'm doing. The question is on page 4. http://www.xtremepapers.com/papers/CIE/Cambridge%20IGCSE/Mathematics%20(0580)/0580_s10_qp_22.pdf

Answer 4

oh i see
i guess with your eyeballs you try to see where the distance between the curves is \(0.5\)

Answer 5

with the sine curve above the cosine curve

Answer 6

ah i see. thanks. but i get something along 60 and also something along along 25 degrees too. so which one do i choose?

Answer 7

oh terribly sorry. didn't carefully read your last comment. :) thank you