Question

solve cos^2 x -3sinx=3

Answer 1

start with
\[1-\sin^2(x)-3\sin(x)-3=0\] and solve the quadratic equation in \(\sin(x)\)

Answer 2

Oh nevermind, you mentioned that already...

Then you can replace all the sine's with y's

Answer 3

\[1-y^2-3y-3=0\] reduces to \[-y^2-3y-2=0\]