3sinx=cosx
Solve for 0

Question

3sinx=cosx
Solve for 0<x<360. Give answer to the nearest degree.

freckles · Answer

You could try writing dividing both sides by 3cos(x) first.  Then you will see how you really need is to know the inverse of tan. Don't forget there could be more than one solution.

anonymous · Answer

I don't understand why I can do that though. Would you mind explaining?

freckles · Answer

Why I can do that?  As long as you do one thing to one side and also to the other the equation still holds  maybe with more or less domain restrictions but that is why you also check your solutions in the end too.

anonymous · Answer

Alright so if I were to divide by the 3cosx that would give me tanx= 1/2cosx, correct?

freckles · Answer

No

freckles · Answer

Cos(x) /cos(x)  should equal one 
Also where does that 2 come from

anonymous · Answer

I thought I was supposed to divide by 3cosx,

freckles · Answer

Yep

anonymous · Answer

So then what happens to the 3?

freckles · Answer

It doesn't turn into a 2

anonymous · Answer

It becomes tanx=1/3 doesn't it?

freckles · Answer

Good

anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much! This was really helpful!

freckles · Answer

I think you get two solutions between 0 and 360 degrees.  The period for than is 180 degrees.  So you can do arctan of both sides that will give you one x and then plus 180 that should give you another

anonymous · Answer

Alright I will, thanks again!