Friday, April 4, 2014

If 5*sin x = 5*cos x, what is x?

let theta = x


The whole
equation becomes


5 sin x = 5 cos
x


divide both sides by 5


we
get


sin x = cos x


if the
answer is in radians


then since sin x =  cos (pi/2 -
x)


then the equation
becomes


cos (pi/2-x) = cos
x


pi/2 - x = x


x=
pi/4


of course, since cos and sin are like waves, this
equation have multiple answers


sin and cos rotate in a
cycle of  2pi


and sin and cos grphs meet two times per
cycle


the general theta answer = pi/4 +
kpi


k is a whole number
constant


for degree answers, it is 45 +
k180


k is a whole number
constant


hope this helps

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