FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, SOLVING TRIG EQUATIONS

INTRODUCTION You can already solve all kinds of equations. You have been doing it since your first algebra class. You know that some equations have no solutions, some have only one solution, and others can have any number of solutions, even an infinite number. x = x = x + 1 x + 1 = x + 1

INTRODUCTION Today’s lesson focuses on solving trigonometric equations (which we will refer to as trig equations from now on). The concepts and the procedures you will use are basically the same, but there are a few unique qualities of trig equations that you have to keep in mind. Let’s see what sets this kind of solving apart from the rest.

6.1 CONTINUED

CLOSURE Solving a trigonometric equation is like solving any equation: our goal is to get the variable by itself on one side of the equal sign. We want to find out what values of the variable will make the equation “true.” But, we need to keep in mind when solving trig equations, that there are not necessarily a finite number of solutions. The solutions we want will depend on the problem situation. If only a few solutions are required, we can limit the domain to a particular interval.

MATH NOTES - SOLVING PERIODIC FUNCTIONS