How do you solve sin (cosx) = sqrt2/4?

3 Answers
Jun 11, 2015

Take the arcsin to determine cos(x); then take arccos to determine x (= 1.201)

Explanation:

If sin(cos(x)) = sqrt(2)/4
then
color(white)("XXXX")cos(x)
color(white)("XXXX")= arcsin(sin(cos(x)))

color(white)("XXXX")=arcsin(sqrt(2)/4)
color(white)("XXXX")color(white)("XXXX")(using a calculator)
color(white)("XXXX")=0.361367

If cos(x) = 0.361367
then
color(white)("XXXX")x
color(white)("XXXX")= arccos(cos(x))

color(white)("XXXX")=arccos(0.361367)
color(white)("XXXX")color(white)("XXXX")(again, using a calculato)
color(white)("XXXX")= 1.201

Note: I have assumed all values are in radians

Jun 11, 2015

Solve sin (arccos (sqrt2/4))

Explanation:

On the trig unit circle,

cos x= sqrt2/4 = 0.35 --> x = +- 69.30 deg

a . sin y = sin (69.30) = 0.94-->

y = 69.30 and y = 180 - 69.30 = 110.70 deg

b. sin y = sin (-69.30) = -0.94 -> sin (360 - 69.30) = 290.70

and y = 180 + 69.30 = 249.30

Within period (0, 360), there are 4 answers;

69.30; 110.70; 249.30 and 290.70.

Check by calculator: cos 290.70 = cos 249.30 = cos 110.70 = cos 69.30 = 0.35

Jun 11, 2015

Alternate Answer The given equation can not be solved since sin(cos(x)) is a meaningless expression.

Explanation:

cos x can be interpreted to mean one of two things:
1. cos_r(x) where x is an angle measured in radians;
2. cos_d(x) where x is an angle measured in degrees.

Whichever interpretation is used
cos x is a ratio of tow sides of a right-triangle (it is not an angle measurement).

Similarly, sin(theta) can be interpreted as
1. sin_r(theta) where theta is an angle measured in radians;
2. sin_d(theta) where theta is an angle measured in degrees.

Note that sin(theta) does not have any meaning unless theta is an angle.
In particular sin(theta) is meaningless if theta is not an angle.

Since the value of cos x is not an angle,
sin(cos x) is meaningless.