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Equations with a sum turned into a product

Equations with a sum turned into a product

A sum equal to 0

A product is 0\displaystyle 0 when one of its factors is 0\displaystyle 0. So a sum of sines or of cosines equal to 0\displaystyle 0 is turned into a product:

sin⁡5x+sin⁡x=0\displaystyle {\sin5x+\sin x}={0}

  • 2sin⁡3xcos⁡2x=0\displaystyle {2\sin3x\cos2x}={0}.
  • sin⁡3x=0\displaystyle {\sin3x}={0} or cos⁡2x=0\displaystyle {\cos2x}={0}.
  • 3x=πk\displaystyle {3x}={\pi k} or 2x=π2+πk\displaystyle {2x}={\frac{\pi}{2}+\pi k}.
  • x=πk3\displaystyle {x}={\frac{\pi k}{3}} or x=π4+πk2\displaystyle {x}={\frac{\pi}{4}+\frac{\pi k}{2}}.
A factor common to both sides

Sometimes, after turning into a product, the same factor shows on the other side. Move everything to one side and take it out – do not divide by it:

cos⁡3x+cos⁡x=cos⁡2x\displaystyle {\cos3x+\cos x}={\cos2x}

  • 2cos⁡2xcos⁡x=cos⁡2x\displaystyle {2\cos2x\cos x}={\cos2x}.
  • cos⁡2x(2cos⁡x−1)=0\displaystyle {\cos2x(2\cos x-1)}={0}.
  • cos⁡2x=0\displaystyle {\cos2x}={0} or cos⁡x=12\displaystyle {\cos x}={\frac{1}{2}}.
  • x=π4+πk2\displaystyle {x}={\frac{\pi}{4}+\frac{\pi k}{2}} or x=±π3+2πk\displaystyle {x}={\pm\frac{\pi}{3}+2\pi k}.
From a sine to a cosine

When one side is a sine and the other a cosine, turn one of them with sin⁡x=cos⁡(π2−x)\displaystyle {\sin x}={\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right)}, and you get cos⁡f(x)=cos⁡g(x)\displaystyle {\cos f(x)}={\cos g(x)}:

sin⁡x=cos⁡3x\displaystyle {\sin x}={\cos3x}

  • cos⁡(π2−x)=cos⁡3x\displaystyle {\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right)}={\cos3x}.
  • 3x=π2−x+2πk\displaystyle {3x}={\frac{\pi}{2}-x+2\pi k} or 3x=−π2+x+2πk\displaystyle {3x}={-\frac{\pi}{2}+x+2\pi k}.
  • x=π8+πk2\displaystyle {x}={\frac{\pi}{8}+\frac{\pi k}{2}} or x=−π4+πk\displaystyle {x}={-\frac{\pi}{4}+\pi k}.
Exercise 1

Solve.

    Exercise 2

    Solve.

      Exercise 3

      Solve.

        Exercise 4

        Solve.

          Exercise 5

          Solve.

            Exercise 6

            Solve.