Find a solution to sec^(2)(x)+2tan(x) = 0

This question is a quadratic equation in hiding. The first step to solving this would be to expand sec^(2)(x) into 1 + tan^(2)(x) as they are equivalent. This can be derived by dividing sin^(2)(x) + cos^(2)(x) = 1 by cos^(2)(x). This will give us the equation tan^(2)(x) + 2tan(x) +1 = 0. If tan(x) is set to equal z, we end up with the equation z^(2)+2z+1 = 0, which gives us the solution z = -1 when the quadratic formula is used. If we substitute tan(x) back in, we end up with tan(x) = -1, which gives us the solution x = -45 when our calculators are used.

MB

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Show that the volume of the solid formed by the curve y=cos(x/2), as it is rotated 360° around the x-axis between x= π/4 and x=3π/4, is of the form π^2/a. Find the constant a.


solve the differential equation dy/dx = 6xy^2 given that y = 1 when x = 2


How to expand squared brackets?


Simultaneous Equations