Solve a sin x + b cos x = c

Yue Kwok Choy

Question
Solve : 12 sin x + 5 cos x = 4
P
Method 1
12 13
Construct a triangle OPQ with tan = .
5 12

67.380o .

Also,
OP= 52 +122 =13 O 5 Q

Now, 12 sin x + 5 cos x = 4

(13 sin ) sin x + (13 cos ) cos x = 4
13 (cos x cos + sin x sin ) = 4
13 cos (x ) = 4
4
cos ( x )=
13
o
x67 . 380 360 n72 .080
o
x360 n72. 080 +67 . 380
x360 n+139 . 460 or x360 n4 . 700 ,where n is an integer . . (1)

Method 2
5 P
Construct a triangle OPQ with tan = .
12
22.620o . 13
5
Also,
OP= 5 +12 =13
2 2

Now, 12 sin x + 5 cos x = 4 O 12 Q

(13 cos ) sin x + (13 sin ) cos x = 4
13 (sin x cos + cos x sin ) = 4
13 sin ( x + ) = 4
4
sin ( x+ ) =
13
n
x+22. 620180 n+ (1 ) 17 . 920o
n
x180 n+ (1 ) 17 . 920o 22 . 620
, where n is an integer . . (2)

To show that the solution set (2) is the same as the solution set (1), we need to divide the solution into odd
and even cases :
1
 o
x180 ( 2 m )+17. 920 22. 620 =360 m4 .700
(a) n = 2m ,

x180 ( 2 m+1 )17 . 920o 22 .620=360 m+139. 460

(b) n = 2m + 1, , where m is an integer.

Method 3 (t method)
x
Let t=tan .
2
x x
sin2 tan
x x 2 x 2 2t
sin x=2 sin cos =2 cos 2 = =
2 2 x 2 2 x 1+t 2
cos sec
2 2

x x

( )
sin 2
1tan 2
x x 2 x 2 1t 2
cos x=cos 2 sin 2 = 1 cos 2 = = 2
2 2 2x 2 2x 1+t
cos sec
2 2

Now, the equation : 12 sin x + 5 cos x = 4

1t 2
12
( ) ( )
2t
1+ t 2
+5
1+t 2
=4

12 ( 2 t )+ 5 ( 1t 2 ) =4 ( 1+t 2 )
2
9 t 24 t1=0
4 17
t=
3
x x
tan 2. 7077 or tan 0 . 041035
2 2
x x
180 n+ 69. 730 or 180 n2. 3500
2 2
x360 n+139 . 460 or x360 n4 . 700 , where n is an integer . . (3)

Method 4 (unsatisfactory)

12 sin x + 5 cos x = 4
12sin x5 1sin 2 x=4

5 1sin 2 x=412 sin x

25 ( 1sin 2 x ) =1696 sin x+144 sin 2 x

2
169 sin x96 sin x9=0
4815 17
sin x= 0. 64998 or 0. 081932
169

2
 n n
x180 n+ (1 ) 40. 540 or x180 n+ (1 ) (4 . 700)
. (4)

Method 4 is unsatisfactory since solution set (4) gives a larger solution set than (1), (2) or (3).
Readers please explain. What solutions should be rejected ? How to reject ?

Explanation

Squaring equation creates roots! That is why Method 4 is not recommended.

Finding the redundant roots is tedious:

In (4),
n
x180 n+ (1 ) 40. 540
(a) When .

(i) n = 2m, x360 m+40 . 540

(ii) n = 2m + 1, x360 m+139 . 460
x180 n+ (1 )n (4 .700 )
(b) When

(i) n = 2m, x360 m4. 700

(ii) n = 2m + 1, x360 m+184 .700

Therefore (4) is equivalent to :

{
x360 m+40 .540 . .. .(4 . 1)
x360 m+139. 460 . .. .(4 . 2)
x360 m4 . 700 . .. .(4 . 3 )
x360 m+184 .700 . .. .(4 . 4 )

(4.2) and (4.3) are good solutions.

(4.1) and (4.4) should be rejected.

=12 sin ( 360 m+40 .540 )+5 cos ( 360 m+40 .540 )
For (4.1), 12 sin x + 5 cos x

=12 sin 40. 540+5 cos40 . 540

12 ( 0 . 64998 ) +5 ( 0 .75995 )
11.59951
4

x360 m+40 . 540 does not satisfy the equation 12 sin x + 5 cos x = 4, and should be rejected.

Similarly, for (4.4), x360 m+184 . 700 should be rejected.

3
4