Hello I have a problem with solving Trigonometric equations. Why this is not true for $0\le\theta\le360$
$$2\sin\theta\cos\theta=\sin\theta$$ $$2\cos\theta=1$$ Set of solutions $\theta=60,360$
and this is ?
$$2\sin\theta\cos\theta=\sin\theta$$ $$\sin\theta(2\cos\theta-1)=0$$ Set of solutions $\theta=0,60,180,300,360$
Both of those seem to be logical and yet they give different results. Can you tell me when should I notice that I can't divide by $\sin\theta$ or some other trig?
$\endgroup$ 03 Answers
$\begingroup$If $\sin{\theta}=0$, your equation is satisfied whatever value $2\cos{\theta}$ has (not necessarily $1$), which gives you some values of $\theta$. So you have to exclude the solutions to $\sin{\theta}=0$ before you divide by it, which will give you other values.
$\endgroup$ 2 $\begingroup$$\sin \theta$ can be $0$. Thus, you divide by zero.
$\endgroup$ 3 $\begingroup$Whenever you want to cancel a factor, check whether it might be zero.
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