Precalculus (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32197-907-9
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-907-0

Chapter 7 - Analytic Trigonometry - 7.3 Trigonometric Equations - 7.3 Assess Your Understanding - Page 466: 53

Answer

$1.82, 4.46$.

Work Step by Step

The domain of $\cos^{-1}{x}$ is the range of $\cos{x}$, which is $[−1, 1] $. The range of $\cos^{-1}{x}$ is a specified domain of $\cos{x}$, i.e. $\left[0,\pi \right]$. We know that $\sec^{-1}(x)=\cos^{-1}{\frac{1}{x}}$. After using a calculator in radian mode the solutions for $\sec^{-1}{-4}=\cos^{-1}{\frac{1}{4}}$ is $1.82$ (given by the calculator) and because the sec function is symmetric $x=\pi$ the second solution is: $\pi+(\pi-1.82)\approx4.46$.
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