Trigonometry (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321671775
ISBN 13: 978-0-32167-177-6

Chapter 6 - Inverse Circular Functions and Trigonometric Equations - Section 6.2 Trigonometric Equations I - 6.2 Exercises - Page 269: 66

Answer

The fault in the solution given in the exercise is that by dividing the equation by $\sin x$, it has lost a possibility, a solution, which is $\sin x=0$.

Work Step by Step

$$\sin^2x-\sin x=0$$ So the next step states that the equation would be divided by $\sin x$ to become $$\sin x-1=0$$ However, a closer analysis would show that, if we divide the equation by $\sin x$ like this: $$\frac{\sin^2x}{\sin x}-\frac{\sin x}{\sin x}=\frac{0}{\sin x}$$ This would create a totally different equation, which does not allow for $\sin x=0$. In other words, here in this equation, $\sin x\ne0$. That means a possibility $\sin x=0$ has been eliminated from the original equation. In fact, if we replace $\sin x=0$ into the original equation, we get $$0^2-0=0$$ which means $\sin x=0$ is a solution of the equation. Therefore, the fault in the solution given in the exercise is that by dividing the equation by $\sin x$, it has lost a possibility, a solution, which is $\sin x=0$.
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