[Math] How many solutions does a trigonometric function have $0\le x \le 2\pi$

trigonometry

How do I algebraically determine how many solutions a trigonometric solution have $0\leq x\leq 2\pi$? So far I have been drawing graphs for each question and counted the solutions but I want a way to do this algebraically. Many people tell me to use the double angle identities but I haven't learned it yet. I know that the period of $\sin$ and $\cos$ are $2\pi$ and $\tan$ is $\pi$. One of the questions on my test was like..

Determine how many solutions do the following equations have for $0\leq x\leq 2\pi$.

a) $\sin(3x)=-1/4 $

b)$(\tan(2x))^2=1$

Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

I do one, you do the other:

$$\tan^22x=1\iff \tan 2x=\pm1\iff 2x=\pm\frac\pi4+k\pi\;,\;\;k\in\Bbb Z\iff$$

$$\iff x=\pm\frac\pi8+k\frac\pi2\;,\;\;k\in\Bbb Z$$

Hint for the other:

$$\sin3x=-\frac14\iff3x=\arcsin\left(-\frac14\right)+2k\pi\ldots\ldots\text{etc.}$$

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