Solved on Dec 14, 2023

Solve the trigonometric equation sec2θ+2secθ=0\sec^2 \theta + 2 \sec \theta = 0 for θ\theta.

STEP 1

Assumptions
1. We are solving the equation sec2θ+2secθ=0\sec^2 \theta + 2 \sec \theta = 0 for θ\theta.
2. secθ\sec \theta is the secant function, which is the reciprocal of the cosine function, so secθ=1cosθ\sec \theta = \frac{1}{\cos \theta}.
3. The domain of secθ\sec \theta excludes values of θ\theta for which cosθ=0\cos \theta = 0, since division by zero is undefined.

STEP 2

Let's introduce a substitution to simplify the equation. Let x=secθx = \sec \theta, which means x=1cosθx = \frac{1}{\cos \theta}.

STEP 3

Rewrite the original equation using the substitution x=secθx = \sec \theta.
x2+2x=0x^2 + 2x = 0

STEP 4

Factor out xx from the equation.
x(x+2)=0x(x + 2) = 0

STEP 5

Apply the zero product property, which states that if a product of factors is zero, then at least one of the factors must be zero.
x=0orx+2=0x = 0 \quad \text{or} \quad x + 2 = 0

STEP 6

Solve the first equation x=0x = 0. However, since x=secθx = \sec \theta and secθ\sec \theta cannot be zero (because cosθ\cos \theta cannot be infinite), this solution is not valid within the domain of secθ\sec \theta.

STEP 7

Solve the second equation x+2=0x + 2 = 0.
x=2x = -2

STEP 8

Substitute back secθ\sec \theta for xx.
secθ=2\sec \theta = -2

STEP 9

Recall that secθ=1cosθ\sec \theta = \frac{1}{\cos \theta}, so we can write:
1cosθ=2\frac{1}{\cos \theta} = -2

STEP 10

Take the reciprocal of both sides to solve for cosθ\cos \theta.
cosθ=12\cos \theta = -\frac{1}{2}

STEP 11

Determine the values of θ\theta for which cosθ=12\cos \theta = -\frac{1}{2}. These values are found by considering the unit circle and the symmetry of the cosine function.
θ=2π3+2kπorθ=4π3+2kπ,kZ\theta = \frac{2\pi}{3} + 2k\pi \quad \text{or} \quad \theta = \frac{4\pi}{3} + 2k\pi, \quad k \in \mathbb{Z}
The solutions for θ\theta are 2π3+2kπ\frac{2\pi}{3} + 2k\pi and 4π3+2kπ\frac{4\pi}{3} + 2k\pi, where kk is any integer.

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