Solve for 0=<x<360 : 2((tanx)^2) + ((secx)^2) = 1

First step I would take would make it look less intimidating by converting all components into sin and cos i.e

2(((sinx)/(cosx))^2) + 1/((cosx)^2) = 1

Notice that there is a common denominator of cosx^2    so I would multiply this up:

2((sinx)^2) + 1 = (cosx)^2

Eliminate cos by putting it in the form of sin using the trig identiy (cosx)^2 = 1 - (sinx)^2

so we have:

2((sinx)^2) + 1 = 1 - (sinx)^2

rearranging we obtain

3((sinx)^2) = 0

(sinx)^2 = 0

sinx = 0

In between 0 and 360, the sine function is 0 at 0 and 180 (360 is also a solution but not in the range)

so x = 0, 180

BP
Answered by Bryan P. Maths tutor

5534 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

A ball is thrown from ground level at an angle of 30 degrees from the horizontal with a velocity of 20 m/s. It just clears a wall with a height of 5m, from this calculate the distances that the wall could be from the starting position.


How do I use the chain rule for differentiation?


Find the equation of the tangent at x=1 for the curve y=(4x^2+1)^3


A triangle has sides A, B and C. The side BC has length 20cm, the angle ABC is 50 deg and angle BAC is 68 deg. a) Show that the length of AC is 16.5cm, correct to three significant figures. b) The midpoint of BC is M, hence find the length of AM


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning