Expert: Sherry Wallin - 12/19/2009

Question
1. solve the equation, tan=1 for the given interval of x. -pi/2 less than or equal to x less than or equal to pi/2. choices are 2,pi,pi/2, or pi/4.
2.solve the equation cot x=0, for the given interval of x. 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to pi; choices are pi,pi/4,2pi, or pi/2

Answer
Hi Dean~
    There is no such thing as tan=1, you must always have an argument for a function. You must have meant tan x = 1. Well since the tan x = sin x/cos x and you want to know when the tan x = 1 it should be when sin x= cos x and the angle that occurs at is 45 deg and at 225 deg but since you have an interval of -pi/2, pi/2 it can only be 45 deg = pi/4. For the cot x it is the cos x/sin x and we want it to be 0 so it has to be when cos x = 0 which is at pi/2.

Math Prof