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Expert: - 1/12/2009


Question
How do I solve: sec^2 x + tan x = 1 given that 0 degrees </= x < 360 degrees? I know that for tan x = 1, x = 45 degrees. But otherwise I do not understand how to work this problem at all.
Thank you for your time and help!

Answer
I answered this one just a minute ago, but here's another note.

If tan(x) = 1, then x = 45° is valid,
but we could also have x = 135° since tan(x) is opposite / adjactent.
At 135°, both the top and the bottom are negative when looked at in the x-y plane, so they cancel.  Note that they are equal, so the answer is 1.

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