The number of solutions of the equation $2 \operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x+\operatorname{Sin}^{-1} x=\frac{11…

The number of solutions of the equation $2 \operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x+\operatorname{Sin}^{-1} x=\frac{11 \pi}{6}$ is
  1. $0$
  2. $1$
  3. $2$
  4. $3$

Solution

The equation is $2 \operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x+\operatorname{Sin}^{-1} x=\frac{11 \pi}{6}$. We use the identity $\operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x+\operatorname{Sin}^{-1} x=\frac{\pi}{2}$ for $x \in [-1, 1]$. The equation can be rewritten as: $(\operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x+\operatorname{Sin}^{-1} x) + \operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x = \frac{11 \pi}{6}$ $\frac{\pi}{2} + \operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x = \frac{11 \pi}{6}$ $\operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x = \frac{11 \pi}{6} - \frac{\pi}{2}$ $\operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x = \frac{11 \pi}{6} - \frac{3 \pi}{6}$ $\operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x = \frac{8 \pi}{6}$ $\operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x = \frac{4 \pi}{3}$ The range of the principal value of $\operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x$ is $[0, \pi]$. Since $\frac{4 \pi}{3} > \pi$, there is no value of $x$ for which $\operatorname{Cos}^{-1} x = \frac{4 \pi}{3}$. Therefore, the equation has $\mathbf{0}$ solutions.

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2017 (25 Apr Shift 2)

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