18
$\begingroup$

I have the trigonometric equation \begin{equation*} \sin^8 x + 2\cos^8 x -\dfrac{1}{2}\cos^2 2x + 4\sin^2 x= 0. \end{equation*} By putting $t = \cos 2x$, I have \begin{equation*} \dfrac{3}{16} t^4+ \dfrac{1}{4}t^3 + \dfrac{5}{8}t^2 -\dfrac{7}{4}t + \dfrac{35}{16} = 0. \end{equation*} How do I tell Mathematica to do that? Mathematica code is

Sin[x]^8 + 2 Cos[x]^8 - 1/2 Cos[2 x]^2 + 4 Sin[x]^2 == 0
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ If you supply your terms in Mathematica syntax as well, that would make working with them much more comfortable. $\endgroup$
    – Yves Klett
    Sep 27, 2012 at 16:13
  • $\begingroup$ With Maple, I used the following code restart; sort(simplify(algsubs(1-sin(x)^2=cos(x)^2, sin(x)^8+ 2*cos(x)^8 -1/2*cos(2*x)^2 + 4*sin(x)^2), {expand(cos(2*x))=t})); $\endgroup$ Sep 27, 2012 at 16:17
  • $\begingroup$ I meant: Please format your (LaTeX) expressions in Mathematica syntax so we can copy and paste easily. $\endgroup$
    – Yves Klett
    Sep 27, 2012 at 16:32

4 Answers 4

21
$\begingroup$

You can use TrigExpand to expand all trigonometric functions to fundamental forms and then Eliminate solves the rest

eq1 = Sin[x]^8 + 2 Cos[x]^8 - 1/2 Cos[2 x]^2 + 4 Sin[x]^2 == 0;
eq2 = t == Cos[2 x]

Eliminate[TrigExpand[{eq1, eq2}], x]
$\endgroup$
12
$\begingroup$

One way to do this is:

Sin[x]^8 + 2 Cos[x]^8 - 1/2 Cos[2 x]^2 + 4 Sin[x]^2 == 0 /. 
  Solve[t == Cos[2 x], x] //FullSimplify // Expand // Union // Column // TraditionalForm

enter image description here

It gives exactly your answer if you get rid of your denominator 16 (multiply both sides of your equation by 16).

This will also work with more complex substitutions (for example t == Cos[x^2 - 1] ) when you can get multiple results:

Sin[x]^8 + 2 Cos[x]^8 - 1/2 Cos[2 x]^2 + 4 Sin[x]^2 == 0 /. 
Solve[t == Cos[x^2 - 1], x]//FullSimplify//Expand//Union //Column // TraditionalForm

enter image description here

$\endgroup$
10
$\begingroup$

A bit different approach :

Simplify @ TrigReduce[ Sin[x]^8 + 2 Cos[x]^8 - 1/2 Cos[2 x]^2 + 4 Sin[x]^2 == 0
/. Solve[ t == Cos[2 x], x, InverseFunctions -> True][[1]]]
35 + 10 t^2 + 4 t^3 + 3 t^4 == 28 t

or using Eliminate :

Eliminate[ TrigToExp[{ Sin[x]^8 + 2 Cos[x]^8 - 1/2 Cos[2 x]^2 + 4 Sin[x]^2 == 0,
                      t == Cos[2 x]}], x, InverseFunctions -> True] // 
PolynomialForm[#, TraditionalOrder -> True] &
3 t^4 + 4 t^3 + 10 t^2 - 28 t == -35  
$\endgroup$
1
$\begingroup$

First plot the trigonometric equation:

Plot[Sin[x]^8 + 2 Cos[x]^8 - 1/2 Cos[2 x]^2 + 4 Sin[x]^2 == 0, {x, 0, 2 Pi}]

You will see that there are no (real) solutions. Is this what you expect?

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ No. I only want as I asked. $\endgroup$ Oct 4, 2012 at 2:43

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.