JEE Main & Advanced Mathematics Trigonometric Equations Question Bank Critical Thinking

  • question_answer
    The general solution of \[a\cos x+b\sin x=c,\] where  \[a,\,\,b,\,\,c\] are constants

    A) \[x=n\pi +{{\cos }^{-1}}\left( \frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}} \right)\]

    B) \[x=2n\pi -{{\tan }^{-1}}\left( \frac{b}{a} \right)\]

    C) \[x=2n\pi -{{\tan }^{-1}}\left( \frac{b}{a} \right)\pm {{\cos }^{-1}}\left( \frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}} \right)\]

    D) \[x=2n\pi +{{\tan }^{-1}}\left( \frac{b}{a} \right)\pm {{\cos }^{-1}}\left( \frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}} \right)\]

    Correct Answer: D

    Solution :

    \[\frac{a}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}\cos x+\frac{b}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}\sin x=\frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}\] \[\Rightarrow \]  \[\cos \left( x-{{\cos }^{-1}}\frac{a}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}} \right)=\frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}\] \[\Rightarrow \]  \[x-{{\cos }^{-1}}\frac{a}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}={{\cos }^{-1}}\frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}\] General solution is, \[x-{{\cos }^{-1}}\frac{a}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}=2n\pi \pm {{\cos }^{-1}}\frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}\] or \[x=2n\pi \pm {{\cos }^{-1}}\frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}+{{\cos }^{-1}}\frac{a}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}\]    x = \[2n\pi +{{\tan }^{-1}}\frac{b}{a}\pm {{\cos }^{-1}}\frac{c}{\sqrt{{{a}^{2}}+{{b}^{2}}}}\]. Trick: Put\[a=b=c=1\], then \[\cos \left( x-\frac{\pi }{4} \right)\]=\[\cos \frac{\pi }{4}\] \[\Rightarrow \]  \[x=2n\pi +\frac{\pi }{4}\pm \frac{\pi }{4}\] which is given by option (d).


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