# Trigonometric equation $2\cos^2\theta -\cos\theta-1 = \sin^2θ$

I have the following equation, and I have been stumped on it for a long time now, I was wondering if I could get some hints in attempting to solve it.

$$2\cos^2\theta-\cos\theta-1 = \sin^2\theta$$

Solved!

Use the hyperbolic function (Thanks svenkatr):

$$\cos^2\theta - \sin^2\theta = 1$$

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Add $\cos^2(\theta)$ to both sides, and reduce it to quadratic equation in $\cos(\theta)$. –  Sasha Mar 9 '12 at 22:47
@Sasha: Please read this for reasons why it might be better to add an answer rather than commenting: meta.math.stackexchange.com/questions/1559/… –  Aryabhata Mar 9 '12 at 22:50
You have a trigonometric equation, which you want to solve. An identity is an equality that holds for every possible value of the variable(s). –  Américo Tavares Mar 9 '12 at 23:03
@Alex - $\cos^2 \theta + \sin^2 \theta = 1$. We are dealing with trigonometric, not hyperbolic functions. –  svenkatr Mar 9 '12 at 23:28
@Alex The identity should be $\cos^2 \theta + \sin^2 \theta = 1$, with a plus. –  TMM Mar 10 '12 at 1:37

Write $\sin^2 \theta = 1- \cos^2 \theta$, simplify to get a quadratic equation in $\cos \theta$ and solve the equation.
As Sasha pointed out, one can simply add $\cos^2\theta$ to both sides and solve for the quadratic equation. Here is what occurs: $$2\cos^2\theta-\cos\theta-1+\cos^2\theta=\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta$$ $$3\cos^2\theta-\cos\theta-1=1$$ $$3\cos^2\theta-\cos\theta-2=0$$ Let $w=\cos\theta$. Then we get: $$3w^2-w-2=0$$ $$3w^2-3w+2w-2=0$$ $$3w(w-1)+2(w-1)=0$$ $$(3w+2)(w-1)=0$$ So $w=\frac{-2}{3}$ or $w=1$, which means $\cos\theta=\frac{-2}{3}$ or $\cos\theta=1$. This gives us the answers $\theta=2k\pi, k\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $\theta=\pm\cos^{-1}\left(\frac{-2}{3}\right)+2k\pi, k\in \mathbb{Z}$
Not quite a complete answer: it omitted $-\cos^{-1}(-2/3)$, and also omitted to say $\cos^{-1}(-2/3)+2k\pi$ as in the case of $\theta=0$. –  Michael Hardy Mar 10 '12 at 0:57