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2009 AMC 12B Problem 24

Problem 24 of 25HarderGeometry

For how many values of xx in [0,π][0, \pi] is sin1(sin6x)=cos1(cosx)?\sin^{-1}(\sin 6x) = \cos^{-1}(\cos x)? Note: The functions sin1=arcsin\sin^{-1} = \arcsin and cos1=arccos\cos^{-1} = \arccos denote inverse trigonometric functions.

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Solution

On [0,π], cos1(cosx)=x.[0, \pi],\ \cos^{-1}(\cos x) = x. Since sin1\sin^{-1} takes values in [π2,π2],[-\tfrac{\pi}{2}, \tfrac{\pi}{2}], any solution requires x[0,π2],x \in [0, \tfrac{\pi}{2}], where the equation becomes sin6x=sinx.\sin 6x = \sin x. The equation sin6x=sinx\sin6x=\sin x holds exactly when 6x=x+2kπ,or6x=πx+2kπ \begin{aligned} 6x&=x+2k\pi, \\ \text{or}\qquad 6x&=\pi-x+2k\pi \end{aligned} for some integer k.k. The first family gives x=2kπ5,x=\tfrac{2k\pi}{5}, contributing 00 and 2π5.\tfrac{2\pi}{5}. The second gives x=(2k+1)π7,x=\tfrac{(2k+1)\pi}{7}, contributing π7\tfrac\pi7 and 3π7.\tfrac{3\pi}{7}. Hence there are 44 solutions in [0,π2].[0,\tfrac\pi2]. Thus, the correct answer is B.

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Concepts: trigonometry · casework

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