How Do You Solve a Trigonometric Equation Involving Both Sine and Cosine?

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To solve the trigonometric equation 0.15348 = 0.1415cosβ - 0.291sinβcosβ, the discussion suggests using trigonometric identities to simplify the equation. Squaring both sides leads to a more complex expression involving cos2β and sin2β. By substituting cos2β with t, the equation can be rewritten, but it becomes complicated with terms like √(t-t²). Participants express concern over the complexity and seek alternative methods for solving the equation. The conversation highlights the challenge of handling equations that involve both sine and cosine functions.
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as part of a physics problem i get to one stage before the ansewr and then i get stuck here:

0.15348=0.1415cosβ -0.291sinβcosβ

how do i solve this equation with both sinβ and cosβ, i realize that i need to play with the identities but have had no luck,
please help
 
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Try squaring both sides and see if you can use sin2x+cos2x=1 in hopes to get one trig term.
 
copied it all wrong, sorry, obviously can't work,,,

meant to be

0.15348=0.1415cosβ -0.291sinβcosβ

if i square it i get

0.023556=0.02cos2β +0.085sin2βcos2β-0.08sinβcosβ

if i say cos2β=t

0.023556=0.02t + 0.085(1-t)*(t)-0.08*\sqrt{1-t}\sqrt{t}

0.023556=0.02t + 0.085t - 0.085t2 -0.08\sqrt{t-t<sup>2</sup>}

0.023556=0.105t - 0.85t2 - 0.08\sqrt{t-t<sup>2</sup>}

now how would i find t??

you sure there's no better way?
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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