Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 4 / 275 of 340 #535 of 1964

Problem 535

AMC 12 late, AIME early
Algebra Difficulty 4.9 Find the answer

1. Solve the equation
sinsinx=sin(cosx+1) \sin \sin x=\sin (\cos x+1)

A number or a short expression. Fractions can be typed as 3/2, and spacing doesn't matter.

Official solution

1. Consider two cases.
(1) If sinx=cosx+1+2πl(lZ)\sin x=\cos x+1+2 \pi l(l \in \mathbf{Z}), then
2πl=1+sinxcosx1+2l=0. \begin{array}{l} |2 \pi l|=|-1+\sin x-\cos x| \leqslant 1+\sqrt{2} \\ \Rightarrow l=0 . \end{array}

Notice that,
sinxcosx=1sin(xπ4)=22x=π4+(1)nπ4+πn(nZ). \begin{array}{l} \sin x-\cos x=1 \\ \Leftrightarrow \sin \left(x-\frac{\pi}{4}\right)=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \\ \Leftrightarrow x=\frac{\pi}{4}+(-1)^{n} \frac{\pi}{4}+\pi n(n \in \mathbf{Z}) . \end{array}
(2) If sinx=πcosx1+2πl(lZ)\sin x=\pi-\cos x-1+2 \pi l(l \in \mathbf{Z}), then
ππ+2πl1+sinx+cosx1+2 \pi \leqslant|\pi+2 \pi l| \leqslant 1+|\sin x+\cos x| \leqslant 1+\sqrt{2} \text {. }

This is impossible.
In conclusion, x=π4+(1)nπ4+πn(nZ)x=\frac{\pi}{4}+(-1)^{n} \frac{\pi}{4}+\pi n(n \in \mathbf{Z}).

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.