2009 AMC 12B Problem 24

Attempt Problem 24 of the 2009 AMC 12B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

24.

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.

33

44

55

66

77

Answer: B
Concepts:trigonometrycasework
Difficulty rating: 2460
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.

← Problem 23#23
Full Exam

Problem 24 in Other Years