Re: solved in a non algebraic way?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg42196] Re: solved in a non algebraic way?
- From: "Will Self" <wself at msubillings.edu>
- Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 04:05:33 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <bd2von$1db$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
"Nick Chin" <nchin at students.uiuc.edu> wrote in message news:bd2von$1db$1 at smc.vnet.net... > hello, > > ive been trying to solve an equation of the form > > tan(kx) + m tan(x) = 0 , solving for x > > but mathematica says " The equations appear to involve the variables to > be solved for in an essentially non-algebraic way. " > > So is there another way to use mathematica to solve, or is it powerless > for this problem? > > thanks > > Nick There are formulas for Tan[2x], Tan[3x], and so forth. You can use Mathematica to get these formulas, and you can even figure out the general formula for Tan[k x]. Once you have this formula, maybe things will work. Because Mathematica writes trig expansions in terms of Sin and Cos, you have to trick it a bit, which you can do in the following way: Simplify[TrigExpand[Tan[6x]] /. Sin[x] -> t Cos[x]]