Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

General Test

Chapter

Quantitative Reasoning

Topic

Trigonometry

Question:

If $cos^2θ -sin^2θ - 3 cosθ + 2, 0° < θ < 90°, $ then what will be the value of secθ - cosθ ?

Options:

$\frac{4}{3}$

$\frac{1}{2}$

$\frac{3}{2}$

$\frac{2}{3}$

Correct Answer:

$\frac{3}{2}$

Explanation:

cos²θ - sin²θ - 3cosθ + 2 = 0

 cos²θ - ( 1 - cos²θ) - 3cosθ + 2 = 0

 2cos²θ  - 3cosθ + 1 = 0

 2cos²θ  - 2cosθ - cosθ + 1 = 0

 2cosθ ( cosθ - 1 ) - 1 ( cosθ - 1 ) = 0

 ( 2cosθ - 1 ) (cosθ - 1 ) = 0

Either 2cosθ - 1  = 0 OR cosθ - 1  = 0

But θ < 90º

So, 2cosθ - 1  = 0

cosθ = \(\frac{1}{2}\)

{ cos60º = \(\frac{1}{2}\) }

So,

θ = 60º

Now,

secθ - cosθ

= sec60º - cos60º

= 2 - \(\frac{1}{2}\)

= \(\frac{3}{2}\)