find x: 3tanx = -1

Question

solve on [0, 360)

answer must be an exact value, if not round to the nearest hundredth

Answer 1

In order to solve for x, we need to isolate tanx by dividing both sides by 3

tanx = -1/3

take arctan (AKA tan^-1) of -1/3 and plug into your calculator (make sure you're in degree mode)

arctan(-1/3) = x

The result is that x is about -18.43 degrees

Because this degree is negative, we need to subtract it from 360 degrees in order to be within the interval [0,360). -18 degrees falls within the 4th quadrant on the unit circle

360 - 18.43 = 341.57 degrees

x = 341.57 degrees