Solving $\sin(\omega t)=- \frac 1 2$

Question

Solve the given trigonometric equation: $$\sin(\omega t)=- \frac 1 2$$

Here is my attempt:

$$\sin(\omega t)=- \frac 1 2 = \sin \biggr (\pi +\dfrac{\pi}{6}\biggr )$$

Which yields

$$\omega t = \dfrac{7\pi }{6}$$

or

$$\sin(\omega t)=- \frac 1 2 = \sin \biggr (2\pi -\dfrac{\pi}{6}\biggr )$$

$$\omega t = \dfrac{11\pi}{6}$$

Is my assumption correct?

Regards!

Answer 1

Yes it is right but recall to add the $2k\pi$ term with $k\in \mathbb{Z}$, indeed we have

$$\sin(\omega t)=- \frac 1 2\iff \omega t=\dfrac{7\pi }{6}+2k\pi\,\lor\,\omega t=\dfrac{11\pi }{6}+2k\pi$$

Answer 2

The sin$(x)$ function repeats itself every $2\pi$ times, so $\omega t=\frac{7\pi}6+2kπ$ and $\omega t=\frac{11\pi}{6}+2k\pi,\;$ where $k \in \mathbb Z$.

Answer 3

You also have $$\omega t = \dfrac{-\pi }{6}+2k\pi$$

Thus the solution is $$\omega t = \{\dfrac{-\pi }{6}+2k_1\pi:k_1 \in Z\}\cup \{\dfrac{7\pi }{6}+2k_2\pi:k_2\in Z\} $$

Where Z is the set of integers.

Answer 4

From the unit circle definition of sine, we see that

$$\omega t = 2n\pi - \dfrac{\pi}{2} \pm \dfrac{\pi}{3}$$

and we can rephrase that as we wish.