what's an easy way to solve this?

[Guest]

sin x = 0.5 x

I can graph y1 = sin x, and y2 = 0.5 x, and then find the points of intersection to solve for x. But is there an easier way to find x, without using a graph or a graphing calculator?

 

[skeeter]

no.

when you have a trig function = algebraic function in the same variable, technology wins.

solving by hand would lead to an approximation anyway since one would use a series representation for sinx to do it.

 

[galactus]

You could try Newton's method. Often it works well with these

types of problems. I tried it with an initial estimate of 1.5 and it

converged quickly.