I'll try it.
I just went through this twice on scratch paper. The first time was to
see if I could do it, and the second time was because the first result
I got was ridiculous. But I think I got it.
You said 3sin²(x) = cos²(x)
Use this trig identity: sin²(x) = 1 - cos²(x)
Plug it into the original equation for (x).
3(1 - cos²(x) ) = cos²(x)
Remove parentheses on the left: 3 - 3cos²(x) = cos²(x)
Add 3cos²(x) to each side: 3 = 4cos²(x)
Divide each side by 4 : 3/4 = cos²(x)
Take the square root of each side: cos(x) = (√3) / 2 .
There it is ... the cosine of the unknown angle.
Now you just go look it up in a book with a table cosines,
or else pinch it through your computer or your calculator,
or else just remember that you've learned that
cos( 30° ) = (√3) / 2 .
