text: # How can this trig equation be simplified?
  
  We have $9+40\sin^2x=-42\sin x\cos x$.
  
  I know this simplifies to $7\sin x+3\cos x=0$, but how?
  
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  Try using $\sin2x=2\sin x\cos x$. – Ian Coley Feb 15 '14 at 20:40
  @IanColey Nice approach, but there is the user who provided the hint already. – NasuSama Feb 15 '14 at 20:57
  
  Along with Trafalgar Law's hint, we can use the fact that $\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x) = 1$. Multiply both sides by $9$ to get $9 = 9\sin^2(x) + 9\cos^2(x)$. We then have
  
  \begin{aligned} 9\sin^2(x) + 9\cos^2(x) + 40\sin^2(x) &= -42\sin(x)\cos(x)\\ 49\sin^2(x) + 42\sin(x)\cos(x) + 9\cos^2(x) &= 0\\ (7\sin(x) + 3\cos(x))^2 &= 0 \end{aligned}
  
  which gives the desirable equation you want to have.
  
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  Thanks for the catch. – NasuSama Feb 15 '14 at 20:49
  Hehe. Changed back to before. – NasuSama Feb 15 '14 at 20:56
  
  Hint : write $9 = 9\sin^2(x)+9\cos^2(x)$
  
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  HINT:
  
  When you have only terms like $\sin^2x,\cos^2x,\sin x\cos x$
  
  divide either sides by $\cos^2x,$
  
  $$9\sec^2x+40\tan^2x=-42\tan x\iff9(1+\tan^2x)+40\tan^2x=-42\tan x$$
  
  $$\iff49\tan^2x-42\tan x+9=0$$ which is a Quadratic Equation in $\tan x$
  
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