Damn instructors

Okay I have a horrible instructor. I need help with these practice problems

For trigonometry

"Find the general solutions of the eqasions algebraically"
(^2 is squared)
a. ( 4sin^2 x = 2cosx+1
b. sec(4x) =2

Thanks for any help.

sec4x=2
sec4=2/x
0.999990480720735= 2/x
0.999990480720735x=2
x=0.499995240360367

That's a bunch of bullcrap. I don't know how to do this.