Trigonometric Equations & Identities (DP IB Analysis & Approaches (AA))

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  • What is a trigonometric identity?

    A trigonometric identity is a statement that is true for all values of θ or x in trigonometry.

  • State the identity for tan space theta.

    The tan identity is tan space theta equals fraction numerator sin space theta over denominator cos space theta end fraction.

    This is given in your exam formula booklet.

  • State the Pythagorean identity.

    The Pythagorean identity is sin squared theta plus cos squared theta equals 1.

    This is given in your exam formula booklet.

  • True or False?

    Trigonometric identities can be used to prove double angle formulae.

    True.

    Trigonometric identities can be used to prove further identities such as the double angle formulae.

  • What is the double angle identity for the sine function?

    The double angle identity for the sine function is: sin 2 theta equals 2 sin theta cos theta.

    This is given in your exam formula booklet.

  • What is the double angle identity for the cosine function?

    The double angle identity for the cosine function is: cos 2 theta equals cos squared theta minus sin squared theta equals 2 cos squared minus 1 equals 1 minus 2 sin squared theta.

    This is given in your exam formula booklet.

  • How can you use the double angle identities to solve trigonometric equations such as sin space 2 theta equals sin space theta for 0 degree space less or equal than space theta space less or equal than space 360 degree?

    You can the double angle identities to solve trigonometric equations by substituting in the expression that a double angle expression is equivalent to.

    E.g. to solve sin space 2 theta equals sin space theta for 0 degree space less or equal than space theta space less or equal than space 360 degree, substitute 2 sin theta cos theta for sin 2 theta, then simplify to end up with simple equations in terms of a single trig function to solve.

  • Given an equation that involves sin theta cos theta, what expression should be substituted to simplify and solve the equation?

    The double angle formula for the sine function is sin 2 theta equals 2 sin theta cos theta.

    Therefore, if an equation involves sin theta cos theta, you should substitute 1 half sin 2 theta for it in order to be able to simplify and solve the equation.

  • True or False?

    To solve equations that contain sin space 2 theta and either sin space theta or cos space theta, you will need to use the substitution 1 minus sin squared theta.

    False.

    To solve equations that contain sin space 2 theta and either sin space theta or cos space theta, you will need to use the substitution 2 sin theta cos theta.

    The substitution 1 minus sin squared theta should be used if the equation you are trying to solve includes cos 2 theta.

  • If an equation includes both cos space 2 theta and either sin space theta or cos space theta, how do you decide which expression to substitute?

    If an equation includes cos space 2 theta look at what other terms are involved to decide which expression to substitute.

    • If the equation involves cos space theta, substitute 2 cos squared theta minus 1.

    • If the equation involves sin space theta, substitute 1 minus 2 sin squared theta.

  • How can you determine if a trigonometric ratio is positive or negative?

    You can determine if a trigonometric ratio is positive or negative by looking at its angle and identifying the quadrant of the unit circle in which it lies.

    Remember that the CAST diagram is labelled anti-clockwise from the 4th quadrant and identifies which ratios are positive, (Cos, All, Sin and Tan).

  • If you know two trig ratios, how can you use them to work out the third trig ratio?

    If you know two trig ratios, you can use the tan identity, tan space theta equals fraction numerator sin space theta over denominator cos space theta end fraction, to work out the third trig ratio.

  • Given the value of sin space theta, how can you work out the value of cos space theta?

    Given the value of sin space theta, you can work out the value of cos space theta by substituting the known value into the Pythagorean identity, sin squared theta plus cos squared theta equals 1

  • If you know that sin space theta equals a over b , where a comma space b space element of space straight integer numbers to the power of plus, how can you work out the values of cos space theta and tan space theta?

    If you know that sin space theta equals a over b , where a comma space b space element of space straight integer numbers to the power of plus, you can work out the values of cos space theta and tan space theta by:

    • sketching a right-angled triangle with a opposite theta and b on the hypotenuse,

    • using Pythagoras’ theorem to find the value of the adjacent side,

    • then using SOHCAHTOA to find the values of cos space theta and tan space theta.

  • What is a linear trigonometric equation?

    A linear trigonometric equation is an equation that involves sin space theta, cos space theta or tan space theta (but no powers of sin space theta, cos space theta or tan space theta).

    It may be of the form sin space x equals k or sin open parentheses a x plus b close parentheses equals k.

  • Given an equation sin space theta equals k, how can you find a secondary value for possible values of theta that solve the equation?

    A secondary value for the solution to an equation sin space theta equals k can be found by subtracting theta from 180º.

    Further values can then be found by adding/subtracting 360º or 2 pi radians to the primary value and the first secondary value.

  • Given an equation cos space theta equals k, how can you find a secondary value for possible values of theta that solve the equation?

    A secondary value for the solution to an equation cos space theta equals k can be found by subtracting theta from 360º.

    Further values can then be found by adding/subtracting 360º or 2 pi radians to the primary value and the first secondary value.

  • What value can be added to or subtracted from a solution to an equation tan space theta equals k to find a secondary value for possible values of theta that solve the equation?

    180º or pi radians can be added to or subtracted from a solution to an equation tan space theta equals k to find a secondary solution.

  • True or False?

    The symmetry properties of trigonometric graphs can be used to find all secondary values within a given interval.

    True.

    The symmetry properties of trigonometric graphs can be used to find all secondary values within a given interval.

  • How do you solve an equation of the form sin open parentheses a x plus b close parentheses equals k?

    To solve an equation of the form sin open parentheses a x plus b close parentheses equals k:

    • Let u equals a x plus b.

    • Solve the function to find the primary value for u.

    • Transform the interval in the same way as the angle was transformed open parentheses a x plus b close parentheses.

    • Find all secondary values in the transformed interval for u.

    • Undo the transformation on all values to convert back to solutions for x.

  • What is a quadratic trigonometric equation?

    A quadratic trigonometric equation is an equation that involves either sin squared theta, cos squared theta or tan squared theta.

  • Which trig identity is often used with quadratic trigonometric equations?

    The trig identity, sin squared theta plus cos squared theta equals 1, is often used to convert a trigonometric equation involving both sin theta and cos theta into a quadratic trigonometric equation in either sin theta or cos theta that can then be solved.

  • True or False?

    A quadratic trigonometric equation will always generate at least one linear trigonometric equation that can be solved to give real solutions for the original equation.

    False.

    A quadratic trigonometric equation will not always generate at least one linear trigonometric equation that can be solved to give real solutions for the original equation.

    E.g. an equation like sin squared x plus 6 sin x plus 11 equals 0 has no real solutions for sin x (because y squared plus 6 y plus 11 has a negative discriminant).

    Or an equation like sin squared x plus sin x minus 6 equals open parentheses sin x minus 2 close parentheses open parentheses sin x plus 3 close parentheses equals 0 gives the two linear equations sin x equals 2 and sin x equals negative 3. But those don't have real solutions for x because, for any value of x, the value of sin x can only be between -1 and 1.