Trigonometry

The word ‘trigonometry’ suggests ‘tri’-three,

‘gono’-angle, ‘metry’-measurement. As such,
trigonometry is basically about triangles, most
especially right-angled triangles.

Important to note

(a) For a right-angled triangle below;

(b) (b) All positive angles are measured Note

anticlockwise from positive x-axis

c) A circle drawn with the centre O, divides

the co-ordinate axis into four equal parts
called quadrants

Solving equations

When solving equations involving

trigonometric functions, we often use the
concept of quadrants to determine the range
of possible angle values. We use the
The quadrants are also labelled anti-clockwise quadrants to find the ranges of values within
from the positive x – axis. which the angle lies.

The signs of the trigonometric ratios in the

quadrants are given below;

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Example 1

But cos is negative in the 2nd and 3rd

quadrants.

Ignoring the negative sign, the angle obtained

is referred to as the reference, key or principal
angle, i.e.

∴ {𝜃: 𝜃 = 131.8°, 228.2°}

Note that: the key angle is not part of the
solution but only a guide.

(d) Definitions of angle

i. Acute angle is an angle between 0°

1
When cos 𝜃 = (positive is 1st and 4th and 90°. It lies in the 1st quadrant.
2
ii. Right angle is an angle = 90°
quadrants)
iii. Obtuse angle is an angle between 90°
and 180°. It lies in the 2nd quadrant.
iv. Reflex angle is an angle between 180°
and 360°. It lies in the 2nd and 3rd
quadrant.
1
When cos 𝜃 = − (positive is 2nd and 3rd
2
Example 2
quadrants)
3
2nd quadrant θ = 180 – 60 = 120° (a) If sin 𝜃 = and 0° ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 360°. Find
5
the possible values of 3tanθ – cotθ
3rd quadrant θ = 180 + 60 = 240°
Solution
∴ {𝜃: 𝜃 = 60°, 120°, 240°, 300°}

2
 −8
(b) If cos 𝜃 = and 𝜃 is reflex, find the
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value of 4 sec 2 𝜃 + tan 𝜃.

Solution
−8
If cos 𝜃 = 17
and 𝜃 is reflex, 𝜃 lies in the 3rd
quadrant.

SET SQUARE ANGLES: 𝟑𝟎°, 𝟒𝟓° and 𝟔𝟎°

i. From equilateral triangle ABC with

side equal to 1 unit

Example 3

Solve for 𝜃, where 0° ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 360°.

ii. (ii) From the right-angled triangle PQR

below
tan 𝜃 is positive in the 1st and 3rd quadrants.

tan 𝜃 is negative in the 2nd and 4th quadrants.

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 The Pythagoras theorem

Example 4

Without using tables or calculators find the

value of
For any acute angle θ

240° is in the 3rd quadrant. The reference

angle 𝜃 = 240° − 180° = 60°.
1
cos 60° =
2
Since cos 𝜃 is negative in the 3rd quadrant.
1
∴ cos 240° = −
2

To find an equivalent angle for 3990°, we

Identities
repeatedly subtract 360° (a full rotation) until
we’re left with an angle between 0° and 360°. Cos2θ + sin2θ = 1 …………………(i)
3990
= 11 (𝑞𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 30 (𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟)
360
3990° = (360° × 11) + 30°
3990° ≈ 30°
1
tan 30° = tan 3990° =
√3

4
 sin 𝜃 is negative in the 3rd and 4th quadrants.

𝜃 = −150°, −30°, 210°, 330°

When sin 𝜃 = 1: 𝜃 = 90°

sin 𝜃 is positive in the 1st and 2nd quadrants.

Example 7

(a) Given that 7 tanθ + cotθ = 5secθ,

derive a quadratic equation for sinθ.
Hence or otherwise, find all values of
Example 6: Solving Equations
θ in the interval 0° ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 180° which
Solve the following equations for satisfy the equation, giving your
answer to the nearest 0.10 where
−180° ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 180° necessary.
Solution

Solution

2(1 − sin2 𝜃) + sin 𝜃 − 1 = 0

2 sin2 𝜃 − sin 𝜃 − 1 = 0
(2 sin 𝜃 + 1)(sin 𝜃 − 1) = 0
1
Either sin 𝜃 = − 2, or sin 𝜃 = 1
1
When sin 𝜃 = − 2

Reference angle 𝜃 = 30°

5
Example 8

Find the solution of 3cotθ + cosecθ = 2 for

0° ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 180°
Solution

Elimination of trigonometric parameter

This involves the use of identities to eliminate

the trigonometric values in equation

(a) If x = tanθ + secθ and y = tanθ – secθ;

show that xy + 1 = 0

Solution

𝑥𝑦 = (tan 𝜃 + sec 𝜃)(tan 𝜃 − sec 𝜃)

𝑥𝑦 = tan2 𝜃 − sec 2 𝜃

𝑥𝑦 = tan2 𝜃 − (1 + tan2 𝜃)
𝑥𝑦 + 1 = 0

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7
Measuring angles in radians Example 11

A radian is defined as an angle subtended at

the centre of a circle by an arc that is equal to
the radius of the circle. One radian is
22
represented by π, where 𝜋 = 7

How to convert between degrees and radians Some equivalent angles in degrees and
radians
1 revolution = circumference of a circle but
circumference of a circle subtends an angle 2π
at the centre.

Example 10

Example 12

Find each of the following values

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Length of an arc

Suppose that the angle subtended by the

length L of an arc AB of a circle is θ as shown.

L subtends an angle 𝜃. The circumference 2𝜋𝑟

subtends an angle 360°.

Example 13

Find the length of an arc of a circle of radius

14 if it subtends an angle

Example 13

Example 14

A sector was drawn which had a perimeter of

80cm, and centre angle of 130°. Calculate the
radius.

Solution

The sides of a sector are composed of an arc,

and two more sides which are radii of a circle.

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Area of a sector of a circle Solving trigonometric functions whose range
is in radians.
A sector of a circle is a portion of the interior
of a circle intercepted by a central angle. When the range of the trigonometric function
is in radians, the answer should be given in
radians.

Example 16

Solve the following equations for the ranges

indicated.

The area of a sector of a circle of radius r and

central angle θ is given by;

Example 15

Find the area of a sector with radius 14cm and

angle;

Solution

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Graphs of trigonometric functions

The following are the characteristic of the

three major trigonometric functions:

The sine function

o It is continuous (with no breaks)

o The range -1 ≤ sinθ ≤ 1
o The shape of the graph from θ = 0 to θ =
2π is repeated every 2π radians
o This is called a periodic or cyclic function
and the width of the repeating pattern
that is measured on horizontal axis is
called a period. The sine wave has a
period of 2π, a maximum value of +1 and
a minimum value of -1.
o The greatest value of sine wave is called
the amplitude.

The coosine function

o It is continuous (with no breaks)

o The range -1 ≤ sinθ ≤ 1
o Has a period of 2π
o The shape is the same as the sine wave
but displaced a distance to the left on the
horizontal axis. This is called a phase shift

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AMPLITUDE AND PERIOD One complete cycle occurs between 0 and 𝜋

Definitions:

Amplitude: the maximum ordinate (y) value.

Period: length of the smallest domain interval

which corresponds to a complete cycle of
values of the function.

General graphs of the sine and cosine

functions.

2𝜋
One complete cycle occurs between 0 and
3

Due to the minus sign, the graph of

𝑦 = − sin 3𝑥 is the reflection about the x-axis
of the graph of 𝑦 = + sin 3𝑥
One complete cycle occurs between 0 and 4𝜋

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The tan function Compound angles

o The tan function is found using; tan 𝜃 = Consider a cardboard ABCD of unit diagonal
sin 𝜃 that stands on the edge A, making an angle β
cos 𝜃
. It follows that tanθ = 0 when sin θ =
with the horizontal ground. Let the unit
0; and tanθ is undefined when cosθ = 0
diagonal AC be inclined at an angle α to the side
o The graph is continuous, but undefined
𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋 AB (see diagram)
when 𝜃 = − 2 , 2 , 2
,⋯ Vertical
asymptotes occur at these 𝑥 values.
o The range of values for tanθ is unlimited
o It has a period π

Angles EAB= ABG (Alternative angles)

Angle ABG = β

Angle [ABG + GBC] = 90

Amplitude = none, since there is no maximum Angle GBC = 90 – β

value of y From triangle GBC,

Angle BCG = 180 – (90 + 90 – β)

Angle BCG = β

From;

13
It follows that; Example 18

Example 19

The following is a summary of compound

angles

Example 17

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Harmonic form Example 21

These are trigonometric functions expressed in

the form of Rcos(x ± α) and Rsin(x ±α).

They are in two ways;

(i) solving equations in the form;

acosθ + bsinθ + c = 0

(ii) determining the maximum and

minimum values of the function
acosθ + bsinθ + c = 0, where a, b and c
are constants

A: Solving equations

Example 20

B: Maximum and minimum values

The maximum and minimum values of a

circular function may be obtained using three
methods

(i) Express the given function either in for

Rcos(θ ± α) or Rsin(θ ± α) if possible, where R
and α are constants.

(ii) Differentiating the given function with

respect to the given function say θ

(iii) Sketching the graphs of the function

given and noting their maximum and
minimum points.

In this chapter, approach I will be considered.

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Example 22

Determine the maximum and minimum values

of the following, stating the value of θ for
which they occur

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The factor formulae = 2 sin(2𝑥) cos(−𝑥) + sin 2𝑥

The following identities were developed from = sin 2𝑥 (2cos 𝑥 + 1)

compound angles
Example 24
cos (A + B) = cosAcosB – sinAsinB ……….(i)
Show that;
cos(A – B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinB ………… (ii)
a) cos 𝑥 + sin 2𝑥 − cos 3𝑥 = sin 2𝑥 (2 sin 𝑥 + 1)
sin(A + B) = sinAcosB + cosAsinB ………….(iii) b) 1 + cos 2𝜃 + cos 4𝜃 = 4 cos 2 𝜃 cos 2𝜃

sin(A – B) = sinAcosB –cosAsinB ………….(iv) Example 25

sin 𝜃−2 sin 2𝜃+sin 3𝜃 𝜃
eqn. (i) + eqn (ii) Show that
sin 𝜃+2 sin 2𝜃+sin 3𝜃
= − tan2 2
Solution
cos(A + B) + cos(A – B) = 2cosAcosB sin 𝜃−2 sin 2𝜃+sin 3𝜃
L.H.S = sin 𝜃+2 sin 2𝜃+sin 3𝜃
eqn. (i) – eqn (ii)
sin 𝜃 + sin 3𝜃 − 2 sin 2𝜃
cos(A + B) - cos(A – B) = -2sinAsinB =
sin 𝜃 + sin 3𝜃 + 2 sin 2𝜃
eqn. (iii) + eqn (iv)
𝜃 + 3𝜃 𝜃 − 3𝜃
2 sin ( ) cos ( ) − 2 sin 2𝜃
= 2 2
sin(A + B) + sin(A – B) = 2sinAcosB 𝜃 + 3𝜃 𝜃 − 3𝜃
sin ( ) cos ( ) + 2 sin 2𝜃
2 2
eqn. (iii) - eqn (iv)
2 sin 2𝜃 cos(−𝜃) − 2 sin 2𝜃
sin(A + B) - sin(A – B) = 2cosAsinB =
2 sin 2𝜃 cos(−𝜃) + 2 sin 2𝜃
For simplification, A + B =α and A – B = β
2 sin 2𝜃 (cos 𝜃 − 1)
𝛼+𝛽 =
2𝐴 = 𝛼 + 𝛽 𝐴= 2 sin 2𝜃 (cos 𝜃 + 1)
2

𝛼−𝛽 cos 𝜃 − 1
2𝐵 = 𝛼 − 𝛽 𝐵= 2 =
cos 𝜃 + 1
𝛼+𝛽 𝛼−𝛽
cos 𝛼 + cos 𝛽 = 2 cos ( ) cos ( ) From cos 2𝜃 = 2 cos 2 𝜃 − 1
2 2 𝜃
cos 𝜃 = 2 cos 2 − 1
𝛼+𝛽 𝛼−𝛽 2
cos 𝛼 + cos 𝛽 = −2 sin ( ) sin ( )
2 2
From cos 2𝜃 = 1 − 2 sin2 𝜃
𝛼+𝛽 𝛼−𝛽
sin 𝛼 + sin 𝛽 = 2 sin ( ) cos ( )
2 2 𝜃
cos 𝜃 = 1 − 2 sin2
𝛼+𝛽 𝛼−𝛽 2
sin 𝛼 − sin 𝛽 = 2 cos ( ) sin ( ) 𝜃
2 sin2
2 2 = 2
2 𝜃
Example 23 2 cos
2

Prove that sin 𝑥 + sin 2𝑥 + sin 3𝑥 = 𝜃

= tan2
sin 2𝑥 (2 cos 𝑥 + 1) 2

Solution Example 26
Show that;
L.H.S = sin 𝑥 + sin 2𝑥 + sin 3𝑥
sin 3𝜃 sin 6𝜃 + sin 𝜃 sin 2𝜃
= sin 𝑥 + sin 3𝑥 + sin 2𝑥 = tan 5𝜃
sin 3𝜃 cos 6𝜃 + sin 𝜃 cos 2𝜃
𝑥 + 3𝑥 𝑥 − 3𝑥
= 2 sin ( ) cos ( ) + sin 2𝑥
2 2
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