Trigonometric Equations : Session 1

Illustrative Problem
Solve :sinx + cosx = 2

Solution:
no solution.

Definition

A trigonometric equation

is an equation
Contains trigonometric functions of
variable angle
sin =
2 sin2 + sin22 = 2.

Periodicity and general solution

Solution of Trigonometric Equation:

Values of , which satisfy the

trigonometric equation
For sin = , = /6, 5 /6, 13 /6,.
No. of solutions are infinite .
Why ? - Periodicity of trigonometric functions.
e.g. - sin, cos have a period as 2

Periodicity and general solution

Periodicity of trigonometric functions.

f(+T) = f()
sin
sin have a period 2
0

Graph of y=sinx
sinx is periodic of period 2
Y

(0,1)

0
-2 3 -
2
2

(0,-1)

3
2

Graph of y=cosx
cosx is periodic of period 2

(0,1)

0
-2 3
2

2
(0,-1)

3
2

Graph of y=tanx
tanx is periodic of period

tanx is not defined at x=(2n+1)

2
where n is integer
Y

0
-2 3
2

3
2

Periodicity and general solution

As solutions are infinite , the entire
set of solution can be written in a
compact form.
This compact form is referred to as general
solution
For sin = , = /6, 5/6, 13/6,.

Or = n +(-1)n ( /6)

General Solution

Principal Solutions

Solutions in 0x2
principal solutions.

Illustrative problem
Find the principal solutions of
tanx = 1
3
Solution

We know that tan( - /6) =

and tan(2 - /6) =

1
3

principal solutions are 5/6 and 11/6

Illustrative problem
Find the principal solution of the
equation sinx = 1/2
Solution
sin/6 = 1/2

and sin(- /6) = 1/2

principal solution are x = /6 and 5/6.

General solution of sin = 0

sin = PM/OP
For sin = 0 , PM = 0

Y
P

For PM = 0, OP will lie on XOX

= 0, , 2, 3 ..

is an integral multiple of .

X
O

M
Y

General solution of sin = 0

For sin = 0 ,

is an integer multiple of .
Or = n , n Z (n belongs to set of integers)

Hence, general solution of sin = 0 is

= n , where n Z,

General solution of cos = 0

cos = OM/OP
For cos = 0 , OM = 0

For OM = 0, OP will lie on YOY

= /2, 3/2, 5/2.

O
is an odd integer multiple of /2.

M
Y

General solution of cos = 0

For cos = 0 ,

is an odd integer multiple of /2.

Or = (2n+1)/2 , n Z (n belongs to set of integers)

Hence, general solution of cos = 0 is

= (2n+1)/2 , where n Z,

General solution of tan = 0

tan = PM/OM
For tan = 0 , PM = 0

For PM = 0, OP will lie on XOX

= 0,, 2, 3.

is an integer multiple of .
Same as
sin = 0

X
O

M
Y

General solution of tan = 0

For tan = 0 ,
is an integer multiple of .
Or = n , n Z (n belongs to set of integers)

Hence, general solution of tan = 0 is

= n, where n Z,

Illustrative Problem
Find the general value of x
satisfying the equation sin5x = 0
Solution:

sin5x = 0 = sin0
=> 5x = n

=> x = n/5
=>x = n/5 where n is an integer

General solution of sin = k

If sin = k

-1 k 1

Let k = sin, choose value of

between /2 to /2

If sin = sin sin - sin = 0

sin
0
2cos

2
2

General solution of sin = k

2cos sin 0

2
2

cos 0
2

(2n 1)
2
2

= (2n+1) -

0
sin
2

n
2
= 2n +

Odd , -ve
= n +(-1)n , where n Z

Even , +ve

General solution of cos = k

If cos = k

-1 k 1

Let k = cos, choose value of between

0 to

If cos = cos cos - cos = 0

sin
0
2sin

2
2

General solution of cos = k

2sin sin 0

2
2

sin 0
2

n
2

= 2n -

0
sin
2

n
2

= 2n +

-ve
= 2n , where n Z

+ve

General solution of tan = k

If tan = k

-<k<

Let k = tan, choose value of between

- /2 to /2

If tan = tan tan - tan = 0

sin.cos - cos.sin = 0

General solution of tan = k

sin.cos - cos.sin = 0

sin( - ) = 0

- = n , where n Z

= n +

= n+ , where n Z

Illustrative problem
Find the solution of sinx =

3
2

Solution:

As sin x sin

x n (1)n

Illustrative problem

Solve tan2x = cot(x )

6
Solution:

)
6

tan( x )
2
6

We have tan2x = cot(x

2
2x n
x
3

x n

2
tan(
x)
3

2
, where n is an int eger
3

Illustrative problem
Solve sin2x + sin4x + sin6x = 0

Solution:

2sin4x cos2x sin4x 0

sin 4x(2 cos 2x 1) 0

sin 4x 0 or cos 2x

1
2

sin 4x 0 or cos2x cos

2
3

2
, where n is an integer
3
n

x
or x n , where n is an int eger
4
3

4x n or 2x 2n

Illustrative Problem
Solve

2cos2x + 3sinx = 0

Solution:

2 cos2 x 3sinx 0
2(1 sin2 x) 3 sin x 0
(2 sin x 1)(sin x 2) 0

sin x

1
sin x
or sin x 2
2

1
7
sin
2
6

7
x n (1)
where n is an int eger
6
n

General solution of sin2x = sin2

cos2x = cos2, tan2x = tan2

n where n is an integer.

Illustrative Problem
Solve : 4cos3x-cosx = 0

Solution:

4 cos3 x cos x 0

cos x(4 cos2 x 1) 0

cos x 0 or 4 cos2 x 1
2

1
x (2n 1) or cos2 x cos2
2
3
2

x (2n 1) or n / 3, n Z
2

Illustrative Problem
Solve :sinx + siny = 2

Solution:
sin x sin y 2
sin x 1 and sin y 1

and sin y sin

2
2
n
m
x n (1)
and y m (1)
2
2
sin x sin

where n and m are int eger.

Class Exercise Q1.

Solve :sin5x = cos2x

Solution:

cos2x sin5x

cos2x cos( 5x)

2
taking positive sign

7x 2n
2
(4n 1)
x
14

2x 2n ( 5x)
2
taking negative sign

2x 2n 5x
2
(4n 1)
x
, nI
6

Class Exercise Q2.

Solve :2sinx + 3cosx=5
Solution:
2 sin x 3 cos x 5 is possible only when
sin x and cos x attains their max imum
value i.e.sin x 1 and cos x 1.
both sin x and cos x cannot be 1 for any value of x.
hence no solution.

Class Exercise Q3.

Solve :7cos2 +3sin2 = 4

Solution:
2

7 cos 3(1 cos ) 4

2

7 cos 3 3cos 4
cos2

1
4

cos2 cos2

n , n I
3

Class Exercise Q4.

Solve : 2 cos2 2 sin 2

Solution:

2 cos2 2 sin 2
2 sin 2(cos2 1) 0

2 sin 4 sin 0

3
2

2 sin (1 2 2 sin ) 0
1
sin 0 and sin
2
n
n , n (1)
where n I
6

Class Exercise Q5.

Show that 2cos2(x/2)sin2x = x2+x-2
for 0<x</2 has no real solution.

Solution:
2 x
2
L.H.S. 2 cos sin x
2
2

(1 cos x).sin x 2
2

R.H.S x

1
2

x2
1

x 2 2
x

Hence no solution

Class Exercise Q6.

Find the value(s) of x in (- , )
which satisfy the following equation
1 cos x cos2 x cos3 x ....to

43

Solution:
1 cos x cos2 x cos3 x ....to

82

1 cos x cos2 x cos3 x ....to 2

1
2
1 cos x

cos x

1
2

Class Exercise Q6.

Find the value(s) of x in (- , )
satisfy the following equation

1 cos x cos2 x cos3 x ....to

Solution:

1
COSX
2

2
,x
3
3

which

43

Class Exercise Q7.

Solve the equation
sinx + cosx = 1+sinxcosx
Solution:
Let sin x cos x z
squaring both sides

(z2 1)
1 2 sinx.cos x z
sin x.cos x
2
z2 1
sin x cos x 1

(z 1)2 0 z 1
z2 2z 1 0
2

Class Exercise Q7.

Solve the equation
sinx + cosx = 1+sinxcosx

Solution:

(z 1)2 0 z 1

sinx cos x 1

1
2

cos x

x 2n,

1
2

sin x

1
2

(4n)
, nI
2

cos(x )
cos
4
4
2

x 2n
4 4

Class Exercise Q8.

If rsinx=3,r=4(1+sinx),
then x (0 x 2) is

(a) or
(b) or
3 4
2
7
5
(c) or
(d) or
6
6
6
6
Solution:

3
r
4(1 sin x)
sin x

3 4 sin x 4 sin2 x
4 sin2 x 4 sin x 3 0
(2 sin x 1)(2 sin x 3) 0

Class Exercise Q8.

If rsinx=3,r=4(1+sinx),
then x (0 x 2) is

or
3
4

7
(c) or
6
6
(a)

or
2

5
(d)
or
6
6

(b)

Solution:
(2 sin x 1)(2 sin x 3) 0

sin x

1
3
or sin x
2
2

5
or
6
6

Class Exercise Q9.

In a ABC , A > B and if A
and B satisfy
3 sin x 4 sin3x k = 0 ( 0< |k|
< 1 ) , C is

2
5
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3
2
3
6

Solution:

3sinx 4 sin3 x k 0
3A 3B(A B)
C (A B)
2
C
3

sin3A sin3B

A B
3

C
3

Class Exercise Q10.

Solve the equation
(1-tan)(1+sin2) = 1+tan
Solution:
(1 tan )(1 sin2) 1 tan

2 tan
(1 tan ) 1
1 tan
2
1 tan

1 tan2 2 tan
(1 tan )
1 tan
2

1 tan

Class Exercise Q10.

Solve the equation
(1-tan)(1+sin2) = 1+tan

Solution:
1 tan2 2 tan
(1 tan )
1 tan
2

1 tan

(1 tan ) 1 tan (1 tan )(1 tan2 )

(1 tan )[(1 tan )(1 tan ) 1 tan2 ] 0
(1 tan )(1 tan2 1 tan2 ) 0
(1 tan )(2 tan2 ) 0

Class Exercise Q10.

Solve the equation
(1-tan)(1+sin2) = 1+tan

Solution:

(1 tan )(2 tan2 ) 0

when tan2 0 m
when 1 tan 0 tan 1

tan tan( )
4

n
4

m, n , n,m I
4