Exercise 4 4: Solving trigonometric equations

1. Find the general solution for each of the following equations (correct to two
decimal places):
a) sin 2x = tan 28

b) cos y = sin 2y
c) sin 2 = cos 2
d) sin 3p = sin 2p
e) tan A =
1
tan A
f) sin xtan x = 1
g) sin t . sin 2t + cos 2t = 1
h) sin 60

cos x + cos 60

sin x = 1
2. Given: sin xcos x =

3 sin
2
x
a) Solve the equation for x [0

; 360

], without using a calculator.

b) Draw a graph and indicate the solution on the diagram.
3. Given: 1 + tan
2
2A = 5 tan 2A5
a) Determine the general solution.
b) How many solutions does the given equation have in the interval
[90

; 360

]?
4. Without using a calculator, solve cos (A25

) + cos (A + 25

) = cos 25

in
[360

; 360

].
5. a) Find the general solution for sin xcos 3x + cos xsin 3x = tan 140

.
b) Use a graph to illustrate the solution for the interval [0

; 90

].
6. Explain why the general solution for the equation cos = a is = cos
1
a +
k . 360

and the general solution for tan = a is = tan

1
a + k . 180

. Why
are they different?
7. Solve for x:

3 sin x + cos x = 2
8. More questions. Sign in at Everything Maths online and click Practise Maths.
Check answers online with the exercise code below or click on show me the answer.
1a. 28NR 1b. 28NS 1c. 28NT 1d. 28NV 1e. 28NW 1f. 28NX
1g. 28NY 1h. 28NZ 2. 28P2 3. 28P3 4. 28P4 5. 28P5
6. 28P6 7. 28P7
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160 4.4. Solving equations