Solving Trigonometric

Equations
EQUATION SOLVING:

1
Example 1: Find all possible values of  so that cos   .
2
 5
Solution:    2n ,    2n , where n is an integer.
3 3

Solution Method #1 – Graphically:

There are an infinite number of solutions which are represented by the 
value of intersection points of the cosine curve and the constant function
1
y .
2

y  cos x

 1
( , )
3 2 1
y
5 1 2
( , )
3 2 

 5
For 0    2 , there are two solutions:   ( 60 ) and   ( 300 ).
3 3
 5
Generalizing,    2n ,   2n , where n is an integer. Thus all
3 3
solutions differ from the original two solutions by multiples of the period
of the cosine function.

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Solution Method #2 – Unit Circle Approach:
1 1
cos   occurs when x  for point(s) on the unit circle.
2 2
y
1 3 1 3
The two points are  ,  . The corresponding

P( ,
2 2
)

 2 2 
 5
angles are   (QI) and   (QIV). x
3 3
 5
Generalizing,    2n ,    2n .
3 3 1 3
P  ( , )
2 2

Solution Method #3 – Triangle Approach:

1
cos   is a special case that involves 30 - 60 - 90 triangles.
2
30
adj 1 
Since cos    , this implies  must be 60 or 2 3
hyp 2 3
radians. Generalizing, cos  is also positive in QIV with
a reference angle of 60 . Generalizing completely, 60
 5 1
   2n ,    2n .
3 3

Solution Method #4 – Calculator:

Set the calculator to degree mode. (It will be easier to recognize the
answers in degrees, which can then be converted to radian measure.)
1
Solving cos   is equivalent to solving:
2
1 1
inverse cos   cos 1     .
2 2
(This is explained in more detail in the handout on inverse trigonometric
1
functions.) Use the INV key (or 2nd function key) and the COS key with
2
to get an answer of 60 .

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 1
Example 2: Find 3 positive and 2 negative solutions for sin   .
2
Solution: There are many different correct solutions. One solution set is
 11 7  5 13 
   , , , , 
 6 6 6 6 6 

Solution Method #1 – Graphically:

Five solutions are the  values of the 5 points of intersection of the sine
1
curve and the horizontal line y  shown below.
2

y  sin x (3 positive solutions are depicted in the graph)

5 1
( , )
6 2 1
 1
( , ) 13 1 y
6 2
( , ) 2
6 2


11 7  5 13
Thus,    , , , , .
6 6 6 6 6

Solution Method #2 – Unit Circle Approach:

1 1
sin   occurs when y  for point(s) on y
2 2
 3 1 P  (
3 1
P(
3 1
the unit circle. The two points are   , 
, ) , )
2 2 2 2
 2 2
 5 x
for angles   , . The corresponding
6 6
 5
angles are   (QI) and   (QII).
6 6
 5
Generalizing,    2n ,    2n .
6 6
11 7  5 13
  , , , ,
6 6 6 6 6

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 Solution Method #3 – Triangle Approach:
1
sin   is a special case that involves 30 - 60 - 90
2
opp 1
triangles. Since sin    , this implies  must 60
hyp 2 2
 1
be 30 or radians. Generalizing, sin  is also
6 30
positive in QII with a reference angle of 30 (so 3
5
 , or 150 ). The other solutions can be found
6
by adding or subtracting multiples of the period.

Solution Method #4 – Calculator:

1
Set the calculator to degree mode. Solving sin   is equivalent to
2
solving:
1 1
inverse sin   sin 1     .
2 2
(This is explained in more detail in the handout on inverse trigonometric
1
functions.) Use the INV key (or 2nd function key) and the SIN key with
2
to get an answer of 30 .

Example 3: Solve for x : 3 sin x  2 sin x cos x  0 , 0  x  2 .

Solution: Factor the expression on the left and set each factor to
zero.
sin x 3  2 sin x cos x  0
sin x( 3  2 cos x)  0
sin x  0 or 3  2 cos x  0
3
x  0,  cos x 
2
 11
x ,
6 6

 11
Answers: x  0, , ,
6 6

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Example 4: Solve for x : sin 2 x  sin x  2  0 , 0  x  2 .

Solution: Factor the quadratic expression on the left and set each
factor to zero.
sin 2 x  sin x  2  0
(sin x  1)(sin x  2)  0
sin x  1  0 or sin x  2  0
sin x  1 sin x  2

x No solution. (Since the minimum value
2
of sinx is -1, it cannot equal -2.)


Answer: x 
2

Example 5: Solve for x : tan 2 x  1 , 0  x  2 .


Solution: Solving tan  1 first, we know that tan  1 (QI) and
4
5 
tan  1 (QIII). So    n , where n is integer multiples of
4 4
the period of the tangent function.

For our problem:


  2x   n for n  ...  1,0,1,2,...
4
 n
x  (dividing by 2)
8 2

 5 9 13
x (if n  0 ), (if n  1 ), (if n  2 ), (if n  3 )
8 8 8 8

Note: If n  0 or n  3 , the resulting x values are not in the interval

of 0  x  2 .

 5 9 13
Answer: x  , , ,
8 8 8 8

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Problems: Solving Trigonometric Equations

1
1. Find all possible values of  so that sin    .
2

2. Find one negative and two positive solutions for tan x  1.

3. Find x , 0  x  2 , for the following:

3
a. cos x 
2

3
b. cos 2 x 
2

c. 2 cos 2 x  cos x  1  0

d. cos 2 x  sin x cos x  0

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SOLUTIONS:

7 11
1.  2n ,  2n for integer n or 210  360n , 330  360n .
6 6

  3 7
2. , , since the values of tangent are negative in QII and QIV.
4 4 4

 11
3. a) ,
6 6

 11 13 23  11 13 23

b) 2 x  , , , so x  , , ,
6 6 6 6 12 12 12 12

c) (2 cos x  1)(cos x  1)  0
1
cos x   or cos x  1
2
2 4
x , , 0 , 2
3 3

d) cos x(cos x  sin x)  0

cos x  0 or cos x  sin x
 3  5 (note that cosx and sinx have the same sign
x , x ,
2 2 4 4 in quadrants I and III)

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