THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

MATH1013 University Mathematics II

Tutorial 2

1. Solve each of the following trigonometric equations.

(a) cos2 x = 3 sin2 x

(b) sin 4x = 4 sin2 x sin 2x

x+y
2. (a) Show that for any x, y ∈ R, tan−1 x + tan−1 y = tan−1 + nπ for some n = −1, 0, 1.
1 − xy
(b) As shown in the figure, there are 3 identical squares. Using part (a) or otherwise, find
α + β + γ.

γ β α

3. (a) Show that cos 3θ = 4 cos3 θ − 3 cos θ for any θ ∈ R.

(b) Hence or otherwise, solve the equation 8x3 − 6x − 1 = 0, and express the roots in terms of
the trigonometric functions. (You may use the fact that there are at most three distinct
roots to a cubic equation.)

4. We perform each of the following results in the Argand diagram. Express the result in terms
of the complex number z and its conjugate.

(a) the reflection of z about 0

(b) the reflection of z about the imaginary axis
(c) the reflection of z about the line that passes through all points with equal real part and
imaginary part

5. Solve each of the following equations in complex numbers.

(a) 2 ∣z∣ = z + z
(b) Re(z) ⋅ Im(z) = ∣z − 1∣

Additional problems:

6. Solve the equation 2 cos2 x + 5 sin x = −1.

1
 7. As shown in the figure, find cos θ, sin θ, cos 2θ and sin 2θ.

θ
x

(−5, −12)

8. Prove the following identities.

1
(a) sin x cos y = [sin (x + y) + sin (x − y)]
2
1
(b) cos x cos y = [cos (x + y) + cos (x − y)]
2
1
(c) sin x sin y = − [cos (x + y) − cos (x − y)]
2
x+y x−y
(d) sin x + sin y = 2 sin cos
2 2
x+y x−y
(e) cos x + cos y = 2 cos cos
2 2

9. (a) Find sin (tan−1 4).

(b) Simplify sin (tan−1 x) where x is a real number.

10. Let z and w be nonzero complex numbers. Determine whether each of the following must be
a real number or a purely imaginary number.

(a) zw + wz
(b) zw − wz
∣wz∣
2
(c) wz +
wz

11. Prove the following identities in complex numbers.

(a) Re(z 2 ) + 2 Im(z)2 = ∣z∣

2

(b) 2 ∣w∣ + 2 ∣z∣ = ∣w + z∣ + ∣w − z∣

2 2 2 2

θ θ
12. Show that cis θ + 1 = 2 cos cis for any θ ∈ R.
2 2

13. (a) Let a, b, c, d be complex numbers. Prove that

∣a − b∣ ⋅ ∣c − d∣ + ∣b − c∣ ⋅ ∣a − d∣ ⩾ ∣a − c∣ ⋅ ∣b − d∣ .

(b) Give a geometric meaning of the result in part (a).