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Simple trigonometric equations

To solve trigonometric equations

Step 1: Find the basic angle/acute angle (using calculator)

Step 2: Determine the quadrants the angle θ should be

Step 3: Determine the range of values of the required angles

Step 4: Determine the values of angles in those quadrants

Practice questions

Q1. Solve these equations when 0o ≤ x ≤ 360o.

(a) sin x = 0.83 (b) sin x = −0.45 (c) cos x = −0.92 (d) cos x = 0.087

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(e) sin x = − (f) cos x = (g) 5 cos x – 4 = 0 (h) 7 sin x + 5 = 0
√2 2

(i) 4(sin x)2 = 1 (j) 2(cos x)2 = 1 (k) tan x = 1 (l) tan x = − √3

(m) 25 tan x + 18 = 0 (n) 9 tan x + 40 = 0

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