Trigonometry

We’ve been using 3 trig ratios:

sin , cos and tan 
but we need another 3.
These are the 3 reciprocal ratios:
1 1 1
cosec  sec  co t  
s in  cos  t an 
We’ve been using 3 trig ratios:
sin , cos and tan 
but we need another 3.
These are the 3 reciprocal ratios:
1 1 1
cosec  sec  co t  
s in  cos  t an 

sin  cos 
Also, since tan   , we get cot  
cos  sin
SUMMARY
The 3 reciprocal ratios are:

1 1 1
cosec  sec  cot  
sin cos  tan 

Also,
sin cos 
tan    cot  
cos  sin
The graphs of the reciprocal ratios can be sketched
by finding the reciprocals of values on the graphs of
the 3 main trig ratios.
 y  sin 

y  cosec
1
cosec0 
sin 0
 1
 
0
x0

Asymptote
 y  sin 

y  cosec
1
cosec 
sin 
 1
 
0
 y  sin 

y  cosec
1
cosec 2 
sin 2
 1
 
0
 y  sin 

y  cosec  1
cosec 
2 
x sin
 2
1
 1
1
 y  sin 

y  cosec 3 1
cosec 
2 3
x sin
 2
1
x
  1
1
 y  sin 

y  cosec

x A max on sin
 becomes a min
x x on cosec
 y  sin 

y  cosec

The graph can

x
 be completed
x x using symmetry.
 y  sin 

y  cosec

x A min on sin
 becomes a max
x x on cosec
 y  sin 

y  cosec
The domain is
x  n
x
 The
x isrange is
not any
x x
ymultiple
  1 orof yp 1
To find the graph of y  sec we could use the same
method as for y  cosec .

Or, sincey  cos  is a translation of y  sin  by

  
 2,
 0 
y  sec can be found by translating y  cosec
We get
y  sec


x
2
Asymptote ( 2n  1)
The domain is x
2
The range is ySubstitute
  1 or ay few
 1 values of n to
convince yourself this is correct!
The graph of y  cot  can be found by using
1
y as we did for y  cosec .
tan 
y  cot 

The domain is x  n
The range is
We may meet the reciprocal functions in an equation.
e.g. Solve the equation 4 sin  3 cosec for
0    2 .
Solution: 4 sin  3 cosec
1 3
cosec   4 sin 
sin sin 
Multiply by sin  : 4 sin 2   3
2 3
 sin  
4
3
 sin  
2
 3
sin  
2
We need exact answers in radians but remember we
can use our calculators in degrees and then convert
to radians using 180    radians

So, either we can write down directly from memory:


Principal values:  
3
or from the calculator:
 
   60   
3
 3
sin   for 0    2 .
2
y  sin 
3
y
 2
 2
3 3


2
So,   , ,
3 3
 3 
sin   for 0    2 . Add 2p to 
2 3
y  sin 
 4 5

3 3 3 
3
y 
2

Outside interval
2 4 5

So,   , , ,
3 3 3 3
There are 2 identities involving the reciprocal
ratios which we will prove.
We start with the identity we met in AS
cos 2   sin 2   1
2 2
Dividing by cos  : cos   sin  
2 1
cos 2  cos 2  cos 2 
sin tan  1
But,  and  sec
cos  cos 
So,
There are 2 identities involving the reciprocal
ratios which we will prove.
We start with the identity we met in AS
cos 2   sin 2   1
2 2
Dividing by cos  : cos   sin  
2 1
cos 2  cos 2  cos 2 
sin tan  1
But,  and  sec
cos  cos 
So, 1 
There are 2 identities involving the reciprocal
ratios which we will prove.
We start with the identity we met in AS
cos 2   sin 2   1
2 2
Dividing by cos  : cos   sin  
2 1
cos 2  cos 2  cos 2 
sin tan  1
But,  and  sec
cos  cos 
So, 1  tan 2  
There are 2 identities involving the reciprocal
ratios which we will prove.
We start with the identity we met in AS
cos 2   sin 2   1
2 2
Dividing by cos  : cos   sin  
2 1
cos 2  cos 2  cos 2 
sin tan  1
But,  and  sec
cos  cos 
So, 1  tan 2   sec2 
There are 2 identities involving the reciprocal
ratios which we will prove.
We start with the identity we met in AS
cos 2   sin 2   1
2 2
Dividing by cos  : cos   sin  
2 1
cos 2  cos 2  cos 2 
sin tan  1
But,  and  sec
cos  cos 
So, 1  tan 2   sec2 
Exercise
2 2
Starting with cos   sin   1 find an
identity linking cosec and cot 

Solution:
cos 2   sin 2   1
2
2
Dividing by sin  : cos  sin 2  1
2
 
sin  sin  sin 2 
2

cos  1
But,  cot  and  cosec
sin sin
2
So, cot   1  cosec2 
SUMMARY

There are 3 quadratic trig identities:

cos 2   sin 2   1
sec2   1  tan 2 
cosec2   1  cot 2 

Never try to square root these identities.

The trig identities are used in 2 ways:

• to solve some quadratic trig equations

• to prove other identities

 2
e.g. 1 Solve the equation 2 cosec   cot   12

for the interval 0    360 giving answers correct
to the nearest degree.
2
Solution: 2 cosec   cot   12
cosec2   1  cot 2 
 2 ( 1  cot 2  )  cot   12
 2 cot 2   cot   10  0 Brackets !
 ( 2 cot   5)(cot   2)  0
5
 cot   or cot    2
2
1
If cot  isn’t on your calculator use tan  
cot 
To find the reciprocal, flip over the fraction
 2
e.g. 1 Solve the equation 2 cosec   cot   12

for the interval 0    360 giving answers correct
to the nearest degree.
2
Solution: 2 cosec   cot   12
cosec2   1  cot 2 
 2 ( 1  cot 2  )  cot   12
 2 cot 2   cot   10  0
 ( 2 cot   5)(cot   2)  0
5 2
 cot   or cot   
1
2 1
If cot  isn’t on your calculator use tan  
2 1 cot 
 tan   or tan   
2
5
 2 1
tan   or tan    , 0    360 
5 2
To solve tan   c we don’t need a graph: we just

keep adding 180 to the principal solution.
2
tan      23 , 180   23   203 
5
1
tan       ( 27)  , 180   ( 27 )   153  ,
2
180   153   333 
So,   23  , 203  , 153  , 333 
 Exercise

Solve the following equations in the intervals given

2
1. 2 tan x  8  7 sec x , 0  x  360 
2
2. 4 cot x  7 cosec x  2  0 ,   x  
Solutions:
2
1. 2 tan x  8  7 sec x , 0  x  360 
2 2 2 2
sec x  1  tan x  tan x  sec x  1
 2(sec2 x  1)  8  7 sec x ,
 2 sec2 x  2  8  7 sec x  0
 2 sec2 x  7 sec x  6  0
 ( 2 sec x  3)(sec x  2)  0
3
 sec x  or sec x  2
2
2 1
 cos x  or cos x 
3 2
 2 1
cos x  or cos x  , 0  x  360 
3 2
2
Principal values: cos x   x  48  ,
3
1
cos x   x  60
2
y  cos x y2
Ans:
3
x  48  , 312  ,
48 312
 2 1
cos x  or cos x  , 0  x  360 
3 2
2
Principal values: cos x   x  48  ,
3
1
cos x   x  60
2
y  cos x Ans:

x  48  , 312  ,
60 300 60  , 300 
1
y 2
2. 4 cot 2 x  7 cosec x  2  0 ,    x  
2 2 2 2
cosec x  1  cot x  cot x  cosec x  1
 4(cosec2 x  1)  7 cosec x  2  0
2
 4 cosec x  7 cosec x  2  0
 (4 cosec x  1)(cosec x  2)  0
1
 cosec x  or cosec x  2
4 1
 sin x  4 or sin x  
( No solutions ) 2
1 
Principal value: sin x    x
2 6
 1 
Principal value: sin x    x
2 6
  x  
y  sin x
5 
 
6 6

y   12

 5
Ans: x , 
6 6
Simplify
Show that:
 Any of the trig identities we’ve met so far, can be used to
prove other identities.
So, we need to be familiar with the definitions:
1 1 1
cosec  sec  cot  
sin cos  tan 
Also,
sin cos 
tan    cot  
cos sin
and the 3 quadratic trig identities:

cos 2   sin 2   1
sec2   1  tan 2 
cosec2   1  cot 2 
 2 1
e.g. 1 Prove that 1  tan  
1  sin 2 
The identity symbol . . . should be used but often isn’t.

 The method is to start with the l.h.s. and use any

identities to convert it step by step into the r.h.s.

 There is often more than one way of doing it.

 We must always quote the identities used.
 We keep looking at the r.h.s. to see where we want to get
to.
 If we get stuck working from the l.h.s., we can start with
the r.h.s.
 2 1
e.g. Prove that 1  tan  
1  sin 2 
The r.h.s. is a reciprocal containing a square so I want to use an
identity for the l.h.s. that involves squares and leads to a
reciprocal.
2
Proof: l.h.s.  sec  sec2   1  tan 2 
Now
WeI change
always to thelike
start reciprocal:
this.1

1
sec 
cos 2  cos 
Finally, I notice that I have a square
of cos and want a square of1sin

: 1  sin 2  cos 2   sin 2   1
 r.h.s.
Another way of tackling the same problem is as follows:
2 1
Prove that 1  tan  
1  sin 2 
sin 2  sin 
Proof: l.h.s.  1  tan  
cos 2  cos 
cos 2   sin 2  ( Common denom. )

cos 2 
1
 2
2 2
cos   sin   1
cos 
1
 cos 2   sin 2   1
1  sin 2 
 r.h.s.
 Exercise

Prove the following identities:

1. sec2   cot 2   cosec2   tan 2 
2. cos 2  cosec  cosec  sin 
1  tan 2 
3.  2 cos 2   1
1  tan 2 
Solutions:
1. Prove sec2   cot 2   cosec2   tan 2 
Proof:
l.h.s. 
Solutions:
1. Prove sec2   cot 2   cosec2   tan 2 
Proof:
l.h.s.  1  tan 2   sec2   1  tan 2 
Solutions:
1. Prove sec2   cot 2   cosec2   tan 2 
Proof:
l.h.s.  1  tan 2   sec2   1  tan 2 
cosec2   1 cosec2   1  cot 2 
 cot 2   cosec2   1
Solutions:
1. Prove sec2   cot 2   cosec2   tan 2 
Proof:
l.h.s.  1  tan 2   sec2   1  tan 2 
cosec2   1 cosec2   1  cot 2 
 cot 2   cosec2   1
 tan 2   cosec2 
 r.h.s.
2. Prove cos 2  cosec  cosec  sin 
Proof:
l.h.s.  (1  sin 2  ) cosec cos 2   sin 2   1
I noticed that I want cosec but not cos
 cosec  cosec sin 2  ( No brackets wanted )
1 1
 cosec    sin 2  cosec 
sin  sin
 cosec   sin  ( Cancel )
 r.h.s.
 1  tan 2 
3.  2 cos 2   1
1  tan 2 
Proof: 1  (sec 2   1) 2
sec   1  tan  2
l.h.s. 
sec 2  ( Used twice )
2  sec 2 
 ( Collect terms )
sec 2  1
2
2 sec  ( Split fraction as we want 2
 
sec  sec 2 
2 terms )

 2 cos 2   1 1 1
sec   cos  
 r.h.s. cos  sec
Prove that:
Solve: , 0 ≤ ≤ 360
Prove that: =1-2
 Inverse Trig Functions
If we use a calculator to find x for
sin x   0  5 ,
we use the inverse sin function, sin 1 (  0  5)

Our calculators give us one solution, the principal value,

although we know there are an infinite number of solutions.

We will now look in detail at the inverse functions:

sin 1 x, cos 1 x, tan 1 x

A Bit More on Notation
The notation for the inverse of f ( x ) is f 1 ( x )
WARNING The notation for a reciprocal and an inverse are
the same!
1 1
e.g. x means the reciprocal of x,
x
but sin 1 0  5 means the inverse of sin x
(it means undo the sine function )
For the reciprocal of sin x we must write sin x  .
1
First consider the graph of y  sin x

y  sin x

The function is many-to-one.

We can’t define an inverse for a many-to-one function so we
must restrict the domain to get a one-to-one function.
 y  sin x

What domain would you use?

We need to make sure that we have all the y-values without any
being repeated.
 
The domain is defined as   x 
2 2
( or, in degrees, as).  90   x  90 
To make it easier to sketch the inverse by reflecting in y = x, I’ll
use the same scales on both axes.

 1  57
2

1  57
y  sin x


2
To make it easier to sketch the inverse by reflecting in y = x, I’ll
use the same scales on the axes.

 1  57
2
yx

y  sin x
To make it easier to sketch the inverse by reflecting in y = x, I’ll
use the same scales on the axes.

 1  57
2
y  sin 1 x yx

y  sin x
Domain and Range 
y  sin 1 x
2

1 1



2

1
The domain of an inverse function, f ( x ) , has the same
values as the range of f ( x ) and vice versa.
1
So, the domain of y  sin x is 1  x  1
 
and the range is   y
2 2
Finally, we can redraw y  sin 1 x using labels on the axes
that clearly show the domain and range.

y  sin 1 x
1  x  1

 
  y
2 2

It’s important to notice ( for later ) that the gradient is always

positive except at x   1 where it is undefined.
 Exercise

1
1. y 
(a) Sketch cos x for a suitable domain in order
to define its inverse.

(b) Sketch the inverse.

(c) Write down the domain and range.

(d) Write down what you notice about the gradient.

1
2. y  tan
Repeat question 1. for x
Solution: 1. or, using the usual scales,
y  cos 1 x
y  cos 1 x
yx

y  cos x
(c) The domain of y  cos 1 x is 1  x  1
and the range is 0 y
(d) The gradient is always negative except at x   1 where it
is undefined.
Solution: 2 or, using the usual scales,

y y  tan 1 x
yx 2

y  tan 1 x

y
2
y  tan x
1
(c) The domain of y  tan x is x
and the range is
 
  y
2 2
This is a strict inequality because of the asymptotes
Work out sin[arccos(1/2)]
Given that x satisfies arcsinx = k, where 0 < k <

a) State the range of possible values of x

b) Express, in terms of x
i) cosk ii) tank