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UNDERSTANDING WHICH ARE

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EXAM
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 4
TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS
INTRODUCTION

An equation involving one or more trigonometric ratios of unknown angle is called as a trigonometric
equation. e.g., sin – cos = 1; cosx + sin2x = 1, etc.

Note: Trigonometric identity is satisfied for every value of the unknown angle where as
trigonometric equation is satisfied only for some values of unknown angles.

Example: sin2x + cos2x = 1 is a trigonometric identity.

4.1. SOLUTION OR ROOT OF A TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATION:

A value of the unknown angle which satisfies the given equation is called a solution of the
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trigonometric equation.

Example: The equation 2sin = 1, holds for  = 30º and  = 150º. Therefore, 30º and 150º are
solutions of the equation.
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The equation generating all possible solutions of a trigonometric equation is called its general solution.

4.1.1. GENERAL SOLUTION OF SOME SIMPLE EQUATIONS :

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1. sin  = 0
The graph of y = sin shows that sin = 0 for  = 0, ±, ±2, ...
  = n : n  I
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2. cos  = 0
 3 5
The graph of y = cos shows that cos = 0 for  =  , , , ...
2 2 2
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
 cos = 0  = (2n + 1) : nI
2
3. tan  = 0
The graph of y = tan shows that tan = 0 if  = 0, ±, ±2, ...
  = n : n  I
4. General Solution of the equation sin = k where –1  k  1.
Let  be an angle such that k = sin ; then,
sin – sin = 0
θα θα
 2cos sin =0
2 2
 θα   θα  
cos   =0    = (2m + 1) : m  I
 2   2  2
or  = (2m + 1) –  ...(i)

- 4.1 -
 Trigonometric Equations

θα θα
sin =0  = r: rI
2 2
or  –  = 2r
or  = 2r +  : rI ...(ii)
Combining (i) and (ii), we get
 = n + (–1)n. : n  I
5. General Solution of the equation cos  = k, where –1  k  1
Let  be an angle such that k = cos; then,
cos = cos
 cos – cos = 0

θα θα
 –2sin sin =0
2 2
θα θα
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 Either sin = 0 or sin =0

2 2

θα θα
When sin = 0, = n or  = 2n – : n  I ...(i)
2 2
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θα θα
When sin = 0, = n or  = 2n +  : n  I ...(ii)
2 2
From (i) and (ii), we have
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 = 2n ± , where n  I
6. General Solution of the equation tan  = k, where k  R
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Let  an angle such that tan  = k; then,

tan  = tan 

sin θ sin α
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 =
cos θ cos α

 sin cos – cos sin = 0

 sin ( – ) = 0
  –  = n : n  I
  = n +  : n  I
7. General Solution of the equations sin2 = sin2  or cos2  = cos2  or tan2 = tan2
sin2 = sin2  .....(i)
 1 – sin2 = 1 – sin2 
 cos2 = cos2  .....(ii)
dividing (i) by (ii),
tan2  = tan2

- 4.2 -
Trigonometric Equations

so equations sin2 = sin2, cos2 = cos2 , tan2 = tan2  have same solution.
Now tan2  = tan2 
 tan  = ± tan  = tan (± )
 =n±
So equations sin2  = sin2, cos2 = cos2, tan2 = tan2 have same solution  = n  ± .

4.1.2. SOLUTION OF THE EQUATION a cos  + b sin  = c

Let a = rcos  b = rsin  r= a2  b2

Substituting these values in the given equation, we have
rcos cos  + rsin sin  = c
or rcos( – ) = c

c c
or cos( – )  = = cos , (say);
r a2  b2
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c
[If does not lie in [–1, 1], then given equation has no solution]
a2 b2
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or  –  = 2n ±  : n  I
 = 2n +  ± : n  I

4.1.3. DON’TS WHILE SOLVING TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS

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(i) Do not multiply by some expression as multiplying causes extra roots.

(ii) Do not divide by some expression as division causes root loss.

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(iii) Do not square as squaring causes extra roots.

(iv) Any value cannot be taken as solution at which any term of the equation becomes undefined.
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Sample Problem-1:

Solve: 2cos2 + 2 sin θ = 2.

Solution: 2 sin θ = 2(1 – cos2) = 4sin2 

 2sin = 16sin4 : sin 0

sin = 0 or sin3 = 1
8

1
 sin = 0 or
2


 = m : m  I or  = n + (–1)n :nI
6

- 4.3 -
 Trigonometric Equations

Sample Problem-2:

Solve: sinx + 3 cosx = 2.

Solution: “sinx + 3 cosx = 2 ” is of the type acos + bsin = c, where a = 3 , b = 1, c =

2 ;

 
  = 2n +  : nI
6 4

Sample Problem-3:

x
Solve: 8 tan2 = 1 + secx.
2

x 1  cos x
Solution: We know that tan 2 =
2 1  cos x
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x
8 tan2 = 1 + secx ...(i)
2

 1  cos x  cos x  1
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 8  = : cosx  0, –1
 1  cos x  cos x

or (8 – 8cosx)cosx = (cosx + 1)2

or 8cosx – 8cos2x = cos2x + 2cosx + 1
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or 9cos2x – 6cosx + 1 = 0
or (3cosx – 1)2 = 0
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1
or cosx = = cos, (say)
3
 x = 2n ±  : n  I
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Sample Problem-4:

Solve: sinx + cosx – 2 2 sinx cosx = 0.

Solution: Here sinx + cosx = 2 sin2x

 1 1 
or 2  sin x  cos x   2 sin 2 x
 2 2 

 
or sin  x    sin 2 x
 4

 
 2x = n + (–1)n  x   : n  I
 4

- 4.4 -
Trigonometric Equations

Sample Problem-5:

3 1
Find the general value of  which satisfies both the equations cos θ   and sinθ  .
2 2

3 5 5
Solution: cos =  = cos   = 2 n  :nI
2 6 6

1 
sin =   = m + (–1)m. :mI
2 6

5 
2 n  = m + (–1)m.
6 6
 5 2
If m = 2k: k  I then 2(n – k) =  =  ,
6 6 3
Since L.H.S. is even multiple of , there is no solution when m is an even integer.
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 5 
If m = 2k – 1; then, 2(n – k) =     = –2,  .
6 6 3
Since L.H.S. is an even multiple of ,  n – k = –1 which does not invite any restriction
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on n or m
5
  = 2n + where n  I (the ‘–’ sign is rejected)
6
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Sample Problem-6:
x 
Show that the equation 2 cos 2   sin 2 x  x 2  x 2 for 0  x  has no real solution.
2 2
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1 x 2
Solution: x2   2  x with equality for x2 = 1 alone. Since 2cos2 sin x  2,
x2 2
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x 2 2 1
 2cos2 sin x = x  2 holds only if x2 = 1
2 x
x
 x = 1 and cos sinx = ±1
2

1c
i.e., cos  2  .sin1c = ±1, which is not true. Hence, the given equation has no solution.
 

Sample Problem-7:
Determine ‘a’ for which the equation a2 – 2a + sec2((a + x)) = 0 has solutions and find the
solutions.

Solution: a2 – 2a + 1+ tan2((a + x)) = 0

or (a – 1)2 + [tan(a + x)]2 = 0

- 4.5 -
 Trigonometric Equations

 a – 1 = 0 and tan(a + x) = 0
 tan(1 + x) = 0
 (1 + x) = n  n  I
 x = n – 1: n  I ; a=1

Sample Problem-8:

Solve the equation cos7x + sin4x = 1.

Solution: cos7x  cos2x and sin4x  sin2x

 1 = cos7x + sin4x  cos2x + sin2x = 1
 cos7x = cos2x and sin4x = sin2x
cos7x = cos2x  cos2x (cos5x – 1) = 0
 cosx = 0 or cosx = 1
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 x = (2n + 1) /2 : n  I or x = 2m : m  I ...(i)

sin2x = sin4x
 sin2x cos2x = 0
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 cos x = 0 or sinx = 0 ...(ii)

Since (i) satisfies the system (ii),  solution set is given by (i)
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Sample Problem-9:

Solve for x and y : 12sinx + 5cosx = 2y2 – 8y + 21 .

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Solution: 12sinx + 5cosx = 2y2 – 8y + 21

 12 5 
 12 2  5 2  sin x  cos x   2( y 2  4 y  4)  13
13 13
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 

5 12
or 13cos(x  )  2( y  2) 2  13 : cos = and sin =
13 13
Thus, cos(x – ) = 1 and y = 2
or x –  = 2n : n  I and y = 2
 x = 2n +  : n  I and y = 2

Sample Problem-10:
Solve for x, y
xcos3y + 3xcosy sin2y = 14
xsin3y + 3xcos2y siny = 13 .

- 4.6 -
Trigonometric Equations

Solution: We note that “x = 0; siny = 0 or cosy = 0” do not yield a solution to given system.

cos 3 y  3cos y sin 2 y 14


sin 3 y  3cos 2 y sin y 13

By componendo and dividendo ,

cos 3 y  3 cos y sin 2 y  3 cos 2 y sin y  sin 3 y 14  13


cos 3 y  3 cos y sin 2 y  3 cos 2 y sin y  sin 3 y 14  13

3
 cos y  sin y 
or    27  (3) 3
 cos y  sin y 

or cos y  sin y
3
cos y  sin y

1  tan y 3
or 
1  tan y 1
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1
tany = = tan; y = n +  : n  I
2
Since siny and cosy have signs we have the following cases:
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1 2
(i) siny = and cosy = ; then,
5 5

 8 2 1
x 3 .   14  x  5 5
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5 5 5 5

1 2
(ii) siny =  and cosy =  ; then,
5 5
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 8  2  1
x  3 .   14  x  5 5
5 5  5  5
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Sample Problem-11:

Solve: 3tan( – 15º) = tan( + 15º)

Solution: Given, 3tan( – 15º) = tan( + 15º)

or tan (θ  15º ) 3

tan (θ – 15º ) 1

tan(   15 )  tan(   15 ) 4

tan(   15 )  tan(   15 ) =
2

sin (θ  15º  θ – 15º )

or =2
sin (θ  15º – θ  15º )

- 4.7 -
 Trigonometric Equations


or sin 2 = 1 = sin
2


 2 = n + (–1)n :nI
2

n 
 =  (–1) n :nI
2 4

OBJECTIVE QUESTION-4.1
1. The solution set of (2cosx – 1) (3 + 2cosx) = 0 in the interval 0  x  2 is

π   π 5π 
(a)   (b)  , 
3 3 3 

 π 5π   3 
(c)  , , cos 1   (d) none of these
3 3  2 
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Hint (b): –1  cos x  1

2. The general solution of equation : sin2 sec + 3 tan = 0, is

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 
(a)  = n +(–1)n+1 (b)  = n (c)  = n + (–1)n+1 (d)none of these
3 6

Hint (b): sin  [–1, 1]

3. The general solution of sinx – 3sin2x + sin 3x = cosx – 3cos2x + cos3x, is
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π nπ π nπ π
(a) n + (b) + (c) (–1)n + (d) none of these
8 2 8 2 8
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Hint (b): tan  = tan  = n +, n  I

4. The equation cosx + sinx = 2, has
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(a) only one solution (b) two solutions (c) no solutions (d) none of these

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Hint (c): For a cos x + b sin x = c, if  1, then it has no solution.
a  b2
2

1 1
5. The general value of  which satisfies both the equations sin =  and tan = , is
2 3

π π 11π 7π
(a) 2n + (b) 2n + (c) 2n + (d) 2n +
6 4 6 6

Hint (d): sin  < 0 and tan  > 0, then  3rd quadrant.
6. The number of solutions of the equation sin 5x cos3x = sin6x cos2x in (0,  are
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) none of these

- 4.8 -
Trigonometric Equations

  5
Hint (d): Use 2 sin A cos B = sin (A + B) + sin (A – B), x = , ,
6 2 6
7. The smallest positive root of the equation tanx – x = 0 lies in

  3 
(a) (0, ) (b)  ,   (c)  ,  (d) none of these
2   2 
Hint (c): Draw the graph of y = x and y = tan x.

8. The number of roots of the equation tanx = x + 1 between – and 2 is
2
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) none of these

Hint (b): Draw the graph of y = tan x and y = x + 1.

9. The number of solutions of the equation 2(sin 4 2 x  cos 4 2 x)  3 sin 2 x cos 2 x  0 is
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) none of these
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Hint (a): Use sin2  0 and cos2  0.

10. If | cot x | < 1 and 0  x  , the solution set of x is

      3   
(a)  ,  (b)  0,    ,   (c)  0,  (d) none of these
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4 2  4  4   4

Hint (a): Draw the graph of y= |cot x|.

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