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DP IB Maths: AI HL Your notes

3.4 Further Trigonometry

Contents
3.4.1 The Unit Circle
3.4.2 Simple Identities
3.4.3 Solving Trigonometric Equations

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3.4.1 The Unit Circle

Your notes
Defining Sin, Cos and Tan
What is the unit circle?
The unit circle is a circle with radius 1 and centre (0, 0)
Angles are always measured from the positive x-axis and turn:
anticlockwise for positive angles
clockwise for negative angles
It can be used to calculate trig values as a coordinate point (x, y) on the circle
Trig values can be found by making a right triangle with the radius as the hypotenuse
θ is the angle measured anticlockwise from the positive x-axis
The x-axis will always be adjacent to the angle, θ
SOHCAHTOA can be used to find the values of sinθ, cosθ and tanθ easily
As the radius is 1 unit
the x coordinate gives the value of cosθ
the y coordinate gives the value of sinθ
As the origin is one of the end points - dividing the y coordinate by the x coordinate gives the gradient
the gradient of the line gives the value of tanθ
π
It allows us to calculate sin, cos and tan for angles greater than 90° ( rad)
2

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Your notes

How is the unit circle used to construct the graphs of sine and cosine?
On the unit circle the y-coordinates give the value of sine
Plot the y-coordinate from the unit circle as the y-coordinate on a trig graph for x-coordinates of θ
= 0, π/2, π, 3π/2 and 2π
Join these points up using a smooth curve
To get a clearer idea of the shape of the curve the points for x-coordinates of θ = π/4, 3π/4,
5π/4 and 7π/4 could also be plotted

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Your notes

On the unit circle the x-coordinates give the value of cosine

Plot the x-coordinate from the unit circle as the y-coordinate on a trig graph for x-coordinates of θ
= 0, π/4, π/2, 3π/4 and 2π
Join these points up using a smooth curve
To get a clearer idea of the shape of the curve the points for x-coordinates of θ = π/4, 3π/4,
5π/4 and 7π/4 could also be plotted

Looking at the unit circle alongside of the sine or cosine graph will help to visualise this clearer

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Worked example
Your notes
The coordinates of a point on a unit circle, to 3 significant figures, are (0.629, 0.777). Find θ° to the
nearest degree.

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Using The Unit Circle

What are the properties of the unit circle? Your notes
π
The unit circle can be split into four quadrants at every 90° ( rad)
2
The first quadrant is for angles between 0 and 90°
All three of Sinθ, Cosθ and Tanθ are positive in this quadrant
π
The second quadrant is for angles between 90° and 180° ( rad and π rad)
2
Sinθ is positive in this quadrant
3π
The third quadrant is for angles between 180° and 270° (π rad and )
2
Tanθ is positive in this quadrant
3π
The fourth quadrant is for angles between 270° and 360° ( rad and 2π )
2
Cosθ is positive in this quadrant
Starting from the fourth quadrant (on the bottom right) and working anti-clockwise the positive
trig functions spell out CAST
This is why it is often thought of as the CAST diagram
You may have your own way of remembering this
A popular one starting from the first quadrant is All Students Take Calculus
To help picture this better try sketching all three trig graphs on one set of axes and look at which
graphs are positive in each 90° section
How is the unit circle used to find secondary solutions?
Trigonometric functions have more than one input to each output
For example sin 30° = sin 150° = 0.5
This means that trigonometric equations have more than one solution
For example both 30° and 150° satisfy the equation sin x = 0.5
The unit circle can be used to find all solutions to trigonometric equations in a given interval
Your calculator will only give you the first solution to a problem such as x = sin-1(0.5)
This solution is called the primary value
However, due to the periodic nature of the trig functions there could be an infinite number of
solutions
Further solutions are called the secondary values
This is why you will be given a domain in which your solutions should be found
This could either be in degrees or in radians
If you see π or some multiple of π then you must work in radians
The following steps may help you use the unit circle to find secondary values
STEP 1: Draw the angle into the first quadrant using the x or y coordinate to help you
If you are working with sin x = k, draw the line from the origin to the circumference of the circle at the
point where the y coordinate is k

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If you are working with cos x = k, draw the line from the origin to the circumference of the circle at the
point where the x coordinate is k
If you are working with tan x = k, draw the line from the origin to the circumference of the circle such that Your notes
the gradient of the line is k
Note that whilst this method works for tan, it is complicated and generally unnecessary, tan x
repeats every 180° (π radians) so the quickest method is just to add or subtract multiples of 180° to
the primary value
This will give you the angle which should be measured from the positive x-axis…
… anticlockwise for a positive angle
… clockwise for a negative angle
STEP 2: Draw the radius in the other quadrant which has the same...
... x-coordinate if solving cos x = k
This will be the quadrant which is vertical to the original quadrant
... y-coordinate if solving sin x = k
This will be the quadrant which is horizontal to the original quadrant
... gradient if solving tan x = k
This will be the quadrant diagonally across from the original quadrant
STEP 3: Work out the size of the second angle, measuring from the positive x-axis
… anticlockwise for a positive angle
… clockwise for a negative angle
You should look at the given range of values to decide whether you need the negative or positive
angle
STEP 4: Add or subtract either 360° or 2π radians to both values until you have all solutions in the required
range

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Your notes

Examiner Tip
Being able to sketch out the unit circle and remembering CAST can help you to find all solutions to
a problem in an exam question

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Worked example
Your notes
Given that one solution of cosθ = 0.8 is θ = 0.6435 radians correct to 4 decimal places, find all other
solutions in the range -2π ≤ θ ≤ 2π. Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.

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3.4.2 Simple Identities

Your notes
Simple Identities
What is a trigonometric identity?
Trigonometric identities are statements that are true for all values of x or θ
They are used to help simplify trigonometric equations before solving them
Sometimes you may see identities written with the symbol ≡
This means 'identical to'
What trigonometric identities do I need to know?
The two trigonometric identities you must know are
sin θ
tan θ =
cos θ
This is the identity for tan θ
sin2θ + cos2θ = 1
This is the Pythagorean identity
Note that the notation sin 2θ is the same as (sin θ ) 2
Both identities can be found in the formula booklet
Rearranging the second identity often makes it easier to work with
sin2θ = 1 − cos2 θ
cos2θ = 1 − sin2θ
Where do the trigonometric identities come from?
You do not need to know the proof for these identities but it is a good idea to know where they come
from
From SOHCAHTOA we know that
opposite O
sin θ = =
hypotenuse H
adjacent A
cos θ = =
hypotenuse H
opposite O
tan θ = =
adjacent A
The identity for tan θ can be seen by diving sin θ by cos θ
O
sin θ H O
= = = tan θ
cos θ A A
H
This can also be seen from the unit circle by considering a right-triangle with a hypotenuse of 1

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O sin θ
tan θ = =
A cos θ Your notes
The Pythagorean identity can be seen by considering a right-triangle on the unit circle with a
hypotenuse of 1
Then (opposite)2 + (adjacent)2 = 1
Therefore sin 2 θ + cos2 θ = 1
Considering the equation of the unit circle also shows the Pythagorean identity
The equation of the unit circle is x 2 + y 2 = 1
The coordinates on the unit circle are (cos θ , sin θ )
Therefore the equation of the unit circle could be written cos2 θ + sin 2 θ = 1
π
A third very useful identity is sin θ = cos (90° − θ ) or sin θ = cos ( − θ)
2
This is not included in the formula booklet but is useful to remember
How are the trigonometric identities used?
Most commonly trigonometric identities are used to change an equation into a form that allows it to be
solved
They can also be used to prove further identities such as the double angle formulae

Examiner Tip
If you are asked to show that one thing is identical (≡) to another, look at what parts are missing –
for example, if tan x has gone it must have been substituted

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Worked example
Your notes
Show that the equation 2sin2 x − cos x = 0 can be written in the form
a cos2 x + b cos x + c = 0 , where a , b and c are integers to be found.

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3.4.3 Solving Trigonometric Equations

Your notes
Graphs of Trigonometric Functions
What are the graphs of trigonometric functions?
The trigonometric functions sin, cos and tan all have special periodic graphs
You’ll need to know their properties and how to sketch them for a given domain in either degrees or
radians
Sketching the trigonometric graphs can help to
Solve trigonometric equations and find all solutions
Understand transformations of trigonometric functions

What are the properties of the graphs of sin x and cos x?

The graphs of sin x and cos x are both periodic
They repeat every 360° (2π radians)
The angle will always be on the x-axis
Either in degrees or radians
The graphs of sin x and cos x are always in the range -1 ≤ y ≤ 1
Domain: { x | x ∈ ℝ}
Range: { y | − 1 ≤ y ≤ 1}
The graphs of sin x and cos x are identical however one is a translation of the other
sin x passes through the origin
cos x passes through (0, 1)
The amplitude of the graphs of sin x and cos x is 1
What are the properties of the graph of tan x?
The graph of tan x is periodic
It repeats every 180° (π radians)
The angle will always be on the x-axis
Either in degrees or radians
The graph of tan x is undefined at the points ± 90°, ± 270° etc
There are asymptotes at these points on the graph
π 3π
In radians this is at the points ± , ± etc
2 2
The range of the graph of tan x is
π
⎧⎪ ⎫⎮
Domain: ⎨⎪ x |x ≠ + kπ , k ∈ ℤ ⎮⎬⎮
⎪
⎪⎩ 2 ⎮⎭
Range: { y | y ∈ ℝ}

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Your notes

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Your notes

How do I sketch trigonometric graphs?

You may need to sketch a trigonometric graph so you will need to remember the key features of each
one
The following steps may help you sketch a trigonometric graph
STEP 1: Check whether you should be working in degrees or radians
You should check the domain given for this
If you see π in the given domain then you should work in radians
STEP 2: Label the x-axis in multiples of 90°
π
This will be multiples of if you are working in radians
2
Make sure you cover the whole domain on the x-axis
STEP 3: Label the y-axis
The range for the y-axis will be – 1 ≤ y ≤ 1 for sin or cos
For tan you will not need any specific points on the y-axis
STEP 4: Draw the graph
Knowing exact values will help with this, such as remembering that sin(0) = 0 and
cos(0) = 1
Mark the important points on the axis first
If you are drawing the graph of tan x put the asymptotes in first
If you are drawing sin x or cos x mark in where the maximum and minimum points will be
Try to keep the symmetry and rotational symmetry as you sketch, as this will help when using
the graph to find solutions

Examiner Tip
Sketch all three trig graphs on your exam paper so you can refer to them as many times as you
need to!

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Worked example
Your notes
Sketch the graphs of y = cosθ and y = tanθ on the same set of axes in the interval -π ≤ θ ≤ 2π. Clearly
mark the key features of both graphs.

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Using Trigonometric Graphs

How can I use a trigonometric graph to find extra solutions? Your notes
Your calculator will only give you the first solution to a problem such as sin-1(0.5)
This solution is called the primary value
However, due to the periodic nature of the trig functions there could be an infinite number of solutions
Further solutions are called the secondary values
This is why you will be given a domain (interval) in which your solutions should be found
This could either be in degrees or in radians
If you see π or some multiple of π then you must work in radians
The following steps will help you use the trigonometric graphs to find secondary values
STEP 1: Sketch the graph for the given function and interval
Check whether you should be working in degrees or radians and label the axes with the key
values
STEP 2: Draw a horizontal line going through the y-axis at the point you are trying to find the values
for
For example if you are looking for the solutions to sin-1(-0.5) then draw the horizontal line going
through the y-axis at -0.5
The number of times this line cuts the graph is the number of solutions within the given interval
STEP 3: Find the primary value and mark it on the graph
This will either be an exact value and you should know it
Or you will be able to use your calculator to find it
STEP 4: Use the symmetry of the graph to find all the solutions in the interval by adding or
subtracting from the key values on the graph
What patterns can be seen from the graphs of trigonometric functions?
The graph of sin x has rotational symmetry about the origin
So sin(-x) = - sin(x)
sin(x) = sin(180° - x) or sin(π – x)
The graph of cos x has reflectional symmetry about the y-axis
So cos(-x) = cos(x)
cos(x) = cos(360° – x) or cos(2π – x)
The graph of tan x repeats every 180° (π radians)
So tan(x) = tan(x ± 180°) or tan(x ± π )
The graphs of sin x and cos x repeat every 360° (2π radians)
So sin(x) = sin(x ± 360°) or sin(x ± 2π)
cos(x) = cos(x ± 360°) or cos(x ± 2π)

Examiner Tip
Take care to always check what the interval for the angle is that the question is focused on

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Worked example
Your notes
One solution to cos x = 0.5 is 60°. Find all the other solutions in the range -360° ≤ x ≤ 360°.

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