11 Maths Specialist: Trigonometric Identities and Proofs

1. Use your knowledge of the Unit Circle and Trigonometry to prove that sin2∅ + cos2∅ = 1.
2. By multiplying, dividing the above identity by various factors (or other means) prove that
a) tan2∅ - sec2∅ = 1
b) csc2∅ - cot2∅ = 1
c) Verify your answers above by graphing.
𝑠𝑖𝑛∅
3. Prove that tan∅ =
𝑐𝑜𝑠∅
4. Verify your answer graphically.
5. Prove the following are true:
a) tan x sin x + cos x = sec x
b) sin x - sin x cos2 x = sin3
c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

h)

i)

j)

k)

6. The Duplication Formula:

 sin 2β = 2sin β cos β
Show that this formula is true for i) β = 450 ii) β = 300 iii) β = 600 iv) β = 1200
We’ll come back to this formula and other duplication formula later.
7. Draw, using technology, the graphs of the following pairs of functions and comment on what
you see:
a) y1 = y2 =

b) y3 = y4 =
8. The function D = 2sin x + cos 20x describes the motion of a slinky spring being shaken back
and forth in a sideways motion, where D is the distance in cm that the furthest part of the
spring gets from the mean position of the spring, and t is the distance in cm along the spring
measured from the origin.
a) Make a conjecture about the amplitude of this function.
b) Draw the graph of this function.
c) Use the graph to answer:
i) What is the periodicity of this function?
ii) What is the displacement of the spring at t = 4m?
iii) What is the position at which an edge of the spring is sitting over the mean
position of the spring?
iv) Was your conjecture about the maximum displacement of the spring
reasonable?
v) Do you think this is a good model for the motion of a slinky spring?