Higher

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Mathematics
UNIT 3 OUTCOME 4

Wave Functions

Contents
Wave Functions 176
1 Expressing pcosx + qsinx in the form kcos(x – a) 176
2 Expressing pcosx + qsinx in other forms 177
3 Multiple Angles 178
4 Maximum and Minimum Values 179
5 Solving Equations 180
6 Sketching Graphs of y = pcosx + qsinx 182

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 Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

OUTCOME 4

Wave Functions
1 Expressing pcosx + qsinx in the form kcos(x – a)
An expression of the form p cos x + q sin x can be written in the form
k cos ( x − a ) where
k sin a
k = p 2 + q 2 and tan a = .
k cos a
The following example shows how to achieve this.
EXAMPLES
1. Write 5cos x ° + 12sin x ° in the form k cos ( x ° − a ° ) where 0 ≤ a ≤ 360 .
Step 1
Expand k cos ( x − a ) using the 5cos x ° + 12 sin x °
compound angle formula. = k cos ( x ° − a ° )
= k cos x ° cos a ° + k sin x ° sin a °
Step 2
Rearrange to compare with = ( k cos a ° ) cos x ° + ( k sin a ° ) sin x °

 

p cos x + q sin x . 5 12
Step 3
Compare the coefficients of cos x k cos a ° = 5
and sin x with p cos x + q sin x . k sin a ° = 12
Step 4
Mark the quadrants on a CAST 180° − a ° a°

S A


diagram, according to the signs
180° + a °
T C

360° − a °
of k cos a and k sin a .
Step 5
k sin a °
Find k and a using the formulae k = 52 + 12 2 tan a ° =
k cos a °
above (a lies in the quadrant = 169
marked twice in Step 4). = 12
5
= 13
a = tan −1 12
5( )
= 67.4 (to 1 d.p.)
Step 6
State p cos x + q sin x in the form 5cos x ° + 12sin x ° = 13cos ( x ° − 67.4° )
k cos ( x − a ) using these values.

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 Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

2. Write 5cos x − 3sin x in the form k cos ( x − a ) where 0 ≤ a ≤ 2π .

5cos x − 3sin x = k cos ( x − a )
= k cos x cos a + k sin x sin a
= ( k cos a ) cos x + ( k sin a ) sin x .
k sin a
k cos a = 5 k = 52 + ( − 3 ) 2 tan a = = − 35
k cos a
k sin a = −3 = 34 First quadrant answer is:
π−a
S A

a
( )
tan −1 35 Note

T C

π+a


2π − a = 0.540 (to 3 d.p.). Make sure your
calculator is in radian
Hence a is in the So a = 2π − 0.540 mode.
fourth quadrant. = 5.743 (to 3 d.p.).

Hence 5cos x − 3sin x = 34 cos ( x − 5.743 ) .

2 Expressing pcosx + qsinx in other forms

An expression in the form p cos x + q sin x can also be written in any of the
following forms using a similar method:
k cos ( x + a ) , k sin ( x − a ) , k sin ( x + a ) .
EXAMPLES
1. Write 4cos x ° + 3sin x ° in the form k sin ( x ° + a ° ) where 0 ≤ a ≤ 360 .
4cos x ° + 3sin x ° = k sin ( x ° + a ° )
= k sin x ° cos a ° + k cos x ° sin a °
= ( k cos a ° ) sin x ° + ( k sin a ° ) cos x °
k sin a ° 4
k cos a ° = 3 k = 4 2 + 32 tan a ° = =
k cos a ° 3
k sin a ° = 4 = 25 So:
=5
180° − a °

S A


a°
( )
a = tan −1 34

180° + a °
T C

360° − a ° = 53.1 (to 1 d.p.)
Hence a is in the
first quadrant.
Hence 4 cos x ° + 3sin x ° = 5sin ( x ° + 53.1° ) .

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 Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

2. Write cos x − 3 sin x in the form k cos ( x + a ) where 0 ≤ a ≤ 2π .

cos x − 3 sin x = k cos ( x + a )
= k cos x cos a − k sin x sin a
= ( k cos a ) cos x − ( k sin a ) sin x
2 k sin a
k cos a = 1 k = 12 + ( − 3 ) tan a = = 3
k cos a
k sin a = 3
= 1+ 3 So:
π−a a = 4 a = tan −1 ( 3 )

S A


T C
=2 = π3
π+a 2π − a

Hence a is in the
first quadrant.

Hence cos x − 3 sin x = 2cos x + π3 . ( )

3 Multiple Angles
We can use the same method with expressions involving the same multiple
angle, i.e. p cos (nx ) + q sin (nx ) , where n is a constant.
EXAMPLE
Write 5cos2 x ° + 12sin2 x ° in the form k sin ( 2 x ° + a ° ) where 0 ≤ a ≤ 360 .
5cos 2 x ° + 12sin2 x ° = k sin ( 2 x ° + a ° )
= k sin2 x ° cos a ° + k cos 2 x ° sin a °
= ( k cos a ° ) sin 2 x ° + ( k sin a ° ) cos 2 x °
k sin a ° 5
k cos a ° = 12 k = 12 2 + 52 tan a ° = =
k cos a ° 12
k sin a ° = 5 = 169 So:
= 13
180° − a °

S A


a° 5
a = tan −1 12( )
180° + a °
T C

360° − a ° = 22.6 (to 1 d.p.)
Hence a is in the
first quadrant.
Hence 5cos 2 x ° + 12sin 2 x ° = 13sin ( 2 x ° + 22.6° ) .

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 Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

4 Maximum and Minimum Values

To work out the maximum or minimum values of p cos x + q sin x , we can
rewrite it as a single trigonometric function, e.g. k cos ( x − a ) .
Recall that the maximum value of the sine and cosine functions is 1, and
their minimum is –1.
y y = sin x y y = cos x
1 max. = 1 1 max. = 1

O 2π x O 2π x
–1 min. = –1 –1 min. = –1
EXAMPLE
Write 4sin x + cos x in the form k cos ( x − a ) where 0 ≤ a ≤ 2π and state:
(i) the maximum value and the value of 0 ≤ x < 2π at which it occurs
(ii) the minimum value and the value of 0 ≤ x < 2π at which it occurs.
4sin x + cos x = k cos ( x − a )
= k cos x cos a + k sin x sin a
= ( k cos a ) cos x + ( k sin a ) sin x
k sin a
k cos a = 1 k = 12 + 42 tan a = =4
k cos a
k sin a = 4 = 17
So:
π−a a a = tan −1 ( 4 )

S A


T C
= 1.326 (to 3 d.p.)
π+a 2π − a

Hence a is in the
first quadrant.

Hence 4sin x + cos x = 17 cos ( x − 1.326 ) .

The maximum value of 17 The minimum value of − 17

occurs when: occurs when:
cos ( x − 1.326 ) = 1 cos ( x − 1.326 ) = −1
x − 1.326 = cos −1 (1) x − 1.326 = cos −1 ( −1)
x − 1.326 = 0 x − 1.326 = π
x = 1.326 (to 3 d.p.). x = 4.468 (to 3 d.p.).

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 Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

5 Solving Equations
The method of writing two trigonometric terms as one can be used to help
solve equations involving both a sin ( nx ) and a cos ( nx ) term.
EXAMPLES
1. Solve 5cos x ° + sin x ° = 2 where 0 ≤ x ≤ 360 .
First, we write 5cos x ° + sin x ° in the form k cos ( x ° − a ° ) :
5cos x ° + sin x ° = k cos ( x ° − a ° )
= k cos x ° cos a ° + k sin x ° sin a °
= ( k cos a ° ) cos x ° + ( k sin a ° ) sin x °
k sin a ° 1
k cos a ° = 5 k = 52 + 12 tan a ° = =
k cos a ° 5
k sin a ° = 1 = 26 So:
180° − a °

S A


a°
()
a = tan −1 15

180° + a °
T C

360° − a ° = 11.3 (to 1 d.p.)
Hence a is in the
first quadrant.
Hence 5cos x ° + sin x ° = 26 cos ( x ° − 11.3° ) .
Now we use this to help solve the equation:
5cos x ° + sin x ° = 2 180° − x ° x°
S A

26 cos ( x ° − 11.3° ) = 2

180° + x ° T C 360° − x °
cos ( x ° − 11.3° ) = 2
26 x − 11.3 = cos −1 ( 262 )
= 66.9 (to 2 d.p.)
x − 11.3 = 66.9 or 360 − 66.9
x − 11.3 = 66.9 or 293.1
x = 78.2 or 304.4.

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Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

2. Solve 2 cos 2 x + 3sin 2 x = 1 where 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π .

First, we write 2 cos 2 x + 3sin 2 x in the form k cos ( 2 x − a ) :
2cos 2 x + 3sin2 x = k cos ( 2 x − a )
= k cos 2 x cos a + k sin 2 x sin a
= ( k cos a ) cos 2 x + ( k sin a ) sin 2 x
k sin a 3
k cos a = 2 k = 2 2 + ( −3 )2 tan a = =
k cos a 2
k sin a = 3 = 4+9 So:
π−a

S A


a = 13 ( )
a = tan −1 32

π+a
T C
2π − a = 0.983 (to 3 d.p.)
Hence a is in the
first quadrant.
Hence 2cos2 x + 3sin 2 x = 13 cos ( 2 x − 0.983 ) .
Now we use this to help solve the equation:
2cos 2 x + 3sin2 x = 1 π − 2x 2x
S A
0 < x < 2π
13 cos ( 2 x − 0.983 ) = 1
0 < 2 x < 4π
π + 2 x T C 2π − 2 x
cos ( 2 x − 0.983 ) = 131
2 x − 0.983 = cos −1 1
13 ( )
= 1.290 (to 3 d.p.)
2 x − 0.983 = 1.290 or 2π − 1.290
or 2π + 1.290 or 2π + 2π − 1.290
or 2π + 2π + 1.290
2 x − 0.983 = 1.290 or 4.993 or 7.573 or 11.276
2 x = 2.273 or 5.976 or 8.556 or 12.259
x = 1.137 or 2.988 or 4.278 or 6.130

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 Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

6 Sketching Graphs of y = pcosx + qsinx

Expressing p cos x + q sin x in the form k cos ( x − a ) enables us to sketch the
graph of y = p cos x + q sin x .
EXAMPLES
1. (a) Write 7 cos x ° + 6sin x ° in the form k cos ( x ° − a ° ) , 0 ≤ a ≤ 360 .
(b) Hence sketch the graph of y = 7 cos x ° + 6sin x ° for 0 ≤ x ≤ 360 .
(a) First, we write 7 cos x ° + 6sin x ° in the form k cos ( x ° − a ° ) :
7 cos x ° + 6sin x ° = k cos ( x ° − a ° )
= k cos x ° cos a ° + k sin x ° sin a °
= ( k cos a ° ) cos x ° + ( k sin a ° ) sin x °
k sin a ° 6
k cos a ° = 7 k = 62 + 7 2 tan a ° = =
k cos a ° 7
k sin a ° = 6 = 36 + 49 So:
180° − a °

S A


a° = 85 ( )
a = tan −1 76

180° + a °
T C

360° − a ° = 40.6 (to 1 d.p.)
Hence a is in the
first quadrant.
Hence 7 cos x ° + 6 sin x ° = 85 cos ( x ° − 40.6° ) .
(b) Now we can sketch the graph of y = 7 cos x ° + 6sin x ° :
y
y = 7 cos x ° + 6 sin x °
85

O x

− 85
40.60 360

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Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

2. Sketch the graph of y = sin x ° + 3 cos x ° for 0 ≤ x ≤ 360 .

First, we write sin x ° + 3 cos x ° in the form k cos ( x ° − a ° ) :
sin x ° + 3 cos x ° = k cos ( x ° − a ° )
= k cos x ° cos a ° + k sin x ° sin a °
= ( k cos a ° ) cos x ° + ( k sin a ° ) sin x °
2 k sin a ° 1
k cos a ° = 3 k = 12 + 3 tan a ° = =
k cos a ° 3
k sin a ° = 1 = 1+ 3 So:
=2
180° − a °

S A


a°
( )
a = tan −1 13

180° + a °
T C

360° − a ° = 30
Hence a is in the
first quadrant.
Hence sin x ° + 3 cos x ° = 2cos ( x ° − 30° ) .

Now we can sketch the graph of y = sin x ° + 3 cos x ° :

y
y = sin x ° + 3 cos x °
2

O x

−2
30 360

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Higher Mathematics Unit 3 – Wave Functions

3. (a) Write 5sin x ° − 11 cos x ° in the form k sin ( x ° − a ° ) , 0 ≤ a ≤ 360 .

(b) Hence sketch the graph of y = 5sin x ° − 11cos x ° + 2 , 0 ≤ x ≤ 360 .

(a) 5sin x ° − 11cos x ° = k sin ( x ° − a ° )

= k sin x ° cos a ° + k cos x ° sin a °
= ( k cos a ° ) sin x ° + ( k sin a ° ) cos x °
2 k sin a ° 11
k cos a ° = 5 k = 52 + 11 tan a ° = =
k cos a ° 5
k sin a ° = 11 = 25 + 11 So:
180° − a °

S A


a° = 36 ( )
a = tan −1 11
5
T C
=6
180° + a ° 360° − a ° = 33.6 (to 1 d.p.)
Hence a is in the
first quadrant.
Hence 5sin x ° − 11cos x ° = 6sin ( x ° − 33.6° ) .
(b) Now sketch the graph of
y = 5sin x ° − 11cos x ° + 2 = 6sin ( x ° − 33.6° ) + 2 :
y
8
6 y = 5sin x ° − 11 cos x ° + 2
2
O x
−4
−6
33.6° 360°

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