Trigonometric

Equations (II)
In this section we'll learn various techniques to manipulate
trigonometric equations so we can solve them. We'll find
solutions on the interval from 0 to 2. The first tip is to try
using identities to get in terms of the same trig function.
cos 2 sin 2 sin 0
Use the Pythagorean Identity to replace this with an
equivalent expression using sine.
cos 1 sin
2 2

1 sin sin sin 0

2 2 Combine like terms,
multiply by -1 and put
in descending order
2sin sin 1 0
2
Factor (think of sin like x and
this is quadratic)
(2sin 1)(sin 1) 0 Set each factor = 0 and solve
7 11
1
sin , sin 1 , ,
2 6 6 2
 When we don't have squared trig functions, we can't use the
Pythagorean identities. If you have two terms with different
trig functions you can try squaring both sides.
Square both sides. Must do whole
cos sin 0 2
2 side together NOT each term (so
left side will need to be FOILed).

cos 2 2 cos sin sin 2 0 re-order terms

2 cossin
sin cos 12cos
2 2
sin 00
Pythagorean Identity---this equals 1 Double angle Identity

1 sin 2 0 Get sine term sin 2 2sin cos

alone
sin 2 1 Where is the sine -1?
3 3 Remember to do 7 7
2 so another loop when 2 so
2 4 you have 2 2 4
 HELPFUL HINTS FOR SOLVING
TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS
Try to get equations in terms of one trig function by using
identities.
Be on the look-out for ways to substitute using identities
Try to get trig functions of the same angle. If one term is
cos2 and another is cos for example, use the double angle
formula to express first term in terms of just instead of 2
Get one side equals zero and factor out any common trig
functions
See if equation is quadratic in form and will factor. (replace
the trig function with x to see how it factors if that helps)

If the angle you are solving for is a multiple of , don't forget

to add 2 to your answer for each multiple of since will
still be less than 2 when solved for.
 There are some equations that can't be solved by hand
and we must use a some kind of technology.
Use a graphing utility to solve the equation. Express any solutions
rounded to two decimal places.

22x 17 sin x 3
Graph this side as y1 Graph this side as y2
in your calculator in your calculator

You want to know where they are equal. That would be

where their graphs intersect. You can use the trace
feature or the intersect feature to find this (or these)
points (there could be more than one point of
intersection).
 22x 17 sin x 3 This
This was
is offgraphed
a little due
on
check: 22 .53 17sin .53 3.066 3
the
to the
computer
fact we with
graphcalc,
approximated. a freeIf you
graphing
carried it utility
to more you
can
decimal
download
placesatyou'd
www.graphcalc.com
have more accuracy.

After seeing the initial

graph, lets change the
window to get a better
view of the intersection
point and then we'll do
a trace.

Rounded to 2 decimal places, the

point of intersection is x = 0.53
Acknowledgement

I wish to thank Shawna Haider from Salt Lake Community College, Utah
USA for her hard work in creating this PowerPoint.

www.slcc.edu

Shawna has kindly given permission for this resource to be downloaded

from www.mathxtc.com and for it to be modified to suit the Western
Australian Mathematics Curriculum.

Stephen Corcoran
Head of Mathematics
St Stephens School Carramar
www.ststephens.wa.edu.au