Trigonometric Equations Page 1

Trigonometric Equations

Motivation
Lets think of a simple case when we want the solution for of the equation sin .
The answer is not as simple as x=0. As we know from our past understanding, x can
take all integral multiples of . Thus, there comes an important question that needs to
be answered; what is the solution of slightly more complex trigonometric equations?
We try to answer that question here.

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Section 1
Preliminaries
1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 3
1.2 General Solution of sin x = sin A ......................................................................... 3
1.3 General Solution of cos x = cos A ........................................................................ 6
1.4 General Solution of tan x = tan A ........................................................................ 7
1.5 Miscellaneous Solved Examples .......................................................................... 9

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1 Trigonometry Equations

1.0 Introduction
An equation in terms of trigonometric functions is trigonometry equation. e.g.
sin cos
To solve the trigonometry equation means you have to find the angle for which the
equation is satisfied.
General Solution of trigonometric equations:

Now sin means etc

In general where n is any integer

The above results are not something that should shock you to the core but these are
results which are obvious if you see the graph of the given functions once. Make sure
that these results are obvious to you and not like another set of facts that you have
mugged up.

Let's start with the simplest question. The solution of this question will give you a flavor
of how to go about solving problems in this chapter. What we can assure you is that if
you understand and not mug up, most of the results that are given below will be
obvious. (May not be in the first reading though)
In the next section, we try to give the general solutions of sin sin . What we are
trying to do here is to find those values of for which sin sin .
After that we have dealt with a couple more basic solutions. Try to understand them
completely.
Example Solve sin x cos y sec z

Solution: L sin x cos y

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sec z
Hence L only when
sin x cos y sec z
cos x sin y cos z cos x sin y sin z
x m y n and z t where m n t are integers

Example Solve sin x cos x

Solution: L sin x
cos x
Hence sin x cos x is possible only when L
sin x and cos x
sin x and cos x
cos x and cos x
x m and x n where m n

x m and x n

As all solution of x m are included in n

The required solution x n n

3.2 General solution of

cos sin

Thus, we have two cases, either cos or sin

Case 1:cos ( )

Case 2: sin ( )

If you see the two cases above, you will observe that when we have an odd multiple of
we subtract and we add when we have an even multiple of . That gives us the
general solution, where we write both the results of the above cases in a single
equation:

Example Find the values of satisfying sin ( )sin

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Solution: sin sin sin

sin sin sin
sin sin
ither sin i e sin

sin i e sin

n or n

Where n
Example Solve the equation: cot cosec cosec .

Solution: From the given equation, we have

cos sin cos

cos cos cos
cos
cos cos
sin so the given equation becomes invalid.
Hence the equation has no solution.

3.3 General solution of

cos cos
sin sin
Again, we have two cases. sin and sin .
What you have to now do is to try and prove the final result:
Example Solve: cos x cos x sin x cos x sin x

Solution: ow cos x cos x sin x cos x sin x

cos x cos x sin x cos x cos x sin x
cos x cos x sin x cos x cos x
sin x cos x cox
sin x cos x cos x cos x
sin x cos x cos x cos x
sin x cos x cos x
ither sin x or cos x or cos x

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If sin x
x n where n

Further, if cos x
cos x or x n where n
Also, if cos x
cos x cos

Or, x n where n

Example Find the values of x in which satisfy the equation

Solution:

( ) or

cos x or cos x

cos x x

Example Solve:

Solution:

Let
.

f cos x or cos x

x n or x n where n

If cos x cos x

x n or x n where n

3.4 General solution of

tan tan
tan tan tan
Again, we have two cases

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What you have to now do is to try and prove the final result:
Example Solve cos sin cos sin

Solution: Since cos doesnt satisfy the equation the given equation can be written
as tan tan

tan or

Either tan tan n n

tan tan ( )

n n

Example Solve: sin sin cos when tan

Solution: sin sin cos

cos sin cos
sec tan tan tan
tan tan
ither tan or tan tan

n n

Or, tan i e tan tan ( )

Or, tan ( ) tan

n n

3.5 Miscellaneous Solved Examples

Example Solve sin2 sin2

Solution: Lets try to solve the first one here

sin2 sin2 or sin2 -sin2
or sin sin sin sin

or cos sin sin cos

Case 1: cos or or or

Case 2: sin or or

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Case 3: or or

Case4: cos or or or

Taking the union of all the cases, we get n

Alternatively,
You can observe that this is same as solving these two equations:
sin sin and sin sin
So, and
The union of these will give us n

Example Solve the equation sin x sin (x ) .

Solution: Given trigonometric equation can be written as

sin x sin (x ) cos x ( cos ( x ))

cos x sin x cos x sin x

cos ( x ) x n

x n n .

Example Solve the equation cot cosec cot .

Solution: cot cot cos ec

cos sin sin sin

sin ( cos ) sin n n

and cos ( n )

for n cot and sin are undefined Hence do not satisfy the domain of

given equation. The only solution is n where n

Example Solve: sec ( ) sec ( )

Solution: sec ( ) sec ( )

( ) ( )

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cos cos sin

cos cos sin cos cos n
n or, where n

Example Find all values between 0 and which satisfies the equation

sin x cos x ( ) cos x

Solution: On solving we have sin x cos x sin x cos x sin x

Let t = sin x cos x

t t t

t t t t
t sin x cos x

sin x x n

x n

Example Solve tan sec for the values of between o and

Solution: Given, cos

cos sin
For real solution, or which is clearly true.
Now, dividing both sides by 2, we have

cos sin or cos ( ) cos n

Taking positive sign n n

Example Find the solution set inequality cos x

Solution: From the graph of y cos x, it is obvious that cos x if x

Hence cos x n x n

The required solution set is * n n +

Example Find x between 0 and satisfying the equation cos x cos x

sin sin

Solution: he equation is cos x cos x (sin sin )

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cos cos sin x cos cos (cos sin x)

ither cos or x

cos sin x cos ( x)

n ( x) or x n x

Now x n x or x n

Putting n = 0, 1, 2, 3 x

Also , x n x or x n

Putting n x , we get x

Example Solve: (cos x ) tan y sin z

Solution: cos x cos x cos x cos x

cos x

Again tan y as tan y

And sin z as sin z
Now observing the expression on the left hand side, we can say that if
cos x then the product of the expressions on the left hand side would be

greater than 4. Similarly if tan y sin z then the product of the

expressions would also be greater than 4.
cos x cos x cos x

cos x or cos x
cos x
x n or n where n
Also sin z or sin z z n

z n where n

Further tan y i e tan y

or y n or y n

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