TRIGONOMETRY

Learning outcomes
Upon completing this topic, you should be able to;-

 Define, manipulate and apply trigonometric functions.

 Define the basic trigonometric ratios, sine, cosine and tangent of an angle
and derive the other trigonometric ratios; cosecant, secant and cotangent
using the basic trigonometric ratios.
 Derive identities involving the trigonometric ratios
 Derive the compound angle formulae for Sin (A+B), Cos (A+B) and Tan
(A+B).
 Represent expressions of the form AsinΦ + B Cos Φ = C into the form
RCos(Φ+α) or RCos(Φ+α) and find their solutions.
 Measurement of Angles, Arcs, and Sectors. Use Radians, Degrees, or Grads
to Measure Angles. Calculate length of an Arc and Area of a Sector of a
Circle. Derive the Cosine Rule.
 Solve Basic Trigonometric Equations
 Solve Trigonometric Equations Involving Factoring

Introduction
This is the science of measuring or determining the sides and angles of a triangle
by means of information given about some of the sides and angle. Where an angle
can be defined as the amount of rotation between one straight line and another.
Recall π =1800
Opposite Adjacent Opposite
sin θ = ; cos θ = ; tan θ =
Hypotenuse Hypotenuse Adjacent
Given an equilateral triangle of sides 2 units:
1
sin 300 =
2

√3
cos 300 = 2 300 300 2
2
√3 √3
tan 300 = = √3 600 600
1 1 1

1
√3
sin 600 =
2
1
cos 600 =
2
√3
tan 600 = = √3
1
1 1 1
Also = cosecant θ; = secant θ ; = cotangent θ
sin θ cos θ tan θ

The signs of the trigonometric ratios in each of the four quadrants that are positive
are given in this diagram:

SIN SIN, COS, TAN

TAN COS

ALL SILLY TOM CATS

Definition. The Sine rule

a b c
The sine rule states that a = = = 2R where R is the radius of the
sin A sin B sin C
circumcircle of the triangle ABC and a,b,c are the sides opposite the angles A,B
and C respectively. C
a
Definition. The Cosine Rule
B
The cosine rule states that b
a 2 = b 2 + c 2 -2bc cos A
c

TRIGONOMETRIC IDENTITIES
Using the triangle below
r
sin θ = y / r , cos θ = x / r , tan θ = y / x
y
sin θ y/r y sin θ
= = = tan θ ⟹ = tan θ
cos θ x/r x cos θ θ
x
2
x 2 y 2 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝑟2
Now cos 2 θ + sin2 θ = ( ) + ( ) = = =1
r r 𝑟2 𝑟2

Hence cos 2 θ + sin2 θ = 1.

Dividing both sides of cos 2 θ + sin2 θ = 1 by cos 2 θ , we have
cos2 θ+sin2 θ 1
= ⟹ 1+ tan 2 θ = sec 2 θ
cos2 θ cos2 θ

Dividing both sides of cos 2 θ + sin2 θ = 1 by sin2 θ , we have

cos2 θ+sin2 θ 1
= ⟹ cot 2 θ+1 = csc 2 θ ⟹ 1+cot2θ = csc2θ
sin2 θ sin2 θ

The above identities can be used to prove identities involving complicated

trigonometric functions. When doing this the main objective is to simplify the
more complicated side first.
Aim to write the expressions on the side you are simplifying in terms of
trigonometric functions on the other side.
Examples
Example 1. Evaluate without tables or calculators
cos ( -60 0 ) = cos ( 360 0 - 60 0 ) = cos 300 0 = 1/2
cos ( -240 0 ) = cos 120 0 = - cos 60 0 = - 1/ 2
tan (-120 0 ) = tan 240 0 = tan 60 0 = √3

Example 2. Calculate the size of the largest angle in triangle ABC where a=35cm,
b =16.8cm, c=23.8cm. C
In the figure a=35cm,
B
b =16.8cm

c=23.8cm

The largest angle will be opposite the largest side. Hence we calculate angle C
⟹ c2 = a2+ b2-2ab cos C
( a2+ b2 − c2 ) ( 352+ 16.82 − 23.82 )
cos C = = = −0.4706
2ab 2 x 35 x 16.8

⟹ C =1800 - 61.90 =118.10

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Example 3. Calculate the remaining side and angle of triangle ABC in which
c=12cm, a=8cm and angle A=300.
a c C
We can determine c using = a=8cm
sin A sin C

B
8 12
⟹ =
sin 300 sin C
12 × sin 300
⟹ sin C= = 0.75 300
8 c=12cm
Now C = arcsin 0.75 = 48.590 or 131.410 A
0 0 0 0 0
If C = 48.59 , B =180 -30 - 48.59 =101.41
If C=131.410, B =1800 - 300 -131.410=18.590
For B = 101.410 ⟹ b/sin101.410= 8/300 ⟹ b =15.68cm
0 0 0
For B=18.59 ⟹ b/sin18.59 = 8/30 ⟹ b = 5.10cm

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Example 4. If cos θ = and tan < 0, find the value of sin θ without using tables or
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calculators.

Solution
15
Since cos θ = > 0 and tan θ < 0 then θ lies in the fourth quadrant.
17
8
sinθ = Opposite/Hypotenuse =
17
But sin θ is negative in the fourth quadrant
8
Hence sin θ = −
17

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Example 5. If sin A= and A is obtuse, find the values of secA and cotA without
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using tables or calculators.

Solution
sin A= Opp/Hyp
√7
cos A= Adj/Hyp =
4
√7 4
But since A is in the second quadrant cosA= - ⟹ sec A= -
4 √7
3 √7
Also tan A= − ⟹ cot A= −
√7 3

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Example 6. Evaluate
𝑠𝑒𝑐 21500 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠3000 )
(1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 2100 )(1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛3300 )

Solution
1 1 1 4
𝑠𝑒𝑐 21500 = = = 2 =
𝑐𝑜𝑠 21500 (−𝑐𝑜𝑠300 )2 √3 3
(− )
2
1 1
1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠3000 = 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠600 = 1 − =
2 2
1 2 4
1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 2100 = 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 300 = 1 + ( ) =
√3 3
1 1
1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛3300 = 1 + (−𝑠𝑖𝑛300 ) = 1 − =
2 2
4 1
𝑠𝑒𝑐 21500 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠3000 ) ×
∴ = 3 2=1
(1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 2100 )(1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛3300 ) 4 1
×
3 2

Revision Questions
Exercise 1. Prove that
1
= 𝑡𝑎𝑛θ + cotθ
(𝑐𝑠𝑐𝜃 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 )(𝑠𝑒𝑐𝜃 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 )

Solution

1 1 sinθcosθ
= =
1 1 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 θ 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2θ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2θ𝑠𝑖𝑛2 θ
( − sinθ ) ( − cosθ ) ( )( )
sinθ cosθ sinθ cosθ
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 θ + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2θ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 θ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2θ
= = = + = 𝑡𝑎𝑛θ + cotθ
sinθcosθ sinθcosθ sinθcosθ sinθcosθ

Exercise 2. Prove that

𝑡𝑎𝑛θ − cotθ
= (sin θ + cos θ)(sin θ − cos θ)
𝑡𝑎𝑛θ + cotθ

Solution

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sinθ cosθ
− 2 2 2 2
cosθ sinθ = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 θ − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 θ
sinθ cosθ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 θ + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 θ 1
+
cosθ sinθ
= (sinθ + cosθ)(sinθ − cosθ)

Exercise 3. In a triangle ABC, c=12cm, b=10cm and the angle A is 3 00. Calculate
the radius of the circumcircle of the triangle and the remaining sides.

[ANS: B=125.380, C=24.620 or 135.380, R=12cm]

Exercise 4. Calculate the radius of the circumcircle and the possible values of the
remaining angles given that a=12cm, c=8cm and C=300.

Exercise 5. Solve the triangle PQR, given p=6.05cm, q=3.65cm and R=37.50

Solution
Using the cosine rule
R p=6.05cm
37.50
Q
q=3.65cm
c=12cm
r

r 2 = p 2 + q 2 -2pq cosR=6.052 +3.652 - 2 × 6.05 × 3.65 × cos 37.50 =14.89

⟹ r = √14.89 =3.86 cm
To determine Q, we have
3.65 3.86 3.65 × sin37.50
= ⟹ sin Q = = 0.5756
sinQ sin37.50 3.86

Q = arcsin 0.5756 =35.140

Note: Q cannot be obtuse since it is not opposite the longest side

P=1800 - 37.50 -35.140 =107.360
Exercise 6. If tan θ = 1/√3 and -2 π < θ <2 π, give four possible values of θ.

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[ANS: π/6, - 11π/6, 7π/6, - 5π/6]

Compound angle identities

Let matrix M (θ ) represent a rotation of angle θ about the origin 0. Under this
rotation
I( 1,0 ) → I1 ( cos θ , sin θ )
J( 0,1 ) → J1 ( - sin θ , cos θ )
cos θ −sin θ
Hence M( θ ) = ( )
sin θ cos θ
Similarly a rotation of angle ∅ about 0 is represented by
cos ∅ −sin ∅
M( ∅ ) = ( )
sin ∅ cos ∅
Rotation of ∅ about 0 followed by a rotation of θ about 0 is equivalent to the
rotation of ∅ + θ about 0. This is equivalent to
cos (∅ + θ) −sin (∅ + θ)
M( ∅ + θ ) = ( )
sin (∅ + θ) cos (∅ + θ)
cos ∅ −sin ∅ cos θ −sin θ
M( ∅ )M(θ ) = ( )( )
sin ∅ cos ∅ sin θ cos θ
cos ∅cos θ − sin ∅sinθ −cos ∅sin θ − sin ∅sinθ
=( )
sin ∅ cosθ + cos ∅sin θ −sin ∅sinθ + cos ∅cos θ
Equating the matrices for M(∅ + θ ) and M(∅ ) M( θ ) we get
cos (∅ + θ ) = cos ∅ cos θ - sin ∅ sin θ
sin (∅ + θ ) = sin ∅ cos θ + cos∅sin θ
If we rotate clockwise for θ we get - θ substituting in the equations we have
cos (∅ - θ ) = cos ∅ cos ( - θ ) - sin ∅ sin ( - θ )
= cos ∅ cos θ + sin ∅ sin θ
sin (∅ - θ ) = sin ∅ cos ( - θ ) + cos ∅ sin ( - θ )
= sin ∅ cos θ - cos ∅ sin θ

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Example 1. Solve sin 900 without using mathematical tables or calculator.
Solution
sin ( 600 +300 ) = sin 6 0 0 cos 3 0 0 + sin 3 0 0 cos 6 0 0

√3 √3 1 1 3 1
= . + . = + =1
2 2 2 2 4 4
NB: sin (A+B ) ≠ sin A+ sin B

Example 2. Evaluate without using tables or calculator, sin 10 5 0 , cos 22 5 0 , tan

( -750 )
sin ( 10 5 0 ) = sin ( 6 0 0 +4 5 0 ) = sin 6 0 0 cos 4 5 0 + cos 6 0 0 sin 4 5 0

√3 1 1 1 √3 + 1 √6 + √2
= . + . = =
2 √2 2 √2 2√2 4
cos 22 5 0 = cos ( 18 0 0 +4 5 0 ) = cos 18 0 0 cos 4 5 0 - sin 18 0 0 sin 4 5 0

1 1 1 √2
= (−1). − (0). =− =−
√2 √2 √2 2
sin (−750 ) sin750 sin(300 +450 )
tan ( -750 ) = cos (-750) = - sin 75 cos 75 =− =−
cos (−750 ) sin750 cos(300 +450 )

sin 300 cos 450 + sin 450 cos 300

=−
cos300 cos 450 − sin300 sin 450
On simplifying we get −2 − √3
It can also be shown that
tan A+ tan B tan A− tan B
tan ( A + B ) = and tan ( A − B ) =
1−tan A tan B 1+tan A tan B

Example 3. A is an obtuse and sin A= 4/5, B is reflex and sin B = - 5/13 and cos B
is negative. Without using tables evaluate, cos (A+B), tan ( A+B )
Solution
cos ( A+B ) = cos A cos B- sin A sin B
= (-3/5 × -12/13) -( 4/5 × - 5 /13 ) = 56/65

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4 5
tan A− tan B −3 − −12 63
tan ( A − B ) = = 4 5 =−
1+tan A tan B 1+(−3 )(−12) 16

Revision Exercises

1. Solve the equation 2 sin θ = cos (3 0 0 - θ). [ANS: π/6 ]

2. If 0 ≤ x ≤ π and tan (x-A) = 3 where tan A=2 , show that x = 3 π/4 without using
tables or calculators.

Multiple Angle formulae

In the compound identities A+B, let A=B
sin (A+B) = sin A cos B+ sin B cos A
⇒ sin 2A= sin A cos A+ sin A cos A
=2 sin A cos A
cos (A+B ) = cos A cos B - sin A sin B
⟹ cos 2 A = cos 2 A- sin 2 A= cos 2 A- (1- cos 2 A) = 2cos 2 A -1
Also cos 2 A = cos 2 A- sin 2 A= (1- sin 2 A) - sin 2 A = 1-2sin 2 A
⟹ cos 2 A = (2 cos 2 A-1) or (1-2 sin 2 A)
tan A + tan B tan A + tan A 2tan A
tan ( A + B ) = = =
1 − tan A tan B 1 − tan A tanA 1 − tan2 A

tan A − tan B tan A − tan A 0

tan ( A − B ) = = = =0
1 + tan A tan B 1 + tan A tanA 1 + tan2 A

Example 4. Find the general solution of the equation cos 2x-3cos x+2=0
Solution
cos 2x=2 cos 2 x-1
∴ cos 2x-3 cos x+2=0 ⟹ 2 cos 2 x -1-3 cos x+2=0
⟹ 2 cos 2 x -3 cos x+1=0
Let cos x be y, then 2 y 2 -3y+1=0
Solving the quadratic equation
y =1 or 1/2

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Thus cos x= 1/2 or cos x=1 ⟹ x= ± π/3 +2 πn or x=2π n where n is an integer.
Equivalent form of the expression a cos θ +b sin θ
We may often find it useful to write the expression a cos θ +b sin θ in the form R
cos (θ - α). This is possible provided we can find the values of R and α .

Revision Exercises
Example 5. Express 8 cos θ +15 sin θ in the form R cos (θ - α) giving the values of
R and α.
Solution
From the identities
R cos (θ - α) = R cos θ cos α +R sin θ sin α =8 cos θ +15 sin θ
Comparing the equations, then
R cos θ cos α =8 cos θ ⟹ R cos α =8, and
R sin θ sin α=15 sin θ ⟹ R sin α =15
⟹ tan α = 15/8

R= √ 82 + 152 = 17
α = arctan 15/8 =61.9 3 0
∴ 17 cos (θ -61.9 3 0) is the answer

Exercise 1. Solve the equation 2 cos θ + sin θ =1.5, giving the general solution.
Solution
We write the equation in the form R cos (θ - α)
⟹ R cos θ cos α +R sin θ sin α =2 cos θ + sin θ
∴ R cos α =2 and R sin α =1

⟹ tan α = 1/2 and R = √ 5

α = arctan 1/2 ⟹ α =26.57 0
The expression may be written as

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√ 5 cos (θ -26.57 0) =1.5
⟹ cos (θ -26.57 0) = 0.6708
⟹ θ -26.57 0= cos-1 0.6708 = 47.870 or (3600 - 47.870)
θ = cos-1 0.6708 = ( 47.870 +26.57 0) or (3600 - 47.870+26.57 0) = 74.440 or 338.70
Exercise 2. Solve the following equations for the domain 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2 π.

sin θ = √ 3/2 [ANS: π/6 or 5 π/6 ]

2 cos θ = -1 [ANS: 2 π/3 or 4 π/3]

Exercise 3. Solve each of the following equations on the domain 0 ≤ θ ≤ 360 0

1. 6 cos 2 x+ cos x-1=0 [ANS: 70.50 or 1200; 24 0 0 or 289.5 0 ]

2. 7+5 cos x = 6 sin2x [ANS: 120 0 or 109.47 0 ; 2400 or 250.530 ]

Exercise 4. Solve the equation 4 sin x+3 cos x=3 on 0 ≤ θ ≤ 3600 .

[ANS: 00 or 106.260 ]
References and Additional Reading Materials

1. Course text books 1. S. M. Uppal and H.M. Humphreys (1996) Mathematics

for Science, McGraw-Hill; 2nd Ed. ISBN: 8122409946
2. Thomas G.B (1995) Calculus and Analytic Geometry, Addison Wesley, 9th
Ed.ISBN9780321195999
3. K.F. Riley, M.P. Hobson and S.J. Bence (1997) Mathematical methods for
physics and engineering. Cambridge Univers

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