Chapter 14

Solutions of Trigonometric Equations

1
Example 1 (Textbook Page # 401): Solve the equation sin x = 2
1
Solution: sin x = 2

Since sin x is +ve in I-quadrant and II-quadrant with the reference angle  = 6 .

Then
x =  and x=
 
x = 6 x=6

6  
 x=
6

x=6 

 5
General value of x = 6 + 2n, 6 + 2n, nZ

   5 
S. Set =   2n     2n  , n  Z
6   6 
Example 2 (Textbook Page # 402): Solve the equation: 1 + cos x = 0
Solution: Given that: 1 + cos x = 0
 cos x = 1
 x = 
General value of x =  + 2n, nZ
S. Set = { + 2n}, nZ

Example 3 (Textbook Page # 402): Solve the equation: 4 cos2 x  3 = 0

Solution: 4 cos2 x  3 = 0
2
4 cos x = 3
2 3
cos x = 4

3
cos x = 4
3
cos x =  2

3
cos x = 2
 
Since cos x is +ve in I-quadrant and IV-quadrant with the reference angel  = 6 . Then

x =  and x = 2  
 
= 6 x = 2  6

12
x= 6
11
x= 6

 11
General value of x = 6 + 2n, 6 + 2n, nZ

3
When, cos x =  2


Since cos x is ve in II-quadrant and III-quadrant with the reference angle  = 6 . Then

x= and x=+

 
x= 6 x=+6

6   6  
x= x=
6 6
5 7
x= x=
6 6
5 7
General value of x = 6 + 2n, 6 + 2n, nZ
  5  11  7 
S. Set = 6 + 2n   6 + 2n   6 + 2n   6 + 2n , n  Z
       

Example 1 (Textbook Page # 403): Solve: sin x + cos x = 0

Solution: sin x + cos x = 0
sin x + cos x
cos x = 0

sin x cos x
cos x + cos x = 0
tan x + 1 = 0
tan x = 1

Since tan x is ve in II-quadrant and IV-quadrant with the reference angle  = 4 . Then

3
General value of x = 4 + n, nZ
 3
S. Set = { 4 + n} , nZ

3
Example 2 (Textbook Page # 403): Find the solution set of: sin x cos x = 2
3
Solution: sin x cos x = 4

3
2 sin x cos x = 2  4

3
sin 2x = 2 ( 2 sin x cos x = sin 2x)


Since sin 2x is +ve in I-quadrant and II-quadrant with the reference angle  = 3 . Then

2x =  and 2x =   

2x =   3

3  
2x =
3
2
2x =
3
 2
General value of 2x = 3 + 2n, 3 + 2n, nZ

 
General value of x = 6 + n, 3 + n, nZ
   
S. Set = 6 + n  3 + n, nZ
   

Example 4 (Textbook Page # 405): Solve the equation: sin2 x + cos x = 1

2
Solution: sin x + cos x = 1
2
1  cos x + cos x = 1
2
co s x + cos x = 0
cos x (cos x + 1) = 0
Either cos x = 0 or cos x + 1 = 0
cos x = 1
When, cos x = 0
 3
 x = 2, 2

 3
General value of x = 2 + 2n, 2 + 2n, nZ
 When, cos x = 1
 x = 2
General value of x = 2 + 2n, n  Z
= 2n, nZ
  3 
S. Set = 2 + 2n   2 + 2n  {2n}, nZ
   

Example 5 (Textbook Page # 406): Solve the equation: csc x = 3 + cot x

Solution: cosec x = 3 + cot x  (1)
1 cos x
sin x = 3 + sin x

 cos x
1 = sin x  3 + sin x 
 

1 = 3 sin x + cos x
1  cos x = 3 sin x
2x x x
2 sin 2 = 3 . 2 sin 2 cos 2

2x x x
sin 2 = 3 sin 2 cos 2

2x x x
sin 2  3 sin 2 cos 2 = 0

x x x
sin 2 sin 2  3 cos 2 = 0
 
x x x
Either sin 2 = 0 or sin 2  3 cos 2 = 0

x x
sin 2 = 3 cos 2

x
tan 2 = 3

x
When, sin 2 = 0

x
2 = 0, 
x = 0, 2
Check: (i) Put x = 0 in eq. (1):

cosec 0 = 3 + cot 0   = 3 +    =  (not defined)

(ii) Put x = 2 in eq. (1):
 cos 2 = 3 + cot 2   = 3 +    =  (not defined)
x
When, tan 2 = 3

x 
Since tan 2 is +ve in I-quadrant and III-quadrant with the reference angle  = 3 . Then

x
2 = 
x 
2 = 3
x 
General value of 2 = 3 + n, nZ

2
General value of x = 3 + 2n, n  Z

2 
S. Set =  + 2n, nZ
 3 

EXERCISE 14
Q.1 Find the solutions of the following equations which lie in [0, 2]
3
(i) sin x =  (ii) cosec  = 2 (iii) sec x = 2
2
3
Solution: (i) sin x =  2
Since sin x is negative in III-quadrant and IV-quadrant with the reference angle

 = 3 . Then

x = + and x = 2  
 
x = +3 x = 2  3

3   6  
x= x=
3 3
4 5
x = 3 x= 3

4 5
x = 3  3
(ii) cosec  = 2
1
 sin  = 2

Since sin  is positive in I-quadrant and II-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 6 . Then

 = x and   x
 
 = 6   6

6  
     
6
5
           
6

 5
  = 6 6

(iii) sec x = 2
1
 cos x =  2

Since cos x is negative in II-quadrant and III-quadrant with the reference angle

 = 3 . Then

x= and x=+

 
x= 3 x=+3

3   3  
x= x=
3 3
2 4
x = 3  3

Q.2 Solve the following trigonometric equations:

2 1 2 4
(i) tan  = (ii) cosec  =
3 3
2 4 2 1
(iii) sec  = (iv) cot  =
3 3
1
Solution: (i) Given that: tan2  = 3
 1
 tan  = 3
1
 tan  = 
3
1
When, tan  =
3
Since tan  is positive in I-quadrant and III-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 6 . Then


 = x = 6


General value of  = 6 + n, n  Z

1
When, tan  = 
3
Since tan  is negative in II-quadrant and IV-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 6 . Then

 6   5
 =   x =   6= 6 = 6

5
General value of  = 6 + n, n  Z

  5 
S. Set =  + n   6 + n, n  Z
 6   

2 4
(ii) cosec  = 3

2 4
cosec  = 3
2
cosec  = 
3
When
2
cosec  =
3
Since cosec  is positive in I-quadrant and II-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 3 . Then

 = x and   x
 
 = =  
3 3
 3   2
  =
3 3
 2
General value of  = 3 + 2n, 3 + 2n, n  Z

2
When, cosec  = 
3
Since cosec  is negative in III-quadrant and IV-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 3 . Then

 = +x and 2  x

 
 = +3,  = 2  3

3   6  
 =  =
3 3
4 5
    = 
3 3
4 5
General value of  = 3 + 2n, 3 + 2n, n  Z

  2  4  5 

S. Set =  + 2n   3 + 2n   3 + 2n   3 + 2n, n  Z
 3       

2 4
(iii) sec  = 3

4
sec  = 3
2
sec  = 
3
2
When, sec  =
3
Since sec  is positive in I-quadrant and IV-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 6 . Then

 = x and 2  x
 12  
 =  =
6 6
 11
      =
6 6
 11
General value of  = 6 + 2n, 6 + 2n, n  Z

2
When, sec  = 
3
 Since sec  is negative in II-quadrant and III-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 6 . Then

 = x and  + x

 
 = 6  =+6

6   6  
 =  =
6 6
5 7
 =  =
6 6

5 7
General value of  = 6 + 2n, 6 + 2n, n  Z

  11  5  7 

S. Set =  + 2n   6 + 2n   6 + 2n   6 + 2n, n  Z
 6       

2 1
(iv) cot  = 3

1
cot  = 3

1
cot  = 
3

1
When, cot  = +
3

Since cot  is positive in I-quadrant and III-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 3 . Then

 = x


 = 3


General value of  = 3 + n, n  Z

1
When, cot  = 
3

Since cot  is negative in II-quadrant and IV-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 3 . Then
  = x


 = 3

3  
 = 3

2
 = 3

2
General value of  = 3 + n, nZ

  2 
S. Set =  + n   3 + n , n  Z
 3   

Find the values of  satisfying the following equations:

2
Q.3 3 tan  + 2 3 tan  + 1 = 0
Solution: Given that: 3 tan2  + 2 3 tan  + 1 = 0
This is quadratic in tan , so
2
2 3  (2 3)  (4)(3)(1)
tan  = 2(3)
2 3  12  12
= 6
2 3  0
= 6
2 3
= 6
3
=  3

1
= 
3
Since tan  is negative in II-quadrant and IV-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 6 . Then

 = x

 = 6

6  
 = 6
5
 = 6
 5
General value of  = 6 + n, nZ
5 
S. Set =  + n , nZ
 6 
2
Q.4 tan   sec   1 = 0
2
Solution: tan   sec   1 = 0
2
sec   1  sec   1 = 0
2
sec   sec   2 = 0
2
sec   2 sec  + sec   2 = 0
sec (sec   2) + 1(sec   2) = 0
(sec   2)(sec  + 1) = 0
sec  = 2, 1
When, sec  = 2
Since sec  is positive in I-quadrant and III-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 3 . Then

 = x and   + x

 
 =  =
3 3
3  
 =
3
4
 =
3
 4
General value of  = 3 + 2n, 3 + 2n, n  Z

When, sec  = 1
cos  = 1
 = 
General value of  =  + 2n, n  Z
  4 
S. Set = 3 + 2n   3 + 2n  { + 2n}, n  Z
   

2
Q.5 2 sin  + cos   1 = 0
2
Solution: 2 sin  + cos   1 = 0
2
2 sin  + 1  sin   1 = 0
2
2 sin   sin  = 0
sin  (2  sin ) = 0
Either sin  = 0 or 2  sin  = 0
sin  = 2 (Not possible)
 When, sin  = 0
 = 0, 
General value of  = 0 + 2n,  + 2n, nZ
= 2n, (2n + 1), nZ
S. Set = {2n}  {(2n + 1)}, n  Z
= {n}, nZ
2
Q.6 2 sin   sin  = 0
2
Solution: 2 sin   sin  = 0
sin  (2 sin   1) = 0
Either sin  = 0 or 2 sin  = 0
2 sin  = 1
1
sin  = 2

When,  sin  = 0
 = 0, 
General value of  = 0 + 2n,  + 2n, nZ
= 2n, (2n + 1), nZ
= n, n  Z
1
When, sin  = 2

Since sin  is positive in I-quadrant and II-quadrant with the reference angle

x = 6 . Then

 = x and    x
 
 =  =
6 6
6  
 =
6
5
 =
6
 5
General value of  = 6 + 2n, 6 + 2n, n  Z

  5 
S. Set = {n}  6 + 2n   6 + 2n, n  Z
   

Q.14 sin 4x  sin 2x = cos 3x

Solution: Given that: sin 4x  sin 2x = cos 3x
4x + 2x 4x  2x
2 cos 2 . sin 2 = cos 3x
 6x 2x
2 cos 2 . sin 2 = cos 3x

2 cos 3x sin x  cos 3x = 0

cos 3x (2 sin x  1) = 0
Either cos 3x = 0 or 2 sin x  1 = 0
2 sin x = 1
1
sin x = 2

When, cos 3x = 0
 3
3x = 2 , 2

 3
General value of 3x = 2 + 2n, 2 + 2n, n  Z

 2n  2n
General value of x = 6+ 3 ,2+ 3 , nZ

1
When, sin x = 2

Since sin x is positive in I-quadrant and II-quadrant with the reference angle

 = 6 . Then

x =  and x  
 
x = x = 
6 6
6  
x =
6
5
x =
6
 5
General value of x = 6 + 2n, 6 + 2n, n  Z

 2n  2n   5 

S. Set =  + 3   2 + 3   6 + 2n   6 + 2n , n  Z
 6       