Trigonometric functions Cheat Sheet Edexcel Pure Year 2

Reciprocal trigonometric functions Inverse trigonometric functions

Previously, you have met three trigonometric functions; 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥, 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥. A function only has an inverse if it is one-to-one. The trigonometric functions aren’t one-to-one by definition, but if
Recall from Pure Year 1, that 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 = 1 [1] we restrict the domains, we can turn them into one-to-one functions. This allows us to define the inverse functions,
This chapter introduces three more trigonometric functions, known as the reciprocal trigonometric which we can sketch by reflecting the 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥, 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 graphs in the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
functions: Taking [1], let us divide through by 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥: 𝜋 𝜋
▪ 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 =
1
(undefined for values of x for which 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 = 0) Reflecting 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 in the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 using the domain − ≤ 𝑥 ≤ gives us its inverse function, 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥:
2 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 1
+ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 This gives us the following identities: 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
1 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥
▪ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 (undefined for values of x for which 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 = 0)
2
1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑥 2 ▪ 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥
Domain: −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
1 𝜋 𝜋
▪ 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 (undefined for values of x for which 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 = 0) 2 2 Range: − 2 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2 or −90° ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 90°
We can also divide [1] through by 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥: ▪ 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑥

Since division by zero is undefined, we have that these functions are undefined when the denominators
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 1 You could be asked to prove these
are equal to zero. + =
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 identities, so make sure you are able to
1 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
reproduce the proofs on the left.
Note that 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 = , simply by replacing 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 with 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 . This will sometimes be a more useful 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 + 1 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
form to use.
Simplifying expressions and proving identities
Careful: It is not true that: 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 = (𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥)−1, 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 = (𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥)−1 , 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑥 = (𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥)−1
You can use the definitions and identities we have covered so far to simplify and prove expressions involving the reciprocal Reflecting 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 in the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 using the domain 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝜋 gives us its inverse function, 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥:
The negative power has a different meaning when used with trigonometric functions. trig functions.

Graphing the reciprocal functions There is no trick or standard procedure to be used for these questions. Your ability to manipulate trigonometric expressions 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥
You need to be able to sketch the reciprocal trigonometric functions as well as any transformations, using reciprocal functions and identities is being tested, so the most useful thing you can do is properly familiarise yourself
using radians and degrees. Below are the graphs of the reciprocal functions with these functions and the above identities. As with most of mathematics, the most useful tool here is practice. Domain: −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
Range: 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝜋 or 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 180°
When proving identities, you must start from one side and work your way towards the other side. You can start from any
𝑦 = sec 𝑥 Dotted curve represents 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 side, so pick whichever seems like an easier starting point.
𝜋
Domain: 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 𝑜𝑑𝑑 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 (90°)
2 Example 1: Prove that 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥
Range: 𝑦 ≤ −1 , 𝑦 ≥ 1
Starting from the LHS, we have: 𝐿𝐻𝑆 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥
using the 𝑡𝑎𝑛2𝑥 and 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥 identities: (1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥) + (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑥) = 2 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
Rewriting 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 as 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 and 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑥 as 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 :
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥
= 2+ +
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥
combining everything into one fraction: 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4 𝑥
4
= +2 𝜋 𝜋
𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 Reflecting 𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 in the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 using the domain: − 2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ gives us its inverse function,
2
𝑠𝑖𝑛4𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4 𝑥 + 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥:
=
𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥
using 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 = 1 (𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥)2 1 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥
= =
𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 Dotted curve represents 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥
Domain: 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝜋 (180°) splitting the fraction up into a product, giving 1 1 Domain: 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
Range: 𝑦 ≤ −1 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 ≥ 1 = ∙ = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 = 𝑅𝐻𝑆 𝜋 𝜋
Range: − 2 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2 or −90° ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 90°
us the RHS 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥

Solving equations
Previously, in Pure Year 1, you learnt how to solve trigonometric equations involving 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥, 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥. Now we will look
at solving equations that also involve the reciprocal functions. The only difference here is that you need to use the identities
Type equation here. and definitions we have covered in this chapter in order to simplify the equation, before you can solve it. Remember that since these functions are inverses, we have that 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥) = 𝑥. Of course, this works
for a𝑟𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 and 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛x too, not just 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥.

Example 2: Solve the equation 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 = ξ2 in the interval 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 360° Just like with the reciprocal functions, you may be asked to sketch a transformation of any of the inverse functions, or even
to solve an equation involving an inverse function.
1
rewriting 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 as 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 : 1
= ξ2
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 Example 4: a) Sketch the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑥 + 2) − 2
taking the reciprocal of both sides: 1 b) Find the value of 𝑥, to 2 decimal places, for which 3𝑔(𝑥 + 1) + 𝜋 = 0
𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑥 ∴ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 =
ξ2
Domain: 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝜋 (180°) We can solve this via CAST or a graphical 𝑥 = 45°, 315°. Starting from the LHS, we have:
Range: 𝑦 ∈ ℝ method giving:

Example 3: Solve 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥 = 3𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 in the interval 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 360°.

using 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 = 3𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥

using the 𝑡𝑎𝑛2𝑥 and 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥 identities: 3𝑔(𝑥 + 1) + 𝜋 = 3[𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑥 + 1 + 2) − 2] + 𝜋

rearranging 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 − 3𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 + 1 = 0
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥
Rewriting 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 as and 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑥 as : ⇒ 3𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑥 + 3) + 𝜋 − 6 = 0
Solving the quadratic: By the quadratic formula, 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 =
3+ξ5
, 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 =
3−ξ5
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 6−𝜋
2 2 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑥 + 3) = 3
We have two equations to solve. Using CAST or 𝑥 = 20.9°, 69.1°, 201°, 249° to 3 s.f. combining everything into one fraction: 6−𝜋
⇒ 𝑥 + 3 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛( )
a graphical method, our solutions are: 3
6−𝜋
using 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 = 1 ⇒ 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛( ) − 3 = −2.18
3

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