IB Maths AA HL

Trigonometry and Complex Number Notes

1
Contents
1 Trigonometry Ratio Table 3

2 Unit Circle 3

3 T-Ratios 4

4 Pythagorean Identities 4

5 Double Angle Identities 4

6 Compound Angle Identities 4

7 Half Angle Identities 5

8 Finding values of across the quadrant 5

9 Harmonic Form 5

10 Ambiguous case of sin rule 7

11 Inverse Trigonometric Functions 9

11.1 Inverse of sin function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
11.2 Inverse of cos function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
11.3 Inverse of tan function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

12 Properties of Inverse Trigonometric Functions 11

13 Trigonometric Curve Sketching 12

14 Argument of Complex number 12

14.1 Formula for arg(z) in all quadrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
14.2 Principle argument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
14.3 Formula for Principle arg(z) in all quadrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

15 Complex number in Modulus Argument Form/Polar Form 15

16 Properties of Argument 16

17 Properties of cis 17

18 De Moivre’s Theorem 17
18.1 Proof of De Moivre’s Theorem - 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
18.2 Proof of De Moivre’s Theorem - 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
18.3 Proof by induction of De Moivre’s Theorem - 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

19 De Moivre’s Theorem - with rational power 18

2
1 Trigonometry Ratio Table

Degree 0 30 45 60 90
π π π π
Radian 0
6 4 3 2
√
1 1 3
sin 0 √ 1
√2 2 2
3 1 1
cos 1 √ 0
2 2 2
1 √
tan 0 √ 1 3 ∞
3
√ 2
csc ∞ 2 2 √ 1
3
2 √
sec 1 √ 2 2 ∞
3
√ 1
cot ∞ 3 1 √ 0
3
Table 1: Trigonometry Ratios Table

2 Unit Circle

Figure 1: Unit Circle

3
3 T-Ratios
π 3π
1. With respect to vertical axis (90◦ , 270◦ , , ) the trignometric funtion changes as below :
2 2

sin −→ cos
cos −→ sin
sec −→ csc
csc −→ sec
tan −→ cot
cot −→ tan
2. With respect to horizontal axis (0◦ , 360◦ , π, 2π) the trigonometric function remains the same.
3. To decide the sign whether is it positive or negative use ASTC rule for the trigonometric function given in the
question.

Example
sin(90 + θ)
Across vertical axis hence sin replaced by cos. As per ASTC rule sin positive in second quadrant (90 + θ) hence
answer has a positive sign.
∴ sin(90 + θ) = cos(θ)

4 Pythagorean Identities

cos2 (θ) + sin2 (θ) = 1 (1)

2 2
1 + tan (θ) = sec (θ) (2)
2 2
1 + cot (θ) = csc (θ) (3)

5 Double Angle Identities

sin(2θ) = 2 sin(θ) cos(θ) (4)

2 2
cos(2θ) = cos (θ) − sin (θ) (5)
2
= 2 cos (θ) − 1 (6)
2
= 1 − 2 sin (θ) (7)
2 tan(θ)
tan(2θ) = (8)
1 − tan2 (θ)

6 Compound Angle Identities

sin(θ + ϕ) = sin(θ) cos(ϕ) + sin(ϕ) cos(θ) (9)

sin(θ − ϕ) = sin(θ) cos(ϕ) − sin(ϕ) cos(θ) (10)
cos(θ + ϕ) = cos(θ) cos(ϕ) − sin(ϕ) sin(θ) (11)
cos(θ − ϕ) = cos(θ) cos(ϕ) + sin(ϕ) sin(θ) (12)
tan(θ) + tan(ϕ)
tan(θ + ϕ) = (13)
1 − tan(θ) tan(ϕ)
tan(θ) − tan(ϕ)
tan(θ − ϕ) = (14)
1 + tan(θ) tan(ϕ)
(15)

4
7 Half Angle Identities
Note : not given in Data booklet
θ θ
cos(θ) = cos2 ( ) − sin2 ( ) (16)
2 2
θ
= 2 cos2 ( ) − 1 (17)
2
θ
= 1 − 2 sin2 ( ) (18)
2
θ θ
sin(θ) = 2 sin( ) cos( ) (19)
2 2
θ
2 tan( )
tan(θ) = 2 (20)
2 θ
1 − tan ( )
2

8 Finding values of across the quadrant

1
• Find cos 2x = for 0 ≤ x ≤ π
2
1. Find the range for cos 2x

0≤x≤π
Multiplying by 2
0 ≤ 2x ≤ 2π
2x = t
0 ≤ t ≤ 2π

2. Find all possible values of t.

Since value is positive it lies in first and fourth quadrant as per ASTC rule.
1
cos t =
2
π π π π
t = , 2π − , 2π + , 4π −
3 3 3 3
π 5π 7π 11π
t= , , ,
3 3 3 3

3. Now convert values of t to x

2x = t
t
x=
2
π 5π 7π 11π
x= , , ,
6 6 6 6

9 Harmonic Form
The harmonic form is :
R cos(θ + α)
R sin(θ + α)

• Express f (x) = 3 cos(θ) − 4 sin(θ) is harmonic form

5
Solution
1. Compare coefficients

R cos(θ + α) = R cos(θ) cos(α) − R sin(θ) sin(α)

3 cos(θ) − 4 sin(θ) = R cos(θ) cos(α) − R sin(θ) sin(α)
3 = R cos(α)
−4 = −R sin(α)
⇒ 4 = R sin(α)

Since sin(α) and cos(α) have positive values, implies that α lies in first quadrant.

2. Square and add method to find value of R

9 = R2 cos2 (α)
+16 = R2 sin2 (α)
= 25 = R2 (sin2 (α) + cos2 (α))
⇒R=5

3. Find value of α
R sin(α) 4
=
R cos(α) 3
4
tan(α) =
3
4
α = tan−1 ( )
3
⇒ α = 0.927rad

4. Covert into harmonic form

∴ 3 cos(θ) − 4 sin(θ) = 5 cos(θ + 0.927)

6
10 Ambiguous case of sin rule

Figure 2: Ambiguous cas for α < 90◦

7
 Figure 3: Ambiguous case for 90◦ < α < 180◦

• Identify all the sides and angles possible for the triangle with angle A = 23◦ , side a = 12.8cm and side b =
20.5cm.

Solution
1. Identify whether the triangle is ambiguous case or not.

h = b sin α
= 20.5 sin 29.3
= 10.03

h<a<b
10.03 < 12.8 < 20.5
∴ It is an ambiguous case.

2. Calculating angle B◦ and C◦ using sin rule

sin B ◦ sin 29.3◦
=
20.5 12.8
20.5 sin 29.3◦

◦ −1
B = sin
12.8
B ◦ = 51.6◦
C ◦ = 180 − 51.6 − 29.3
C ◦ = 99.1

3. Calculating side c
sin 29.3◦ sin 99.1◦
=
12.8 c
12.8 sin 99.01
c=
sin 29.3
c = 25.8

8
 4. Calculating angle B◦ * and C◦ *
As it is an ambiguous case there will be 2 triangles, here we calculate sides and angles of second triangle formed.

B ◦∗ = 180 − B ◦
= 128.4◦
C ◦∗ = 180 − 128.4 − 29.3
= 22.3

5. Calculating c* using sin rule

sin 29.3◦ sin 22.3◦
=
12.8 c∗
12.8 sin 22.3
c∗ =
sin 29.3
c∗ = 9.92

6. Hence here are the angles and sides of 2 possible triangles :

A◦ = 29.3◦ A◦ = 29.3◦
B ◦ = 51.6◦ B ∗◦ = 128.4◦
C ◦ = 99.1◦ C ∗◦ = 22.3◦
a = 12.8 a = 12.8
b = 20.5 b = 20.5
∗
c = 25.8 c = 9.92

11 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

11.1 Inverse of sin function
• Inverse of f (x) = sin x cannot exist as it is not one to on, it does not pass the horizontal line test.
 
−π π
• To make f (x) = sin x one to one we restrict its domain from ,
2 2

• sin−1 (−x) = − sin−1 (x) ∴ sin−1 (x) is an odd funtion.

9
 Figure 4: f (x) = sin x
Figure 5: f (x) = sin−1 x
 
−π π
• Domain of sin x : , • Domain of sin−1 x : [−1, 1]
2 2
 
−π π
• Range of sin x : [−1, 1] • Range of sin x :
−1
,
2 2

11.2 Inverse of cos function

• Inverse of f (x) = cos x cannot exist as it is not one to on, it does not pass the horizontal line test.

• To make f (x) = cos x one to one we restrict its domain from [0, π]
• cos−1 (−x) = − cos−1 (x) ∴ π − cos−1 (x) is not an odd function nor an even function.

Figure 6: f (x) = cos x Figure 7: f (x) = cos−1 x

• Domain of cos x : [0, π] • Domain of cos−1 x : [−1, 1]

• Range of cos x : [1, −1] • Range of cos−1 x : [0, π]

10
11.3 Inverse of tan function
 
−π π
• For inverse of f (x) = tan(x) to exist we need to restrict its domain from ,
2 2
• tan(−x) = − tan x ∴ tan is an odd function

Figure 8: f (x) = tan x

Figure 9: f (x) = tan−1 x
 
−π −π
• Domain of tan x : , • Domain of tan x : (−∞, ∞)
2 2
 
−π −π
• Range of tan x : (−∞, ∞) • Range of tan x : ,
2 2

12 Properties of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

sin(sin−1 (x)) = x, x ∈ [−1, 1]
 
−π π
sin−1 (sin(θ)) = θ, θ ∈ ,
2 2
cos(cos−1 (x)) = x, x ∈ [−1, 1]
cos−1 (cos(θ)) = θ, θ ∈ [0, π]
tan(tan−1 (x)) = x, x ∈ R
 
−π π
tan−1 (tan(θ)) = θ, θ ∈ ,
2 2

Example questions
• Show that :  
p  x
arcsin(x) = arccos 1 − x = arctan √
2
1 − x2

Suppose:
arcsin x = θ
sin θ = x

11
Opposite side of triangle is x and hypotenuse is 1. We can calculate the adjacent side using Pythagoras theorem.

p p
Adjacent = x2 − 12 = x2 − 1
√ !
adjacent x2 − 1
cos θ = =
hypotenuse 1
p
∴ arccos x2 − 1 = θ
 
opposite 1
tan θ = = √
adjacent x2 − 1
 
1
∴ arctan √ =θ
2
x −1

 
p 1
∴ θ = arcsin θ = arccos x2 − 1 = arctan √
x2 − 1

13 Trigonometric Curve Sketching

• Periodic function : function that repeats itself at regular interval
• For a function to be periodic it must have a consistent repetition of the values of f (x) over the domain of the
function.

For f (x) is a trigonometric function :

y = Af (b(x + c) + d
• A =Amplitude
• b =Frequency
• c =Horizontal Translation

• d =Vertical Translation
2π
• = Period →sin / cos
|b|
π
• = Period →tan
|b|

14 Argument of Complex number

z = a + ib, a, b ∈ R
√
i = −1
p
|z| = a2 + b2
z ∗ = a − ib

12
 Figure 10:

θ = arg(z)
 
−1 b
θ = tan
a

14.1 Formula for arg(z) in all quadrants

b
θ = tan−1 , a > 0, b > 0 −→ First Quadrant
a
b
θ = π − tan−1 , a < 0, b > 0 −→ Second Quadrant
a
b
θ = π + tan−1 , a < 0, b < 0 −→ Third Quadrant
a
b
θ = 2π − tan−1 , a > 0, b < 0 −→ Fourth Quadrant
a

14.2 Principle argument

Principle argument shows all values of θ for the range −π < θ ≤ π

13
14.3 Formula for Principle arg(z) in all quadrants

b
θ = tan−1 , a > 0, b > 0 −→ First Quadrant
a
b
θ = π − tan−1 , a < 0, b > 0 −→ Second Quadrant
a
b
θ = −(π − tan−1 ), a < 0, b < 0 −→ Third Quadrant
a
b
θ = − tan−1 , a > 0, b < 0 −→ Fourth Quadrant
a

Example questions
1. Find principle argument of : z = 1 − i

a > 0, b < 0 point falls in fourth quadrant

b
= 2π − tan−1
a
−1
= 2π − tan−1
1
π
= 2π −
4
7π
= Argument of z
4
Principle Argument:
−1
= − tan−1
1
−π
=
4

14
15 Complex number in Modulus Argument Form/Polar Form

Figure 11: Caption

p
|z| = a2 + b2
a = |z| cos θ
b = |z| sin θ
z = a + ib
z = |z| cos θ + |z|i sin θ
z = |z|[cos θ + i sin θ]
|z| = r
z = r[cos θ + i sin θ]
cos θ + i sin θ = cis θ
z = r cis θ
z = reiθ
cis θ = eiθ

15
16 Properties of Argument
1. Arg(z1 · z2 ) = Arg z1 + Arg z2
Proof :

z1 = r1 cis θ1 = r1 eiθ1
z2 = r2 cis θ2 = r2 eiθ2
z1 z2 = r1 r2 eiθ1 eiθ2
= r1 r2 ei(θ1 +θ2 )
Arg z1 z2 = θ1 + θ2
Arg z1 z2 = Arg z1 + Arg z2

z1
2. Arg = Arg z1 − Arg z2
z2
Proof:

z1 = r1 eiθ1
z2 = r2 eiθ2
z1 r1 eiθ1
=
z2 r2 eiθ2
z1 r1
= × ei(θ1 −θ2 )
z2 r2
z1
Arg = θ1 − θ2
z2
z1
Arg = Arg z1 − Arg z2
z2

3. Arg z1 × z2 × z3 × ... × zn = Arg z1 + Arg z2 + ... + Arg zn

4. Arg z n = n Arg z
1
5. Arg = − Arg z
z
Proof:

= Arg 1 − Arg z
= 0 − Arg z
= − Arg z

6. Arg z ∗ = − Arg z
Proof:

z = reiθ = r cis θ
z ∗ = re−iθ = r cis(−iθ) = r(cos(−θ) + i sin(−θ))
z ∗ = r(cos θ − sin θ)
z ∗ = re−iθ
Arg z ∗ = −θ
Arg z ∗ = − Arg z

16
 17 Properties of cis
(a) cis θ1 × cis θ2 = cis (θ1 + θ2 )
Proof:

= (cos θ1 + i sin θ1 ) · (cos θ2 + i sin θ2 )

= cos θ1 cos θ2 + i sin θ2 cos θ1 + i sin θ1 cos θ2 + i2 sin θ1 sin θ2
= cos θ1 cos θ2 − sin θ1 sin θ2 + i(sin θ1 cos θ2 + sin θ2 cos θ1 )
= cos(θ1 + θ2 ) + i sin(θ1 + θ2 )
= cis(θ1 + θ2 )

cis θ1
(b) = cis (θ1 − θ2 )
cis θ2
(c) cis −θ = cos θ − i sin θ = e−iθ
(d) | cis θ| = |eiθ | = 1

18 De Moivre’s Theorem
(cos θ + i sin θ)n = (cos nθ + i sin nθ)

18.1 Proof of De Moivre’s Theorem - 1

Using the property = cos θ + i sin θ = eiθ
(cos θ + i sin θ)n = eniθ
= (cos nθ + i sin nθ)

18.2 Proof of De Moivre’s Theorem - 2

(cos θ + i sin θ)n

= (cis θ)n = n cis θ
= cis θ + cis θ + ... + ntimes
= cis θ + θ + ... + ntimes
= cis nθ
= (cos nθ + i sin nθ)

18.3 Proof by induction of De Moivre’s Theorem - 3

P(n) is a proposition such that :

P (n) = (cos θ + i sin θ)n = (cos nθ + i sin nθ)

1. For n = 1

LHS = (cos θ + i sin θ)1

= cos θ + i sin θ

RHS = (cos 1 × θ + i sin 1 × θ)

= cos θ + i sin θ

∴ LHS = RHS Hence P(n) holds for n=1

17
 2. Assume P(n) holds true for n = k, k ∈ Z

P (k) = (cos θ + i sin θ)k = (cos kθ + i sin kθ)

3. We want to prove P(n) holds for n = k + 1

(cos θ + i sin θ)k+1 = (cos θ + i sin θ)k (cos θ + i sin θ)

Using step 2:(cos θ + i sin θ)k = (cos kθ + i sin kθ)
= (cos kθ + i sin kθ) · (cos θ + i sin θ)
= (cos kθ cos θ + cos kθi sin θ + i sin kθ cos θ + i sin kθi sin θ)
= (cos kθ cos θ − sin kθ sin θ) + i(cos kθ sin θ + sin kθ cos θ)
= cos((k + 1)θ) + i sin((k + 1)θ)

Hence P(n) holds true for n = k + 1

Since P (n) holds forn = 1, P (n) holds for n = k, it implies that P(n) holds for n = k + 1.
∴ P (n) holds for all values of n for n ∈ Z

Example question
Solve using De Moivre’s Theorem : √
(1 + i 3)5

1. Convert to polar/modulus argument form

√ π
θ = tan−1 ( 3) =
3
√ 2
q
r = 12 + 3 = 2
√ 5 π
(1 + i 3) = (2 cis )5
 3 
5 5π 5π
= 2 cos( ) + i sin( )
3 3
h π π i
= 32 cos(2π − ) + i sin(2π − )
3 3
h π π i
= 32 cos( ) − i sin( )
3 √ 3
1 3
= 32 × − 32 × i
2 2

√
16 − 16 3i

19 De Moivre’s Theorem - with rational power

For z = (a + ib)1/n , z has n distinct values given by:
  
1/n 2kπ + θ
zn = r cis
n

k = 0, 1, 2...n − 1
360 2π
All the values of z will have angle separation of or between them on argand plane.
n n

18
Example Question
Solve for z, z = (1 + i)1/4

1. Convert z in modulus argument/polar form.

h√ π i(1/4)
z= 2 cis
4
√ (1/4) h π i(1/4)
z= 2 cis
4
  
1/n 2kπ + θ
2. Use the formula : zn = r cis
n
 π
0+
4  = 2(1/8) cis π
 
k = 0, z1 = 2(1/8) cis 
4 16
 π
2π +  
9π
k = 1, z2 =2 (1/8)
cis  4  =2 (1/8)
cis
4 16
 π
4π +  
k = 2, z3 = 2(1/8) cis  4  = 2(1/8) cis 17π
4 16
 π 
6π +  
k = 3, z4 =2 (1/8)
cis  4  = 2(1/8) cis 25π
4 16

3. You may/should write the values of z in form of principle argument :

π π π
k = 0, z1 = 2(1/8) cis = cos + i sin
16  16  16
 
(1/8) 9π 9π 9π
k = 1, z2 = 2 cis = cos + i sin
16 16 16
     
17π −15π −15π
k = 2, z3 = 2(1/8) cis = cos + i sin
16 16 16
     
25π −7π −7π
k = 3, z4 = 2(1/8) cis = cos + i sin
16 16 16

19