General solutions of trigonometric equations

The trigonometric equation cos x = 21 has infinitely many solutions. You can see this from
the graph below, where the horizontal line y = 12 meets y = cos x infinitely many times.
y
1 y = cos x
1 y = 21
2

-6p -4p -2p - 21 2p 4p 6p x

-1

So far we have solved trigonometric equations within a restricted domain. This section is
about the general solution of a trigonometric equation, which means writing down all the
solutions of a trigonometric equation, without any restriction.

Solving trigonometric equations without restriction: The cosine function above is periodic with
period 2π, and there are normally two solutions in each revolution. If we can find two
solutions within any revolution, we can then find all other solutions by adding integer
multiples of 2π to them. The same applies to the sine function.
The tangent function has period π, and there is always one solution in each period.
We need only one solution, then we can find all the others by adding integer multiples of π.

FINDING GENERAL SOLUTIONS OF TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS:

√
• To solve a trigonometric equation such as cos x = 12 or sin x = 21 3,
find two solutions within some revolution, then add integer multiples of 2π.
1 — When sin x or cos x are 1 or −1, there is only one solution per revolution.
— When sin x or cos x are greater 1 or less than −1, there are no solutions.
• To solve a trigonometric equation such as tan x = 1,
find any one solution, then add integer multiples of π.

WORKED EXAMPLE 1: √
1 1
Find the general solution of: (a) cos x = 2
(b) sin x = 2
3 (c) tan x = 1 x
SOLUTION
π
(a) Look also at the graph above. Because cos x is positive, x is in 3
π
the 1st or 4th quadrants. Also, the related acute angle is π3 , 3

so x = π3 and x = − π3 are the solutions in the revolution [−π, π).

Because cos x has period 2π, the general solution is x
x = π3 + 2nπ or − π3 + 2nπ, where n is an integer. x x
(b) Because sin x is positive, x is in the 1st or 2nd quadrants.
π π
Also, the related acute angle is π3 , 3 3

so x = π3 and x = π − π3 = 2π 3
are the solutions in [0, 2π).
Because sin x has period 2π, the general solution is
x = π3 + 2nπ or 2π 3
+ 2nπ, where n is an integer. x
(c) Because tan x is positive, x is in the 1st or 3rd quadrants. π
The related angle is π4 , so x = π4 is a solution (and so is x = 5π
4 ). π
4

4
Because tan x has period π, the general solution is
x = π4 + nπ, where n is an integer. x
(Or x = 5π
4 + nπ — there are always many forms of these solutions.)

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 2 Trigonometric equations General solutions of trigonometric equations

WORKED EXAMPLE 2: √
Find the general solution of: (a) cos x = − 21 3 (b) sin x = − 12 (c) tan x = −2
SOLUTION
(a) The angle x is in the second or third quadrant, with related acute angle π
6
,
so the two solutions within [0, 2π) are 5π
6
and 7π
6
.
5π 7π
Hence x = 6 + 2nπ or 6 + 2nπ, where n is an integer.
(b) The angle x is in the third or fourth quadrant with related acute angle π
6
,
so the two solutions within [−π, π) are − π6 and − 5π
6 .
5π
Hence x = − 6 + 2nπ or − 6 + 2nπ, where n is an integer.
π

(c) The related angle is tan−1 2, so one solution, in the fourth quadrant, is x = − tan−1 2.
Hence x = − tan−1 2 + nπ, where n is an integer. (Approximate if required.)
Note: These solutions have many forms, depending on the particular solutions found.

The equations sin x = sin α, cos x = cos α and tan x = tan α: Using similar methods, the
general solutions of these three equations can be written down, where α is a constant.

GENERAL SOLUTIONS OF sin x = sin α, cos x = cos α AND tan x = tan α:

• The general solution of cos x = cos α is
x = α + 2nπ or x = −α + 2nπ, where n is an integer.
2 • The general solution of sin x = sin α is
x = α + 2nπ or x = (π − α) + 2nπ, where n is an integer.
• The general solution of tan x = tan α is
x = α + nπ, where n is an integer.

Proof
A. One solution of cos x = cos α is x = α.
Also, cos α = cos(−α), because cosine is even, so x = −α is also a solution.
This gives the required two solutions, so the general solution is
x = α + 2nπ or x = −α + 2nπ, where n is an integer.
B. One solution of sin x = sin α is x = α.
Also, sin α = sin(π − α), so x = π − α is also a solution.
This gives the required two solutions, so the general solution is
x = α + 2nπ or x = (π − α) + 2nπ, where n is an integer.
C. One solution of tan x = tan α is x = α, so the general solution is
x = α + nπ, where n is an integer.

WORKED EXAMPLE 3:
Find the general solution of: (a) cos x = cos 3π
8
(b) tan x = − tan π7 (c) sin x = sin π5
SOLUTION
(a) x = 3π 3π
8 and x = − 8 are solutions,
so x = 3π8
+ 2nπ or − 3π
8
+ 2nπ, where n is an integer.
(b) x = tan(− π7 ) because tan is odd, so x = − π7 is a solution,
so x = − π7 + nπ, where n is an integer.
(c) x = π5 and x = π − π5 = 4π
5
are solutions,
4π
so x = 5 + 2nπ or 5 + 2nπ, where n is an integer.
π

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 Trigonometric equations General solutions of trigonometric equations 3

WORKED EXAMPLE 4: (These are little more difficult.)

(a) Solve cos 4x = cos x. (b) Solve sin 4x = cos x.
SOLUTION
(a) Using the general solution of cos x = cos α from Box 2 above,
4x = x + 2nπ or 4x = −x + 2nπ, where n ∈ Z,
3x = 2nπ or 5x = 2nπ, where n ∈ Z,
2
x = 3 nπ or x = 25 nπ, where n ∈ Z.
(b) Using the identity cos x = sin( π2 − x), the equation becomes sin 4x = sin( π2 − x).
Hence, using the general solution of sin x = sin α from Box 2,
4x = π2 − x + 2nπ or 4x = π − ( π2 − x) + 2nπ, where n ∈ Z,
5x = (2n + 21 )π or 3x = (2n + 12 )π, where n ∈ Z,
x = (4n + 1) 10
π
or x = (4n + 1) π6 , where n ∈ Z.
Note: ‘n ∈ Z’ means ‘n is a member of the set of integers’, that is, ‘n is an integer’.

Exercise
FOUNDATION

1. Consider the equation tan x = 1.

(a) Draw a diagram showing x in its two possible quadrants, and show the related angle.
(b) Write down the first six positive solutions.
(c) Write down the first six negative solutions.
(d) Carefully observe that each of these twelve solutions can be written as π4 plus an
integer multiple of π, and hence write down the general solution of tan x = 1.
(e) Sketch suitable graphs of y = tan x and y = 1 on the same diagram, and show as
many of the above solutions as possible.
2. Consider the equation cos x = 21 .
(a) Draw a diagram showing x in its two possible quadrants, and show the related angle.
(b) Write down the first six positive solutions.
(c) Write down the first six negative solutions.
(d) Carefully observe that each of these twelve solutions can be written either as π3 plus
an integer multiple of 2π, or as − π3 plus an integer multiple of 2π, and hence write
down the general solution of cos x = 21 .
(e) Sketch suitable graphs of y = cos x and y = 21 on the same diagram, and show as
many of the above solutions as possible.
3. Consider the equation sin x = 21 .
(a) Draw a diagram showing x in its two possible quadrants, and show the related angle.
(b) Write down the first six positive solutions.
(c) Write down the first six negative solutions.
(d) Carefully observe that each of these twelve solutions can be written either as π6 plus
an integer multiple of 2π, or as 5π6
plus an integer multiple of 2π, and hence write
down the general solution of sin x = 21 .
(e) Sketch suitable graphs of y = sin x and y = 21 on the same diagram, and show as
many of the above solutions as possible.
4. Find the general solution of:
√ √
(a) tan x = 3 (c) sin x = 21 3 (e) cos x = − 12
√
(b) cos x = 21 2 (d) tan x = −1 (f) sin x = − 12

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 4 Trigonometric equations General solutions of trigonometric equations

5. Find the general solution of:

(a) cos θ = cos π6
(b) tan θ = tan 4π
(c) sin θ = sin π5 (e) tan θ = tan(− π3 )
(d) sin θ = sin 4π
3
(f) cos θ = cos 5π
6

6. Find the general solution of each equation by referring to the graphs of y = sin x, y = cos x
and y = tan x.
(a) sin x = 0 (c) tan x = 0 (e) sin x = 1 (g) cos x = 32
(b) cos x = 1 (d) cos x = 0 (f) sin x = −1 (h) sin x = −4
DEVELOPMENT

7. In each case: (i) find the general solution, (ii) write down all solutions in −π ≤ x ≤ π.
√
(a) cos 2x = 1 (e) cos(x + π6 ) = − 21 2 (i) tan 4x = tan π3
√ √
(b) sin 12 x = 21 2 (f) tan(2x − π6 ) = − 3 (j) tan(x + π4 ) = tan 5π8
√ 4π
(c) tan 3x = 3 31 (g) cos 2x = cos π (k) cos(x − π
7 ) = cos 7
5
3π
(d) sin(x − 4 ) = 0
π (h) sin 3x = sin π (l) sin(2x + 10
) = sin(− π
10
)
2

8. In each case: (i) find the general solution, (ii) write down all solutions in −π ≤ θ ≤ π.
√
(a) sin2 θ + sin θ = 0 (c) cot2 (θ − π6 ) = 3 (e) sin 2θ + 3 cos 2θ = 0
(b) sin 2θ = cos θ (d) 2 sin2 θ = 3 + 3 cos θ (f) sec2 2θ = 1 + tan 2θ
9. Consider the equation tan 4x = tan x.
(a) Show that 4x = nπ + x, where n ∈ Z. (b) Hence show that x = 3 ,
nπ
where n ∈ Z.
(c) Hence write down all solutions in the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π.
10. Consider the equation sin 3x = sin x.
(a) Show that 3x = x + 2nπ or 3x = (π − x) + 2nπ, where n ∈ Z.
(b) Hence show that x = nπ or x = (2n + 1) π4 , where n ∈ Z.
(c) Hence write down all solutions in the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π.
11. Consider the equation cos 3x = sin x.
(a) Show that 3x = 2nπ + ( π2 − x) or 2nπ − ( π2 − x), where n ∈ Z.
(b) Hence show that x = nπ − π4 or nπ 2
+ π8 , where n ∈ Z.
(c) Hence write down all solutions in the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π.
12. Using methods similar to those in the previous two questions, solve for 0 ≤ x ≤ π:
(a) sin 5x = sin x (b) cos 5x = cos x (c) sin 5x = cos x (d) cos 5x = sin x
ENRICHMENT

13. (a) For the equation in Question 10, show that 3x = nπ + (−1)n x, where n ∈ Z.
(b) Hence show that x = nπ
2
, where n is an even integer, or x = nπ
4
, where n is an odd integer.
14. Sketch the graph of each relation.
(a) cos y = cos x (c) cos y = sin x (e) cot y = tan x
(b) sin y = sin x (d) tan y = tan x (f) sec y = sec x
Which graphs are symmetric in the x-axis, which in the y-axis, and which in y = x?

Answers
1(a) (b) π
4
, 5π
4
, 9π
4
, 13π
4
, 17π
4
2(a) x (b) π
3
, 5π
3
, 7π
3
, 11π
3
, 13π
3
x
or 21π
4 or 17π
3
3π 7π 11π 5π 7π
(c) − 4 , − 4 , − 4 , (c) − 3 , − 3 , − 3 ,
π π
π 3
4
π − 4 , − 4 or − 23π
15π 19π
4 π
− 3 , − 3 or − 17π
11π 13π
3
4 3
(d) x = π 4 + nπ, (d) x = π 3 + 2nπ or
where n ∈ Z. − π3 +2nπ, where n ∈ Z.
x x

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Trigonometric equations General solutions of trigonometric equations 5

8(a)(i) θ = nπ or θ = 3π 2 + 2nπ, n ∈ Z.
π 5π 13π 17π 25π
3(a) (b) 6 , 6 , 6 , 6 , 6 (ii) [θ = −π, − 2 , 0 or π
π
29π
or 6 (b)(i) θ = nπ + π or θ = π6 + 2nπ or θ = 5π + 2nπ,
7π 11π 19π 2 6
x x (c) − 6 , − 6 , − 6 , 5π
π π n ∈ Z. (ii) θ = − 2 , 6 , 2 or 6
π π π
6 6
− 6 , − 6 or − 35π
23π 31π
6 (c)(i) θ = nπ or nπ + 3 , n ∈ Z
π
(d) x = π + 2nπ or 2π
(ii) θ = −π, − 3 , 0, 3 or π
6 π
5π
6 + 2nπ, where n ∈ Z. 2π
(d)(i) θ = 2nπ + π or 2nπ + 3 or 2nπ − 3 , n ∈ Z
2π

(ii) θ = −π, − 2π 2π
3 , 3 or π
(e)(i) θ = 2 − 6 , n ∈ Z
nπ π
4(a) x = π3 + nπ, n ∈ Z
(ii) θ = − 2π3 , − 6 , 3 or 6
π π 5π
(b) x = π 4 + 2nπ or − 4 + 2nπ, n ∈ Z
π
(f)(i) θ = 2 or 2 + 8 , n ∈ Z
nπ nπ π
(c) x = 2nπ + 3 or x = 2nπ + 2π
π
3 , n ∈ Z. (ii) θ = −π, − 7π 8
, − π2 , − 3π
8
, 0, π8 , π2 , 5π
8
or π
(d) x = − 4 + nπ, n ∈ Z
π
π 2π 4π 5π
9(c) 0, 3 , 3 , π, 3 , 3 or 2π
(e) x = 2π 3
+ 2nπ or x = − 2π 3
+ 2nπ, n ∈ Z π 3π 5π 7π
10(c) 0, 4 , 4 , π, 4 , 4 or 2π
7π
(f) x = − 6 + 2nπ or x = 6 + 2nπ, n ∈ Z.
π
π 5π 3π 9π 13π 7π
11(c) 8 , 8 , 4 , 8 , 8 or 4
5(a) θ = 2nπ + π 6
or θ = 2nπ − π6 , n ∈ Z π π 5π
12(a) x = 0, 6 , 2 , 6 or π
(b) θ = nπ + 4 , n ∈ Z
π
π π 2π
(b) x = 0, 3 , 2 , 3 or π
4π
(c) θ = 2nπ + 5 or θ = 2nπ + 5 , n ∈ Z.
π
π π 5π 5π
4π
(c) x = 12 , 8 , 12 , 8 or 3π 4
(d) θ = 2nπ + 3 or θ = 2nπ − 3 , n ∈ Z.
π
(d) x = 12 , 8 , 12 , 4 or 7π
π 3π 5π 3π
8
(e) θ = nπ − 3 , n ∈ Z
π
14(a) (b)
(f) θ = 2nπ + 5π 6 or θ = 2nπ − 6 , n ∈ Z
5π
y
y
6(a) x = nπ, n ∈ Z (b) x = 2nπ, n ∈ Z 2π 2π
(c) x = nπ, n ∈ Z (d) x = 2nπ + π 2
,n∈Z π
(e) x = 2nπ + 2 , n ∈ Z (f) x = 2nπ − π
π
2
,n∈Z −π 2π
(g) No solutions (h) No solutions x −2π π x
−2π 2π −π
7(a)(i) x = nπ, n ∈ Z (ii) x = −π, 0 or π
3π −2π
(b)(i) x = 2 + 4nπ or x = 2 + 4nπ, n ∈ Z.
π
−2π
(ii) x = 2
π

(c)(i) x = nπ 3 + 18 , n ∈ Z
π
(c) (d)
(ii) x = − 17π 11π 5π π 7π
18 , − 18 , − 18 , 18 , 18 or 18
13π
y
3π 5π
y
(d)(i) x = nπ + 4 , n ∈ Z (ii) x = − 4 or π
π
4 2 2π
(e)(i) x = 2nπ + 7π 12
or 2nπ − 11π
12
, n ∈ Z 3π
2 π
(ii) x = − 11π12
or 7π 12 −π 2π
(f)(i) x = 2 − 12 , n ∈ Z
nπ π − 3π2 π
2 −2π π x
7π 5π 11π − π2 −π
(ii) x = − 12 , − 12 , 12 or 12 π
π 5π x
2 2
(g)(i) x = nπ + 10 or x = nπ − 10 , n ∈ Z
π π
− 3π2 −2π
9π 9π
(ii) x = − 10 , − 10 , 10 or 10
π π
2 5π
(h)(i) x = π 6 + 3 nπ, n ∈ Z. (ii) x = − π 2 , 6 or 6
π
(e) (f)
(i)(i) x = 4 + 12 , n ∈ Z
nπ π
y
y
(ii) x = − 11π 12
, − 2π 3
, − 5π
12
, − π6 , 12 π
, π3 , 7π
12
or 5π
6
5π 2π
2
3π
(j)(i) x = nπ + 8 , n ∈ Z (ii) x = − 8 or 3π
5π
8 3π
2
(k)(i) x = 2nπ + 5π 7
or 2nπ − 3π
7
, n ∈ Z π
3π 5π 2
(ii) x = − 7 or 7 x
x −2π 2π
2π
(l)(i) x = − 5 + nπ or x = 5 + nπ, n ∈ Z.
π − 3π2 − π2 π
2
3π
2
3π π 2π 4π
(ii) x = − 5 , − 5 , 5 or 5 − 3π2 −2π

In the x-axis: (a), (c), (f). In the y-axis: (a), (f).

In y = x: (a), (b), (d), (f)

Cambridge Mathematics Year 12 Extension 1 GeneralSolutionsTrig 12/05/20 c 2020