C2.4 Trigonometry 1

AS-Level Maths:
Core 2
for Edexcel
C2.4 Trigonometry 1
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1 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The sine, cosine and tangent of any angle

Contents
The graphs of sin θ, cos θ and tan θ

Exact values of trigonometric functions
Trigonometric equations
Trigonometric identities
Examination-style questions

The three trigonometric ratios
The three trigonometric ratios, sine, cosine and tangent, can

be defined using the ratios of the sides of a right-angled
triangle as follows:
Opposite
Sin θ =
Hypotenuse SOH
H
O Y
P P
P O Adjacent
O
T
E
N
Cos θ =
Hypotenuse CAH
S
I U
S
T E
E Opposite
θ Tan θ =
Adjacent TOA
ADJACENT
Remember: S O H C A H T O A
These definitions are limited because a right-angled triangle

cannot contain any angles greater than 90°.
To extend the three trigonometric ratios to include angles
greater than 90° and less than 0° we consider the rotation of a
straight line OP of fixed length r about the origin O of a
coordinate grid.
y Angles are then measured

P(x, y)
anticlockwise from the
r θ positive x-axis.
α
O x For any angle θ there is an
associated acute angle α
between the line OP and
the x-axis.

The three trigonometric ratios are then given by:

y
sin =
r
x
cos =
r
y
tan =
x
The x and y coordinates can be positive or negative, while r is
always positive.
This means that the sign of the required ratio will depend on
the sign of the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate of the point P.

If we take r to be 1 unit long then these ratios can be written

as:
y
sin = = y
1
x
cos = = x
1
y sin
tan =  tan =
x cos 
The relationship between θ measured from the positive x-axis
and the associated acute angle α depends on the quadrant
that θ falls into.
For example, if θ is between 90° and 180° it will fall into the
second quadrant and α will be equal to (180 – θ)°.

The sine of any angle
If the point P is taken to revolve about a unit circle then sin θ is

given by the y-coordinate of the point P.

The cosine of any angle
If the point P is taken to revolve about a unit circle then cos θ

is given by the x-coordinate of the point P.

The tangent of any angle
Tan θ is given by the y-coordinate of the point P divided by the

x-coordinate.

The tangent of any angle
Tan θ can also be given by the length of the tangent from the
point P to the x-axis.

Remember CAST
We can use CAST to remember in which quadrant each of

the three ratios is positive.
2nd quadrant 1st quadrant
S
Sine is positive A
All are positive
3rd quadrant 4th quadrant
T
Tangent is positive C
Cosine is positive

The sin, cos and tan of angles in the first quadrant are positive.
In the second quadrant: sin θ = sin α

cos θ = –cos α
tan θ = –tan α
In the third quadrant: sin θ = –sin α where α is the

cos θ = –cos α associated
tan θ = tan α acute angle.
In the fourth quadrant: sin θ = –sin α

cos θ = cos α
tan θ = –tan α

The value of the associated acute angle α can be found using

a sketch of the four quadrants.
For angles between 0° and 360° it is worth remembering that:
when 0° < θ < 90°, α=θ
when 90° < θ < 180°, α = 180° – θ
when 180° < θ < 270°, α = θ – 180°
when 270° < θ < 360°, α = 360° – θ
For example, if θ = 230° we have:
α = 230° – 180° = 50°
230° is in the third quadrant where only tan is positive and so:
sin 230° = –sin 50°
cos 230° = –cos 50°
tan 230° = tan 50°

Contents


The graph of y = sin θ

The graph of y = sin θ
The graph of sine is said to be periodic since it repeats itself

every 360°.
We can say that the period of the graph y = sin θ is 360°.
Other important features of the graph y = sin θ include the
fact that:
It passes through the origin, since sin 0° = 0.
The maximum value is 1 and the minimum value is –1.
Therefore, the amplitude of y = sin θ is 1.
It has rotational symmetry about the origin. In other words, it
is an odd function and so sin (–θ) = –sin θ.

The graph of y = cos θ

The graph of y = cos θ
Like the graph of y = sin θ the graph of y = cos θ is periodic

since it repeats itself every 360°.
We can say that the period of the graph y = cos θ is 360°.
Other important features of the graph y = cos θ include the
fact that:
It passes through the point (0, 1), since cos 0° = 1.
The maximum value is 1 and the minimum value is –1.
Therefore, the amplitude of y = cos θ is 1.
It is symmetrical about the y-axis. In other words, it is an
even function and so cos (–θ) = cos θ.
It is the same as the graph of y = sin θ translated left 90°. In
other words, cos θ = sin (90° – θ).

The graph of y = tan θ

The graph of y = tan θ
You have seen that the graph of y = tan θ has a different

shape to the graphs of y = sin θ and y = cos θ.
Important features of the graph y = tan θ include the fact that:
It is periodic with a period of 180°.
It passes through the point (0, 0), since tan 0° = 0.
Its amplitude is not defined, since it ranges from +∞ to –∞.
It is symmetrical about the origin. In other words, it is an odd
function and so tan (–θ) = –tan θ.
tan θ is not defined for θ = ±90°, ±270°, ±450°, … that is, for
odd multiples of 90°. The graph y = tan θ therefore contains
asymptotes at these points.


Contents


Sin, cos and tan of 45°
A right-angled isosceles triangle has two acute angles of 45°.
Suppose the equal sides are of

45° unit length.
2 1 Using Pythagoras’ theorem:
The hypotenuse  1  1
2 2
45°
 2
1
We can use this triangle to write exact values for sin, cos and
tan 45°:
1 1
sin 45° = cos 45° = tan 45° = 1
2 2

Suppose we have an equilateral triangle of side length 2.
If we cut the triangle in half then we have

60° a right-angled triangle with acute angles
30° of 30° and 60°.
2 2
3 Using Pythagoras’ theorem:
60° 60° The height of the triangle  2 2
 12
1 2  3
We can use this triangle to write exact values for sin, cos and
tan 30°:
1 3 1
sin 30° = cos 30° = tan 30° =
2 2 3

Suppose we have an equilateral triangle of side length 2.
If we cut the triangle in half then we have

60° a right-angled triangle with acute angles
30° of 30° and 60°.
2 2
3 Using Pythagoras’ theorem:
60° 60° The height of the triangle  2 2
 12
1 2  3
We can also use this triangle to write exact values for sin, cos
and tan 60°:
3 1
sin 60° = cos 60° = tan 60° = 3
2 2

Sin, cos and tan of 30°, 45° and 60°
The exact values of the sine, cosine and tangent of 30°, 45°
and 60° can be summarized as follows:
30° 45° 60°

1 1 3
sin
2 2 2
3 1 1
cos 2 2
2
1
tan 1 3
3
Use this table to write the exact value of cos 135°.

1
cos 135° = –cos 45° = 2

Sin, cos and tan of 30°, 45° and 60°
Write the following ratios exactly:

1
1) cos 300° = 2
2) tan 315° = –1
1
3) tan 240° = 3 4) sin –330° = 2
3
5) cos –30° = 6) tan –135° = 1
2
1 1
7) sin 210° = 2
8) cos 315° = 2


Contents


Equations of the form sin θ = k
Equations of the form sin θ = k, where –1 ≤ k ≤ 1, have an

infinite number of solutions.
If we use a calculator to find arcsin k (or sin–1 k) the calculator
will give a value for θ between –90° and 90°.
There is one and only one solution in this range.
This is called the principal solution of sin θ = k.
Other solutions in a given range can be found using the
graph of y = sin θ or by considering the unit circle.
For example:
Solve sin θ = 0.7 for –360° < θ < 360°.
arcsin 0.7 = 44.4° (to 1 d.p.)

Using the graph of y = sin θ between –360° and 360° and the
line y = 0.7 we can locate the other solutions in this range.
y = sin θ
y = 0.7
–315.6° –224.4° 44.4° 135.6°
So the solutions to sin θ = 0.7 for –360° < θ < 360° are:
θ = –315.6°, –224.4°, 44.4°, 135.6° (to 1 d.p.)

We could also solve sin θ = 0.7 for –360° < θ < 360° by
considering angles in the first and second quadrants of a unit
circle where the sine ratio is positive.
Start by sketching the principal solution 44.4° in the first
quadrant.
Next, sketch the associated acute
–224.4° –315.6° angle in the second quadrant.
135.6° 44.4° Moving anticlockwise from the
x-axis gives the second solution:
180° – 44.4° = 135.6°
Moving clockwise from the
x-axis gives the third and fourth
solutions:
–(180° + 44.4°) = –224.4°
–(360° – 44.4°) = –315.6°
Equations of the form cos θ = k and tan θ = k
Equations of the form cos θ = k, where –1 ≤ k ≤ 1, and

tan θ = k, where k is any real number, also have infinitely
many solutions. For example:
Solve tan θ = –1.5 for –360° < θ < 360°.
Using a calculator, the principal solution is θ = –56.3° (to 1 d.p.)

123.7° Now look at angles in the second and
–236.3°
fourth quadrants of a unit circle where
the tangent ratio is negative.
This gives us four solutions in the
–56.3°
range –360° < θ < 360°:
303.7°
θ = –236.3°, –56.3°, 123.7°, 303.7°

Equations of the form cos θ = k

Equations of the form tan θ = k

Equations involving multiple or compound angles
Multiple angles are angles of the form aθ where a is a given

constant.
Compound angles are angles of the form (θ + b) where b is a
given constant.
When solving trigonometric equations involving these types of
angles, care should be taken to avoid ‘losing’ solutions.
Solve cos 2θ = 0.4 for –180° < θ < 180°.
Start by changing the range to match the multiple angle:
–180° < θ < 180°
–360° < 2θ < 360°
Next, let x = 2θ and solve the equation cos x = 0.4 in the range
–360° ≤ x ≤ 360°.

Now, using a calculator: x = 66.4° (to 1 d.p.)
–293.6° Using the unit circle to find the values

66.4° of x in the range –360° ≤ x ≤ 360°
gives:
x = 66.4°, 293.6°, –66.4°, –293.6°
But x = 2θ so:
293.6°
–66.4° θ = 33.2°, 146.8°, –33.2°, –146.8°
This is the complete solution set in the range –180° < θ < 180°.

Solve tan(θ + 25°)= 0.8 for 0° < θ < 360°.

Start by changing the range to match the compound angle:
0° < θ < 360°
25° < θ + 25° < 385°
Next, let x = θ + 25° and solve the equation tan x = 0.8 in the
range 25° < x < 385°.
38.7°
Using a calculator: x = 38.7° (to 1 d.p.)
Using the unit circle to find the values
of x in the range 25° ≤ x ≤ 385° gives:
x = 38.7°, 218.7° (to 1 d.p.)
218.7°
But x = θ + 25° so:
θ = 13.7°, 193.7° (to 1 d.p.)
Trigonometric equations involving powers
Sometimes trigonometric equations involve powers of sin θ,

cos θ and tan θ. For example:
Solve 4sin2θ – 1= 0 for –180° ≤ θ ≤ 180°.
Notice that (sin θ)2 is usually written as sin2θ.

4 sin2   1= 0
4 sin2  = 1
sin2  = 41
sin =  21
When sin θ = 21 , θ = 30°, 150°
When sin θ = – 21 , θ = –30°, –150°
So the full solution set is θ = –150°, –30°, 30°, 150°
Trigonometric equations involving powers
Solve 3cos2θ – cos θ = 2 for 0° ≤ θ ≤ 360°.
Treat this as a quadratic equation in cos θ.

3cos2θ – cos θ = 2
3cos2θ – cos θ – 2 = 0
Factorizing:
(cos θ – 1)(3cos θ + 2) = 0
cos θ = 1 or cos θ = – 32
When cos θ = 1, θ = 0°, 360°
When cos θ = – 32 , θ = 131.8°, 228.2°
So the full solution set is θ = 0°, 131.8°, 228.2°, 360°


Contents


Two important identities that must be learnt are:
sin
 tan (cos  0)
cos
sin2θ + cos2θ ≡ 1
The symbol ≡ means “is identically equal to” although an

equals sign can also be used.
An identity, unlike an equation, is true for every value of the

given variable so, for example:
sin24° + cos24° ≡ 1, sin267° + cos267° ≡ 1, sin2π + cos2π ≡ 1, etc.

We can prove these identities by considering a right-angled

triangle:
y x
sin = and cos =
r r r
y sin y
y
 = r = = tan as required.
θ cos x r x
x 2 2
   
y x
Also: sin2  + cos2  =   +  
r r
x2 + y 2
=
r2
But by Pythagoras’ theorem x2 + y2 = r2 so:
2
r
sin2  + cos2  = 2 = 1 as required.
r
One use of these identities is to simplify trigonometric

equations. For example:
Solve sin θ = 3 cos θ for 0° ≤ θ ≤ 360°.
sin 3cos
Dividing through by cos θ: =
cos cos
tan = 3
Using a calculator, the principal solution is θ = 71.6° (to 1 d.p.)
71.6° So the solutions in the given range are:
θ = 71.6°, 251.6° (to 1 d.p.)

251.6°

Solve 2cos2θ – sin θ = 1 for 0 ≤ θ ≤ 360°.

We can use the identity cos2θ + sin2 θ = 1 to rewrite this
equation in terms of sin θ.
2(1 – sin2 θ) – sin θ = 1
2 – 2sin2θ – sin θ = 1
2sin2θ + sin θ – 1 = 0
(2sin θ – 1)(sin θ + 1) = 0
So: sin θ = 0.5 or sin θ = –1
If sin θ = 0.5, θ = 30°, 150°
If sin θ = –1, θ = 270°


Contents


Examination-style question
Solve the equation

3 sin θ + tan θ = 0
for θ for 0° ≤ θ ≤ 360°.
sin
Rewriting the equation using tan  :
cos
sin
3 sin + =0
cos
3 sin cos + sin = 0
sin (3cos +1) = 0
So sin θ = 0 or 3 cos θ + 1 = 0
3 cos θ = –1
cos θ = – 31
Examination-style question
In the range 0° ≤ θ ≤ 360°,
when sin θ = 0, θ = 0°, 180°, 360°.

1
when cos θ = – 3 :
cos–1 – 31 = 109.5° (to 1 d.p.)
cos θ is negative in the 2nd and 3rd quadrants so the second

solution in the range is:
109.5°
θ = 250.5° (to 1 d.p.)
So the complete solution set is:
250.5° θ = 0°, 180°, 360°, 109.5°, 250 .5°


C2.4 Trigonometry 1

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AS-Level Maths:

1 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The sine, cosine and tangent of any angle

The graphs of sin θ, cos θ and tan θ

2 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The three trigonometric ratios, sine, cosine and tangent, can

These definitions are limited because a right-angled triangle

y Angles are then measured

4 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The three trigonometric ratios are then given by:

5 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

If we take r to be 1 unit long then these ratios can be written

6 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

If the point P is taken to revolve about a unit circle then sin θ is

7 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

If the point P is taken to revolve about a unit circle then cos θ

8 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Tan θ is given by the y-coordinate of the point P divided by the

9 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

10 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

We can use CAST to remember in which quadrant each of

2nd quadrant 1st quadrant

3rd quadrant 4th quadrant

11 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

In the second quadrant: sin θ = sin α

In the third quadrant: sin θ = –sin α where α is the

In the fourth quadrant: sin θ = –sin α

12 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The value of the associated acute angle α can be found using

The sine, cosine and tangent of any angle

The graphs of sin θ, cos θ and tan θ

14 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

15 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The graph of sine is said to be periodic since it repeats itself

16 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

17 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Like the graph of y = sin θ the graph of y = cos θ is periodic

18 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

19 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

You have seen that the graph of y = tan θ has a different

20 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The sine, cosine and tangent of any angle

The graphs of sin θ, cos θ and tan θ

21 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

A right-angled isosceles triangle has two acute angles of 45°.

Suppose the equal sides are of

22 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Suppose we have an equilateral triangle of side length 2.

If we cut the triangle in half then we have

23 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Suppose we have an equilateral triangle of side length 2.

If we cut the triangle in half then we have

24 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

30° 45° 60°

Use this table to write the exact value of cos 135°.

25 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Write the following ratios exactly:

26 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The sine, cosine and tangent of any angle

The graphs of sin θ, cos θ and tan θ

27 of 47 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Equations of the form sin θ = k, where –1 ≤ k ≤ 1, have an

Solve sin θ = 0.7 for –360° < θ < 360°.