“The best way to obtain truth and wisdom

is not to ask from books, but to go to God

in prayer, and obtain divine teaching.”
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Module 06:

Plane Trigonometry

by: MARK ANTHONY S. ARCAYAN

markanthony.arcayan@vsu.edu.ph
 “The best way to obtain truth and wisdom
is not to ask from books, but to go to God
in prayer, and obtain divine teaching.”
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Lesson 6.4:

Analytic Trigonometry 02
Learning Outcome
1. Solve trigonometric equations.
1. Ways to analyze trigonometric equations
There is no single that applies to all trigonometric equations, but the following strategies
will help us to solve them.
Strategies:
1. Always remember of the solutions to , , and .
2. Solve an equation involving only multiple angles as if the equations had a single
variable.
3. Use identities to simplify complicated equations. Try to get an equation involving only
one trigonometric function.
4. As much as possible, apply factoring to get different trigonometric functions into
separate factors.
5. Use factoring or quadratic formula for equations of quadratic type.

6. If necessary, apply squaring both sides of the equation so that identities involving
squares can be applied. Check for extraneous roots.
2. The cosine equation
The form , where 𝑎 is a number in the interval [−1, 1] is the most basic
equation that involves cosine.
Recall:
The range of values for is on the interval [−1, 1].
The period for is equal to .

𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙=𝐜𝐨𝐬 ( 𝒙 +𝒏𝟐 𝝅 )

𝟐𝝅 where is any integer:
𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
Example 1: Solving a cosine equation
Find all real numbers that satisfy the equation.

One of the solution for is by taking The solutions are the coterminal angles of :
the inverse cosine of .:
𝒙= { 𝒙∨𝒙=𝟐 𝒏 𝝅 }
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙=𝟏
−𝟏
𝒙=𝐜𝐨𝐬 (𝟏) where is any integer:
𝒙=𝟎 ° 𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
However, there are lots of angles
that will give a cosine equal to .:
Use the unit circle:

( 𝟏 , 𝟎)
𝟎,±𝟐 𝝅 ,±𝟒 𝝅 …
Example 2: Solving a cosine equation
Find all real numbers that satisfy the equation.

One of the solution for is by taking The solutions are the angles whose terminal
the inverse cosine of .: side lies on the vertical axis:
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙=𝟎 𝒙=𝐜𝐨𝐬 − 𝟏(𝟎) These angles differ by :
𝝅
𝒙 =𝟗𝟎 ° 𝒐𝒓
𝟐
However, there are lots of angles
{
𝒙 = 𝒙 ∨𝒙 =
𝝅
𝟐
+𝒏 𝝅 }
that will give a cosine equal to .: where is any integer:
Use the unit circle: 𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
(𝟎 , 𝟏𝝅) 𝟓 𝝅 𝟗 𝝅
± ,± ,± …
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐

𝟑 𝝅 𝟕 𝝅 𝟏𝟏 𝝅
± ,± ,± …
𝟐
( 𝟎 , −𝟏 ) 𝟐 𝟐
3. The sine equation
The form , where 𝑎 is a number in the interval [−1, 1] is the most basic
equation that involves sine.
Recall:
The range of values for is on the interval [−1, 1].
The period for is equal to .

𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙=𝐬𝐢𝐧 ( 𝒙 +𝒏𝟐 𝝅 )

𝟐𝝅 where is any integer:
𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
 Example 3: Solving a sine equation
Find all real numbers that satisfy the equation.

One of the solution for is by taking From the unit circle, the angles in QIV that will give a sine
the inverse sine of .: of are:
𝟏 𝟏
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 =−
(𝟏𝟏 𝝅 𝟐𝟑 𝝅 𝟑𝟓 𝝅
)
−𝟏
𝒙=𝐬𝐢𝐧 (− ) , , ,…
𝟐 𝟐 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔
𝝅 And the angles in QIII that will give a sine of are:
𝒙 =−
𝟔
However, there are lots of angles that
will give a sine equal to.: ( 𝟕 𝝅 𝟏𝟗 𝝅 𝟑𝟏 𝝅
𝟔
,
𝟔
,
𝟔
,… )
Use the unit circle: The solutions are the coterminal angles of and :

{
𝒙= 𝒙∨𝒙=
𝟏𝟏 𝝅
𝟔 } {
+𝟐 𝒏 𝝅 𝒐𝒓 𝒙= 𝒙∨𝒙=
𝟕𝝅
𝟔
+ 𝟐𝒏 𝝅 }
where is any integer:
( − √ ,−
𝟐
𝟑 𝟏
𝟐) (𝟐
√𝟑 , − 𝟏
𝟐 ) 𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
4. The tangent equation
The form , where 𝑎 is a number in the interval is the most basic
equation that involves tangent.
Recall:
The range of values for is on the interval .
The period for is equal to .

𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙= 𝐭𝐚𝐧 ( 𝒙 +𝒏 𝝅 )
𝝅 where is any integer:
𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
 Example 4: Solving a tangent equation
Find all real numbers that satisfy the equation.

One of the solution for is by taking From the unit circle, the angles in both QI and QIII that will
the inverse tangent of .: give a tangent of differs only by the period of the tangent
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 =𝟏𝒙= 𝐭𝐚𝐧 −𝟏 (𝟏) function which is equal to :

𝒙=𝟒𝟓 ° 𝒐𝒓
𝝅
𝟒 ( 𝝅 𝟓𝝅 𝟗𝝅
, ,
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 )(
,…𝒐𝒓−
𝟑 𝝅 𝟕 𝝅 𝟏𝟏 𝝅
𝟒
,−
𝟒
,−
𝟒
,… )
However, there are lots of angles that The solutions are the coterminal angles of and :
will give a tangent equal to .:
Use the unit circle: {
𝒙 = 𝒙 ∨𝒙 =
𝝅
𝟒
+𝒏 𝝅 }
(𝟐
√𝟐 , √𝟐
𝟐 ) where is any integer:
𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
( −
√ 𝟐 ,− √𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 )
 Example 5: Solving a tangent equation
Find all real numbers that satisfy the equation.

One of the solution for is by taking
the inverse tangent of .:
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙=− 𝟏.𝟑𝟒 𝒙= 𝐭𝐚𝐧 −𝟏 (−𝟏 . 𝟑𝟒 )
𝒙 ≈ − 𝟓𝟑.𝟐𝟕° ( −𝟓𝟑.𝟐𝟕° ,−𝟐𝟑𝟑.𝟐𝟕° ,− 𝟒𝟏𝟑.𝟐𝟕° ,… )𝒐𝒓
However, there are lots of angles that
will give a tangent equal to.:
Use the unit circle:
𝟏𝟐𝟔.𝟕𝟑°
−𝟓𝟑.𝟐𝟕°
From the unit circle, the angles in both QIV and QII that will
give a tangent of differs only by the period of the tangent
function which is equal to :
( 𝟏𝟐𝟔.𝟕𝟑° ,𝟑𝟎𝟔.𝟕𝟑° ,𝟒𝟖𝟔 .𝟕𝟑° ,… )
The solutions are the coterminal angles ofand :
𝒙= { 𝒙∨𝒙=−𝟓𝟑. 𝟐𝟕°+𝟏𝟖𝟎𝒏 ° }
where is any integer:
𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
 Example 6: Sine equation involving a double angle
Determine all the solutions in degrees in the equation.

One of the solution for is by taking From the unit circle, the angles in both QI and QII that will
the inverse sine of .: give a sine of differs only by the period of the sine function
𝟏
( )
−𝟏 𝟏 which is equal to or :
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐 𝒙= 𝟐 𝒙=𝐬𝐢𝐧
√𝟐 √𝟐 ( 𝟒𝟓° ,𝟒𝟎𝟓° ,𝟕𝟔𝟓° ,…𝒐𝒓) ( −𝟑𝟏𝟓°,−𝟔𝟕𝟓°,−𝟏𝟎𝟑𝟓°,…)
𝟐 𝒙=𝟒𝟓°
( 𝟏𝟑𝟓° ,𝟒𝟗𝟓° ,𝟖𝟓𝟓° ,…𝒐𝒓
) ( −𝟐𝟐𝟓 °,−𝟓𝟖𝟓 °,−𝟗𝟒𝟓 °,… )
However, there are lots of angles that
will give a sine equal to .: The solutions are the coterminal angles ofand :
Use the unit circle: 𝟐 𝒙=𝟒𝟓°+𝒏 𝟑𝟔𝟎° 𝟐 𝒙=𝟏𝟑𝟓°+𝒏 𝟑𝟔𝟎°
Divide both sides by to solve for :
𝟏𝟑𝟓° 𝒙=𝟐𝟐.𝟓°+𝒏𝟏𝟖𝟎°𝒐𝒓𝒙=𝟔𝟕.𝟓°+𝒏𝟏𝟖𝟎°
𝟒𝟓°
where is any integer:
𝒏=𝟎 ,± 𝟏, ± 𝟐,± 𝟑…
 Example 7: A tangent equation involving multiple angles
Determine all the solutions in the equation on the interval .

One of the solution for is by taking
the inverse tangent of.:
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟑 𝜽=− √ 𝟑 𝟑 𝜽=𝐭𝐚𝐧 ( − √𝟑 )
−𝟏
From the unit circle, the angles in both QII and QIV that will
give a tangent of differs only by the period of the tangent
function which is equal to or :

𝟑 𝜽 =−
𝝅 ( −
𝝅
𝟑
,−
𝟒𝝅
𝟑
,−
𝟕𝝅
𝟑
, …𝒐𝒓 ) (
𝟐𝝅 𝟓𝝅 𝟖𝝅
𝟑
,
𝟑
,
𝟑
,… )
𝟑
However, there are lots of angles that The solutions are the coterminal angles of and :
will give a tangent equal to.: Since the given interval is positive, consider the
Use the unit circle: smallest positive angle :
𝟐𝝅
𝟐𝝅 𝟑 𝜽= +𝒏 𝝅
𝟑
𝟑
𝝅 Divide both sides by to solve for :
−
𝟑 𝟐𝝅 𝝅
𝜽= +𝒏
𝟗 𝟑
Example 7: A tangent equation involving multiple angles
Determine all the solutions in the equation on the interval .

However, the values of must be between and .

Therefore…
𝒏=𝟎 ,𝟏, 𝟐,𝟑 ,𝟒 𝒂𝒏𝒅𝟓
Generate the values of using the values of and the
equation of :
𝟐𝝅 𝝅
𝜽= +𝒏
𝟗 𝟑
𝒏=𝟎 ,𝟏, 𝟐,𝟑 ,𝟒 𝒂𝒏𝒅𝟓

𝜽= { 𝟐 𝝅 𝟓 𝝅 𝟖 𝝅 𝟏𝟏 𝝅 𝟏𝟒 𝝅 𝟏𝟕 𝝅
,
𝟗 𝟗 𝟗
, ,
𝟗
,
𝟗
,
𝟗 }
 Example 8: An equation solved by factoring
Determine all the solutions in the equation on the interval .

Modify the equation into either of the However, there are lots of angles that will give a sine
form of or : equal to .:
Use double-angle identity for sine : Use the unit circle:

𝝅 𝟎
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐 𝜽=𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽
𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽=𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽
𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽=𝟎
𝜽=𝒏 𝝅
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 ( 𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 − 𝟏 )=𝟎
However, the values of must be positive and
Equate each factor to zero: between and including . Therefore…
For the first factor: 𝒏=𝟎 ,𝟏
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽=𝟎
𝜽=𝐬𝐢𝐧− 𝟏 ( 𝟎 ) 𝜽=( 𝟎 ) 𝝅=𝟎 𝜽=( 𝟏 ) 𝝅=𝝅
𝜽=𝟎
 Example 8: An equation solved by factoring
Determine all the solutions in the equation on the interval .

For the second factor: 𝝅 𝟓𝝅

𝜽= +𝒏𝟐 𝝅 𝜽= +𝒏𝟐 𝝅
𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 − 𝟏=𝟎 𝟑 𝟑
𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽=𝟏 However, the values of must be between and
𝜽=𝐜𝐨𝐬
𝝅
−𝟏
( )
𝟏
𝟐
including . Therefore…
𝒏=𝟎
𝜽=
𝟑 So, the values of are…
However, there are lots of angles 𝝅 𝟓𝝅
𝜽 = +(𝟎)𝟐 𝝅 𝜽= +(𝟎)𝟐 𝝅
that will give a cosine equal to .: 𝟑 𝟑
Use the unit circle: 𝝅 𝟓𝝅
𝜽= 𝜽=
𝟓𝝅 𝟑 𝟑
𝝅
𝟑 𝟑 Combine the results:

{
𝜽= 𝟎 ,
𝝅
𝟑
,𝝅 ,
𝟓𝝅
𝟑 }
 Example 9: An equation of quadratic type
Determine all the solutions in the equation on the interval .

Let: 𝟏 𝒙 𝝅
𝒚 𝟏= =
𝒙 𝟐 𝟐 𝟑
𝒚 =𝐜𝐨𝐬
𝟐 From the unit circle on the
The resulting equation becomes
𝟑 𝒚 −𝟐=𝟎 interval :
a quadratic: 𝟐
𝒚 𝟐= 𝟓𝝅 𝝅
𝟑
( )
𝟐
𝒙 𝒙 𝟑 𝟑𝟎
𝟔 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟕 𝐜𝐨𝐬 + 𝟐=𝟎
𝟐 𝟐 Substitute back the expression 𝟐𝝅
𝟐 of in order to solve for :
𝟔 𝒚 − 𝟕 𝒚 +𝟐=𝟎
Factor the left side completely: For :
𝒙 𝟏
( 𝟐 𝒚 −𝟏 ) ( 𝟑 𝒚 − 𝟐 )=𝟎 𝐜𝐨𝐬 =
{ } {
𝟐 𝟐
Equate each factor to zero:
𝒙 𝝅 𝟓𝝅
= , 𝒙=
𝟐 𝝅 𝟏𝟎 𝝅
, }
𝟐 𝒚 −𝟏=𝟎
𝒙
𝟐 ( )
= 𝐜𝐨𝐬− 𝟏
𝟏
𝟐
𝟐 𝟑 𝟑 𝟑 𝟑
 Example 9: An equation of quadratic type
Determine all the solutions in the equation on the interval .

The second angle is not included 𝒙

since it is more than :
≈ 𝟎 .𝟖𝟒𝟏𝟏 𝒙= {𝟏. 𝟔𝟖𝟐𝟐 ,𝟏𝟎. 𝟖𝟖𝟒𝟐 }
𝟐
The second angle is not
So, the value for in the first factor is: From the unit circle on the included since it is more
interval : than :
𝒙= { }
𝟐𝝅
𝟑 𝟓.𝟒𝟒𝟐𝟏 𝟎.𝟖𝟒𝟏𝟏
𝟎
So, the value for
second factor is:
in the

For : 𝟐𝝅 𝒙= {𝟏 . 𝟔𝟖𝟐𝟐 }
𝒙 𝟐
𝐜𝐨𝐬 = Combine the results:
𝟐 𝟑
𝒙
𝟐
= 𝐜𝐨𝐬− 𝟏
𝟐
𝟑 ( ) 𝒙
𝟐
= { 𝟎 .𝟖𝟒𝟏𝟏 , 𝟓 .𝟒𝟒𝟐𝟏 } {
𝒙= 𝟏 . 𝟔𝟖𝟐𝟐,
𝟐𝝅
𝟑 }
 Example 10: An equation solved by quadratic formula
Determine all the solutions in the equation on the interval .

“Modify the equation so that it will ( 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 )𝟐+𝟎 .𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 − 𝟎 .𝟏=𝟎 −𝟏+ √ 𝟏𝟏
contain only a single trigonometric 𝒚 𝟏 = ≈ 𝟎 . 𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟕
𝟐 𝟏𝟎
function.” 𝒚 +𝟎 . 𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟎 .𝟏=𝟎
−𝟏 − √𝟏𝟏
Use the Pythagorean identity : Use quadratic formula to solve 𝒚 𝟐= ≈ − 𝟎. 𝟒𝟑𝟏𝟕
for : 𝟏𝟎
𝟐
( 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 ) −𝟎 . 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙=𝟎 .𝟗 𝒚=
− 𝒃 ± √ 𝒃𝟐
−𝟒 𝒂𝒄
𝟐
𝟏 − ( 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 ) − 𝟎 .𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙=𝟎 . 𝟗 𝟐𝒂
For :
𝟐
( 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 ) +𝟎 .𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 − 𝟏+𝟎 . 𝟗=𝟎 𝒚 =
− 𝟎 .𝟐 ± √ 𝟎 . 𝟐 𝟐
− 𝟒 ( 𝟏 ) ( − 𝟎 .𝟏 )
𝟐 (𝟏) 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙=𝟎.𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟕
( 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 )𝟐+𝟎 .𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 − 𝟎 .𝟏=𝟎 − 𝟎 .𝟐 ± √ 𝟎 . 𝟐𝟐 − 𝟒 ( 𝟏 ) (− 𝟎 .𝟏 ) −𝟏
𝒚= 𝒙= 𝐬𝐢𝐧 ( 𝟎 . 𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟕 )
Let: 𝟐 (𝟏)
𝒚 =𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝒙 ≈ 𝟎.𝟐𝟑𝟑𝟖𝒓𝒂𝒅
− 𝟏 ± √ 𝟏𝟏
The resulting equation becomes 𝒚 =
a quadratic:
𝟏𝟎
 Example 10: An equation solved by quadratic formula
Determine all the solutions in the equation on the interval .

From the unit circle on the From the unit circle on the
interval : interval :
𝟐.𝟗𝟎𝟕𝟖 𝟎.𝟐𝟑𝟑𝟖 𝟑.𝟓𝟖𝟖𝟎
𝟎 𝟎𝟐 𝝅
𝟐𝝅 −𝟎.𝟒𝟒𝟔𝟒
𝟓.𝟖𝟑𝟔𝟖

𝒙= { 𝟎.𝟐𝟑𝟑𝟖 ,𝟐. 𝟗𝟎𝟕𝟖 } 𝒙= {𝟑. 𝟓𝟖𝟖𝟎 ,𝟓. 𝟖𝟑𝟔𝟖 }

For : Combine the results:
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙=− 𝟎.𝟒𝟑𝟏𝟕 𝒙= { 𝟎.𝟐𝟑𝟑𝟖 ,𝟐.𝟗𝟎𝟕𝟖 ,𝟑.𝟓𝟖𝟖𝟎 ,𝟓.𝟖𝟑𝟔𝟖 } 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔
−𝟏
𝒙=𝐬𝐢𝐧 ( − 𝟎 .𝟒𝟑𝟏𝟕 )
𝒙 ≈ − 𝟎.𝟒𝟒𝟔𝟒 𝒓𝒂𝒅
Thank you and God Bless!