1.

TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS
An equation involving one or more trigonometrical ratios of unknown angle is called trigonometric
equation e.g. cos2x – 4 sinx = 1. It is to be noted that a trigonometrical identity is satisfied for every
value of the unknown angle whereas, trigonometric equation is satisfied only for some values (finite
or infinite in number) of unknown angle. e.g. sin2x + cos2x = 1 is a trigonometrical identity as it is
satisfied for every value of x  R.

2. SOLUTION OF A TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATION

A value of the unknown angle which satisfies the given equation is called a solution of the equation
1
e.g.    / 6 is a solution of sin  = .
2

3. GENERAL SOLUTION
Since trigonometrical functions are periodic functions, solutions of trigonometric equations can be
generalized with the help of the periodicity of the trigonometrical functions. The solution consisting
of all possible solutions of a trigonometric equation is called its general solution.
We use the following formulae for solving the trigonometric equations: ( n  I)

L
M
 O
 sin = sin   = n + (– 1)nwhere   
N2 , 2 P
, n I .
Q
 cos = cos   = 2n  where   0,  , n  I .

F
G  I

H2 , 2 JK, n I .
tan = tan   = n + where   

sin  = sin    = n  , where   L

O
 2 2
M
0, P
N2 Q ,n I .

cos  = cos   = n  , where   L

O
 2 2
M0, P
N2 Q ,n I .

tan  = tan    = n  , where   L

I
 2 2
0, J
M
N 2 K,n I .
Note: (For these type of equations students must use these solution to get correct answers)

 sin  = 0   = n,

 cos  = 0   = (2n + 1) ,
2

 tan  = 0   = n,

 sin = 1   = (4n + 1)
2
 
 sin = –1   = (4n – 1)
2

 cos = 1   = 2n

 cos = –1   = (2n + 1)

 sin = sin and cos = cos   = 2n + 

Note:

 Everywhere in this chapter n is taken as an integer, if not stated otherwise.

 The general solution should be given unless the solution is required in a specified interval or range.

DRILL EXERCISE - 1
Solve the following trigonometric equation
1. 2 cos2 – 1 = 0 2. 4 sin2 = 3
1 3 1
3. sin = and cos =  4. cos2  – sin  – =0
2 2 4
5. 2 3 cos2 = sin 

4. TYPES OF TRIGONOMETRIC EQUATIONS :

(a) Solution of equations by factorising.Consider the equation ;

(2 sin x - cos x) (1 + cos x) = sin2 x.

(b) Solutions of equations reducible to quadratic equations. Consider the equation ;

3 cos2 x - 10 cos x + 3 = 0

(c) Solving equations by introducing an Auxilliary argument. Consider the equation ;

sin x  cos x  2 and 3 cos x  sin x  2 .

(d) Solving equations by Transforming a sum of Trigonometric functions into a product. Con-
sider the example ; sin 5 x + sin 2 x - sin 4x = 0

(e) Solving equations by transforming a product of trigonometric functions into a sum. Con-
sider the equation ; sin 5x . cos 3x = sin 6x . cos 2x.

(f) Solving equations by a change of variable :

 (i) b g
Equations of the form P sin x  cos x,sin x.cos x  0 , where P(x, z) is
a polyno minal , can be solved by the change.cos x  sin x = t
 1  2sin x.cos x = t2 . Consider the equation ; sin x + cos x = 1 + sin x . cos x
. (ii) Equation of the form of a .sin x + b . cos x + d = 0, where a ; b and d are real
numberes and a , b  0 can be solved by changing sin x and cos x into their
corresponding tangent of half the angle.Consider the equation 3cos x + 4 sin x = 5.
(iii) Many equations can be solved by introducing a new variable e.g. the equation
F
G 1I
sin4 2x + cos4 2x = sin 2x. cos 2x changes to 2( y  1) y
H2 JK 0 by substituting,
sin 2x . cos 2x = y.

(g) Solving equations with the use of the Boundness of the functions sin x and cos x. Consider
F
G IJ F IJ
KG
x x
H H K
the equation ; sin x cos  2 sin x  1  sin  2 cos x .cos x  0 .
4 4

DRILL EXERCISE - 2

Solve the following trigonometric equations :

1. 2sin   tan   0 . 2. 3 tan 2   2 sin   0

3. 3 sin x – cos x = 1 4. sin 5x + sin 3x = sin 4x

5. sin x – cos x = – 2

5. SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

 While solving a trigonometric equation, squaring the equation at any step should be avoided
as far as possible. If squaring is necessary, check the solution for extraneous values.
 Never cancel terms containing unknown terms on the two sides, which are in product. It
may cause loss of genuine solution.
 The answer should not contain such values of angles, which make any of the terms undefined.
 Domain should not be changed. If it is changed, necessary corrections must be incorporated.
 Check that the denominator is not zero at any stage while solving equations.
 Some times you may find that your answers differ from those in the package in their notations.
This may be due to the different methods of solving the same problem. Whenever you
come across such situation, you must check their authenticity. This will ensure that your
answer is correct.
  While solving trigonometric equations you may get same set of solution repeated in your

answer. It is necessary for you to exclude these repetitions, e.g. n + , ( n  I) forms a
2
k 
part of  , k  I the second part of the second set of solution (you can check by
5 10
k 
putting k = 5 m + 2 (mI). Hence the final answer is  ,k I.
5 10
 Some times the two solution set consist partly of common values. In all such cases the
common part must be presented only once.
Now we present some illustrations for solving the different forms of trigonometric equations.
Which will highlight the importance of above mentioned points.

DRILL EXERCISE - 3

Solve the folloiwng trigonometric equations

1. 4 sin x . sin 2x . sin 4x = sin 3x. 2. (1  tan )(1  sin 2)  1  tan  .

3. sin 6x = sin 4x – sin 2x 4. d2  3icos   1  sin 

5. sin2x + sin22x = 1

Illustration 1:
Solve: 7cos2 + 3sin2 = 4
Solution:
Given 7cos2 + 3sin2 = 4
or, 7cos2 + 3 (1 – cos2) = 4
or, 4cos2 = 1
2
1 2 
 cos      cos  
2
2  3


   n  3  n  I
Illustration 2:
Solve: 3tan ( - 150) = tan ( + 150)
Solution:
Given, 3tan ( - 150) = tan ( + 150)

tan   150 
3
or, 
tan  – 15 0
 1
   
tan   15 0  tan   15 0 4
or, (By componendo and dividendo)
tan  15   tan  15  2
0 0

sin   15    15 
0 0

or 2
sin   15    15 
0 0


or, 2 sin2 = 2 or sin2 = 1 = sin
2
 n 
 2 = n + (-1)n = + (- 1)n ,  n  I
2 2 4

Illustration 3:
1
Solve: cos cos2 cos3 =
4
Solution:
4cos cos2 cos3 = 1
or, (2cos3 cos) 2cos2 = 1
or, (cos4 + cos2) 2cos2 - 1 = 0
or, 2cos4 cos2 + 2cos22 - 1 = 0
or, 2cos4 cos2 + cos4 = 0
or, cos4 [2cos2 + 1] = 0
 
If cos4 = 0, 4 = (2n + 1)   = (2n + 1)
2 8
If 2cos2 + 1 = 0
1 2 2
or, cos2 = – = cos  2  2m 
2 3 3

  = m 
3
 
Hence,  = (2n + 1) or m  where n, m  I
8 3

Illustration 4:
Solve: tanx + tan2x + tan3x = 0.
Solution:
tanx + tan2x + tan3x = 0
or, tanx + tan2x + tan (x + 2x) = 0
tan x  tan 2x
or, tanx + tan2x + 1  tan x tan 2x  0
  1 
or, (tanx + tan2x) 1  1  tan x tan 2 x   0
 
If tanx + tan2x = 0, tanx = – tan2x
or, tanx = tan(–2x)  x = n + (–2x) or, 3x = n
n
 x=
3
1
If 1 + = 0 then, 1 – tanx tan2x = – 1
1  tan x tan 2x
2 tan x
or, tanx tan2x = 2 or, tanx  2
1  tan 2 x
or, tan2x = 1 – tan2x
1
or, 2tan2x = 1 or, tan2x =
2
1 1
or, tanx =  or x = m  tan 1
2 2
 x = m + 
n  1 
Hence x = or m  tan 1  , n, m  I
3  2
Illustration 5 :
Solve: 2sin2x – 5sinx cosx – 8cos2x = – 2.
Solution:
In such problems we divide both sides by cos2x. This converts the given equation in a quadratic
equation in tanx, which can be easily solved.
Clearly, cosx  0 For if cosx = 0, then
2sin2x = – 2  sin2x = – 1 which is impossible.
Given equation is 2sin2x – 5sinx cosx – 8cos2x = – 2
or, 2tan2x – 5tanx – 8 = –2sec2x [dividing both sides by cos2x]
or, 2tan2x – 5tanx – 8 + 2 (1 + tan2x) = 0
or, 4 tan2x –5tanx – 6 = 0
or, 4tan2x – 8tanx + 3tanx – 6 = 0
or, 4tanx (tanx –2) + 3 (tanx – 2) = 0
or, (tanx – 2) (4tanx + 3) = 0
 either tanx – 2 = 0
 tanx = 2 = tan (suppose)
 x = n +  = n + tan–12
3
or, 4tanx + 3 = 0  tanx = = tan (suppose)
4
 3
 x = n +  = m + tan–1   . where n, m  I
 4 
6. SOLVING SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
Here we will discuss problems related to the solution of two equations satisfied simultaneously. We
may divide the problems in two categories.
(i) Two equations in one unknown
(ii) Two equations in two unknowns.

Illustration 6:
Find all values of  lying between 0 and 2, satisfying the following equations,
rsin = 3 and r + 4sin = 2 ( 3 + 1)
Solution:
Given equations are,
rsin = 3 ... (i)
and r + 4sin = 2( 3 + 1) ... (ii)
To find the value of , we must eliminate r.
3
Now, from (i), r =
sin 
Substituting the value of r in (ii), we get,
3
 4 sin   2 ( 3  1)
sin 
or, 4sin2 – 2 3 sin – 2sin + 3 = 0
or, 2sin (2sin – 3 ) – 1 (2sin – 3 ) = 0
or, (2sin – 3 ) (2sin – 1) = 0

3  
If 2sin – 3 = 0, sin  = = sin   = n + (–1)n
2 3 3
1  
If 2sin – 1 = 0, sin = = sin   = n + (–1)n
2 6 6
  2 5
Values of  lying between 0 and 2 are , , ,
6 3 3 6
Illustration 7:
Find the smallest positive values of x and y satisfying

x–y= , and cotx + coty = 2
4
Solution:

Given x–y= ... (i)
4
cotx + coty = 2 ... (ii)
From (ii), sin(x + y) = 2sinx.siny
= cos (x – y) – cos(x + y)
 
= cos – cos (x + y)
4
 1
 sin (x + y) + cos (x + y) = cos 4 
2
1 1 1
 sin (x + y) + cos (x + y) =
2 2 2
 
 cos (x + y – ) = cos
4 3
 
 x+y– = 2n 
4 3
 
 x + y = 2n   …. (iii)
3 4
7
for n = 0, x + y = (sin ce x , y  0) …. (iv)
12
5 
From (i) and (iv), x = , y
12 6
5 
Hence least positive values of x and y are and respectively..
12 6

DRILL EXERCISE - 4
Solve the following simultaneous equations
1. x + y = 2 and cos x + cos y = 0

1 3
2. sin x sin y = and cos x cos y =
4 4
1
3. sin x sin y = and cot x cot y = 3
4
1
4. sin x + cos y = 0 and sin2x + cos2y = (0 < x < , 0 < y < )
2
3
5. x+y= and tan x – tan y = 2
4

7. TRIGONOMETRIC INEQUATIONS
To solve trigonometric inequation of the type f(x) a, or f(x) a where f(x) is some trigonometric
ratio we take following steps.
(i) Draw the graph of f(x) in a interval length equal to fundamental period of f(x).
(ii) Draw the line y = a.
(iii) Take the portion of the graph for which inequation is satisfied.
(iv) To generalise add pn (n I) and take union over set of integers , where p is fundamental
period of f(x).
Illustration 8:
Find the solution set of the inequation sin x > 1/2.
Solution:
When sinx = 1/2, the two values of x between 0 and 2 are /6 and 5/6.

y = 1/2
/6 5/6 x

From, the graph of y = sin x,

it is obvous that, between 0 and 2

 5
sinx > 1/2 for x .
6 6
Hence sin x > 1/ 2
 2n + /6 < x < 2n+ 5/6

  5 
The required solution set = n  2n  , 2 n  
I
 6 6 
Illustration 9:

1
Find the solution set of – < tan x 1.
3
Solution:

1
– < tan x 1
3

  6
 – < x   O  
6 4 2 4 2

The required solution set will be

  
  n  , n  
6 4
nI 
 DRILL EXERCISE - 5
Find the solution set for following trigonometric inequation
1
1. Sin   – 2. Cos  > –1
2
3. Sin  + cos  < –1 4. sin x < cos x

1
5. sin x 
2

8. PROBLEMS BASED ON BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

If the problem involves only one equation consisting of more than one variable or equation involves
variable of different natures then the boundary conditions of trigonometric functions is generally
used. It must be noted that
|sinx|  1 ; | cosx |  1; |sec x|  1; | cosec x |  1; |tan x|  0; |cot x|  0

Illustration 9:
Solve sin2x + cos2 y = 2sec2z
Solution:
L.H.S. = sin2x + cos2y  2
R.H.S. = 2sec2z  2
Hence L.H.S. = R.H.S. only when
sin2x = 1, cos2 y = 1, sec2 z = 1
 cos2x = 0, sin2 y = 0, cos2 z = 1  cos x = 0, sin y = 0, sin z = 0

x = (2m + 1) , y = n and z = t where m, n, t are integers.
2
Illustration 10:
2 2 x 2 2
Solve: 2 cos sin x  x  x , 0  x   / 2
2
Solution:
In this problem, terms on the two sides of the equation are different in nature, L.H.S. is in
trigonometric form, whereas R.H.S. is in algebraic form. Hence, we will use boundary conditions.
x
L.H.S. = 2 cos2 sin 2 x
2
= (1 + cosx) sin2x < 2 (since 1 + cosx < 2 and sin2 x  1)
1
R.H.S. = x2 +  2
x2
Hence L.H.S. is never equal to R. H. S. Therefore, the given equation has no solution.
 DRILL EXERCISE - 6
2 1 2 1
1. sin4 x – cos7 x = 1. 2. cos  cos  1
2 2

b g b g F
G I F cos IJ.
3. cos sin   sin cos . 4. tan
H2 sin JK cotG
H2 K
1 1
5. Find the most general values of  which satisfies the equations sin = – and tan = .
2 3
 ANSWERS

Drill Exercise - 1

 
1. = n ± ,nI 2. = n ± ,nI
4 3
5 
3. = 2n + , nI 4. = n + (–1)n   , n  I
6 6

5. = n + (–1)n   , n  I
3
Drill Exercise - 2
 
1. n  , 2(3k  1) where n, k  I 2. m or n  ( 1) n , m, n  I
3 6
  n 
3. x = n + (–1)n – , n I 4. x= , x = 2m ± , n, m I
6 6 4 3
 
5. x = (4n – 1) + , n I
2 4
Drill Exercise - 3
F
G I
H 4 JK, m, n I
m 
1. x  n or  , n, m  I 2. n or m 
3 9
 n 2
3. m  , , where m, n  I 4.   2 p  , p I
6 4 3

5. (2n + 1) , nI
6
Drill Exercise - 4
 3 3 
1. x= ,y= or x = , y=
2 2 2 2

2. {( (6n + 6k – 1)/6,  (6n – 6k – 1)/6), ( (6n + 6k + 1)/6, (6n – 6k + 1)/6}, (n, k I).

3. {( (6k + 6m – 1)/6,  (6k – 6m – 1)/6, ( (6k + 6l + 1)/6, (6k – 6n + 1)/6}, (k, m, l I).

4. {(/6, 2/3), (5/6, 2/3)}

5. {(– (12n – 5)/12,  (3n + 1)/3 ) , (– (12n – 1)/12, (3n + 2)/3}, (n I).
 Drill Exercise - 5

 7 11 
1.  2n  6 , 2n  6  2. R – {(2n + 1)}, n I
nI

 
3.   2n  , 2n  
 2 4. ((8n – 3)/4, (8n + 1)/4), (n I)
nI

5. [ (12n – 7)/6, (12n + 1)/6], (n I)

Drill Exercise - 6


1. x  2n  , n  I , x  n  , nI 2. = 0
2
3.  4. = n, n  I
7
5.   2 n  , nI
6