Mathematics

Specialist

Unit Two
UNIT TWO PRELIMINARY W RK WS

Degrees and radians

Having reached this stage of this book it is naturally assumed that you are already familiar with the Worksheets

work of the previous eight chapters. It is also assumed that you are familiar with the content of Unit
One of the Mathematics Methods course. The elements of that unit that are of particular relevance to WS
this unit are briefly revised in this section.
Complementary
Worksheetsangle
Read this ‘preliminary work’ section and if anything is not familiar to you, and you don’t understand properties

the brief mention or explanation given here, you may need to do some further reading to bring your
understanding of those concepts up to an appropriate level for this unit.

Radian measure
It is assumed that you are familiar with the idea of using a radian as a unit of measurement for angles
and with the conversion:

π radians = 180°

In this unit, assume the angle measure is in radians unless degrees are clearly indicated.

Unit circle definitions of y = sin x, y = cos x and

y = tan x
With point O as the origin and point A as a point moving around a circle of unit radius and centre
at O, we define the sine of the angle that AO makes with the positive x-axis as the y-coordinate of A.
From this definition we obtain the graph of the function y = sin x, with degrees as our unit of measure,
as shown below right.

O A
90° 180° 270° 360° x

–1

If, having completed one rotation of the circle, we were to continue moving point A around the circle
the graph would repeat itself, as shown on the next page for three rotations.

ISBN 9780170390477 Unit Two Preliminary work 155

 y

y = sin x

90° 180° 270° 360° 450° 540° 630° 720° 810° 900° 990° 1080° x

–1

Alternatively angles could be shown in radians and negative angles could also be included, as shown
below for –2π ≤ x ≤ 4π.

y = sin x

x
–2π 3π –π π π π 3π 2π 5π 3π 7π 4π
2 2 2 2 2 2

–1

Whilst the graph shown above is for –2π ≤ x ≤ 4π this restriction is made purely due to page width
limitations. The reader should consider the graph of y = sin x continuing indefinitely to the left and
the right.
Note the following:
• The graph of y = sin x repeats itself every 2π radians (or 360°).
We say that the sine function is periodic, with period 2π.
Thus sin (x ± 2π) = sin x.
• We also say that the graph performs one cycle each period.
Thus y = sin x performs one cycle in 2π radians (or 360°).
• –1 ≤ sin x ≤ 1.
• If we consider the above graph to have a ‘mean’ y-coordinate of y = 0 then the graph has a maximum
value 1 above this mean value and a minimum value 1 below it. We say that y = sin x has an
amplitude of 1.
• sin (–x) = – sin x. (Functions for which f (–x) = – f (x) are called odd functions and are unchanged
under a 180° rotation about the origin.)

156 MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST Units 1 & 2 ISBN 9780170390477

Similar considerations of the x-coordinate of point A as it moves y

around the unit circle gives the graph of 1

y = cos x
0.5
shown below for –2π ≤ x ≤ 4π.
A
O x
0.5 1

y = cos x

x
–2π 3π –π π π π 3π 2π 5π 3π 7π 4π
2 2 2 2 2 2

–1

Note the following:

• The cosine function is periodic, with period 2π. Thus cos (x ± 2π) = cos x.
• y = cos x performs one cycle in 2π radians (or 360°).
• Note that –1 ≤ cos x ≤ 1.
• The graph of y = cos x has an amplitude of 1.
• Note that cos (–x) = cos x. (Functions for which f (–x) = f (x) are called even functions and are
unchanged under a reflection in the y-axis.)
π
• If the above graph of y = cos x is moved units right, parallel to the x axis, it would then be the
2 π
same as the graph of y = sin x. We say that sin x and cos x are out of phase with each other.
2
 π  π
It follows that cos x = sin  x +  and sin x = cos  x −  .
 2  2

ISBN 9780170390477 Unit Two Preliminary work 157

 sin x
Either by considering the relationship tan x = , or by defining y
cos x C
the tangent of the angle AOB (shown as a 50° angle in the diagram 1
A
on the right) as the y-coordinate of the point where OA, continued
as necessary, meets the vertical line through B, we obtain the graph 0.5

of y = tan x as that shown below, for 0 ≤ x ≤ 180° 50° B

O x
0.5 1

30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180°

–1

–2

–3

–4

Continuing this graph to left and right we obtain the graph of y = tan x, for –2π ≤ x ≤ 4π, as shown below.

x
π π
–π
–π 3π 2π 5π 3π 7π
–2π – 3π 4π
2 2 2 2 2 2

–5

158 MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST Units 1 & 2 ISBN 9780170390477

Note the following:
• Though the previous graph is for –2π ≤ x ≤ 4π the reader should consider the graph of y = tan x
continuing indefinitely to the left and right.
• The graph repeats itself every π radians (or 180°).
The period of the graph is π radians (or 180°). Thus tan (x ± π) = tan x.
The graph performs one cycle in π radians (or 180°).
• The term ‘amplitude’ is meaningless when applied to y = tan x.
• The graph is such that tan (–x) = –tan x.
(The tangent function is an odd function.)

Transformations of y = sin x (and of y = cos x and

y = tan x)
The graph of y = a sin x will be that of y = sin x dilated scale factor ‘a’
(and reflected in the x-axis if a is negative).
Hence y = a sin x will have amplitude a.
1
The graph of y = sin bx will be that of y = sin x, dilated ↔ scale factor
b
(and reflected in the y-axis if b is negative).
Hence whilst y = sin x performs one cycle in 2π radians,
y = sin bx will perform ‘b’ cycles in 2π radians.
Thus whilst y = sin x has a period of 2π radians,
2π
y = sin bx has a period of radians.
b
The graph of y = sin [b(x + c)] will be that of y = sin bx moved left ‘c’ units (a phase shift).
The graph of y = sin (x) + d will be that of y = sin x moved up ‘d’ units.

The graph on the right looks like that of y = cos x, but y

2
• stretched  scale factor 2
• reflected in the x-axis 1

• not stretched ↔
x
–360° –270° –180° –90° 90° 180° 270° 360°
• moved → 30° –1
to give its equation as
–2
y = –2 cos (x – 30°).

Alternatively we could consider it as looking to be that of y = sin x

• stretched  scale factor 2
• and moved → 120°
to give its equation as y = 2 sin (x – 120°).

ISBN 9780170390477 Unit Two Preliminary work 159

 Angle sum and angle difference identities
The fact that on the previous page we obtained two apparently different equations for the one graph
should not have troubled you if you remembered the existence of the angle sum and angle difference
identities:

sin (A ± B) = sin A cos B ± cos A sin B

cos (A ± B) = cos A cos B  sin A sin B
tan A ± tan B
tan (A ± B) =
1  tan A tan B

Considering again the two equations found for the same graph, i.e. y = –2 cos (x – 30°)
and y = 2 sin (x – 120°):
y = –2 cos (x – 30°)
= –2 (cos x cos 30° + sin x sin 30°)
 3 1
= –2  cos x × + sin x × 
 2 2
= − 3 cos x – sin x

y = 2 sin (x – 120°)
= 2 (sin x cos 120° – cos x sin 120° )
  1 3
= 2  sin x ×  −  − cos x ×
  2 2 
= –sin x – 3 cos x,
= − 3 cos x – sin x as before.

Note that the above expansions also assume that you are familiar with exact values.
The next two pages remind you of the proof of the angle sum and angle difference identities and make
use of another identity it will also be assumed you are familiar with, namely the Pythagorean identity:

sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1

The proofs also assume you are familiar with determining the distance between two points of known
coordinates.

160 MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST Units 1 & 2 ISBN 9780170390477

Proof of angle sum and angle difference identities
Consider the points P and Q lying on the unit y
circle as shown in the diagram on the right. (0, 1)
P (cos A, sin A)
From our unit circle definition of sine and cosine
the coordinates of P and Q will be as shown.
Q (cos B, sin B)

A B
O (1, 0) x

The length of the line joining two points can be

found by determining the following:

(change in the x -coordinates)2 + (change in the y-coordinates)2

Thus PQ = (cos A − cos B )2 + (sin A − sin B )2

= cos2 A − 2cos A cos B + cos2 B + sin 2 A − 2sin A sin B + sin 2 B

= cos2 A + sin 2 A + sin 2 B + cos2 B − 2cos A cos B − 2sin A sin B

= 1 + 1 − 2(cos A cos B + sin A sin B )

= 2 − 2(cos A cos B + sin A sin B ) [I]

However, if instead we apply the cosine rule to triangle OPQ:

PQ = 12 + 12 − 2(1)(1) cos ( A − B )

= 2 − 2cos ( A − B ) [II]

Comparing [I] and [II] we see that

cos (A – B) = cos A cos B + sin A sin B [1]

Replacing B by (–B), and remembering that cos (–B) = cos B and sin (–B) = – sin B, it follows that
cos (A – (–B)) = cos A cos (–B) + sin A sin (–B)
= cos A cos B – sin A sin B

i.e. cos (A + B) = cos A cos B – sin A sin B [2]

ISBN 9780170390477 Unit Two Preliminary work 161

 π  π π
From [1], cos  − θ = cos cos θ + sin sin θ
2  2 2
= ( 0 ) cos θ + ( 1 ) sin θ
= sin θ
π π
Replacing – θ by φ (and hence θ by – φ) it follows that
2 2

π 
cos f = sin  − φ
2 

π  π 
Thus cos  − A = sin A and sin  − A = cos A.
2  2 

We can now use these facts to determine expansions for sin (A + B) and for sin (A – B).
sin (A – B) = cos [ 90° – (A – B) ]
= cos (90° – A + B)
= cos (90° – A) cos B – sin (90° – A) sin B
= sin A cos B – cos A sin B

i.e. sin (A – B) = sin A cos B – cos A sin B [3]

Replacing B by (– B) in [3] gives:

sin (A – (–B)) = sin A cos (–B) – cos A sin (–B)
= sin A cos B + cos A sin B

i.e. sin (A + B) = sin A cos B + cos A sin B

sin( A ± B )
Now: tan (A ± B) =
cos( A ± B )

sin A cos B ± cos A sin B

=
cos A cos B  sin A sin B

sin A cos B cos A sin B

±
cos A cos B cos A cos B
=
cos A cos B sin A sin B

cos A cos B cos A cos B

tan A ± tan B
Thus tan (A ± B) =
1  tan A tan B

162 MATHEMATICS SPECIALIST Units 1 & 2 ISBN 9780170390477

Solving trigonometric equations WS

The diagram on the right summarises the positive and Only Sin positive All positive
Calculating
Worksheetsexact
negative nature of sine, cosine and tangent in the various values of trigonometric
S A functions
quadrants.
Using this awareness of ‘what’s positive where’ we can T C
WS
express the sine (or cosine or tangent) of any angle as the
sine (or cosine or tangent) of the acute angle made with the Only Tan positive Only Cos positive
Solving periodic
Worksheets
x-axis, together with the appropriate sign. functions

For example, consider sin 200°.

As the diagram on the right shows, an angle of 200° makes 20°
with the x-axis and lies in the 3rd quadrant, where the sine
200°
function is negative.
Thus sin 200° = –sin 20°
Now consider cos (300°).
An angle of 300° makes 60° with the x-axis and lies in the 4th quadrant,
where the cosine function is positive.
300°
Thus cos 300° = cos 60°
= 0.5
These ideas can help when we have to solve equations involving trigonometric
functions.
3
Suppose we are asked to solve sin x = − for 0 ≤ x ≤ 360°.
2
With the sine being negative solutions must lie in the 3rd and 4th quadrants.
3
From our exact values we know that sin 60° = .
2
Thus the solutions make 60° with the x-axis as shown diagrammatically on the right.
Using this diagram to obtain solutions in the required interval we have
x = 240°, 300°. 60° 60°

1
Suppose now that we are asked to solve tan x = − for –π ≤ x ≤ π.
3
With the tangent being negative solutions must lie in the 2nd and 4th quadrants.
π 1
From our exact values we know that tan = .
6 3
π
Thus the solutions make radians with the x-axis as shown
6 π
diagrammatically on the right. 6
π
Using this diagram to obtain solutions in the required interval gives: 6
π 5π
x=− , .
6 6

ISBN 9780170390477 Unit Two Preliminary work 163