SL 3.8—Trigonometric equations

Syllabus
First assessment 2021
Objective
—
Level
HL

Solve trigonometric equations on a stated interval

Solve trigonometric equations on a stated interval.

Find a reference angle, use quadrant symmetry, and list only solutions inside the requested interval.

Worked example

sin x=1/2 on [0,2π] gives x=π/6 and 5π/6.

The interval determines which repeated solutions are included.

A calculator principal value is not the complete interval solution.

Quadratic reduction example on 0≤x≤2π0\le x\le2\pi: 2sin⁡2x−3sin⁡x+1=02\sin^2x-3\sin x+1=0 factors as (2sin⁡x−1)(sin⁡x−1)=0(2\sin x-1)(\sin x-1)=0. Hence sin⁡x=1/2\sin x=1/2 or sin⁡x=1\sin x=1, giving x=π/6,π/2,5π/6x=\pi/6,\pi/2,5\pi/6. Check every candidate in the original equation and report only values in the stated finite interval; no general solution is required.