Thursday, 8 January 2015

Trigonometric Identities

Trigonometric Identities can be used to simplify an equation before solving it. They can be used for any values of x.

IDENTITIES:

1)      Tan x = Sin x / Cos x

2)      Sin^2 x + Cos^2 x = 1

Using these two identities; equations will be able to be manipulated to allow you so simplify / solve them.

For Quadratic Equations always remember:

1) Try and make the equation only (sin^2 x / sin x) or (cos^2 x / cos x). Eliminate all other terms using the identities above.

2) An equation can only be solved if    sin x = k    or    cos x = k     if     1   k  ≥ -1.
Solutions to     tan x = k     exist for ALL VALUES of k.



Example 1:

"Show that    Tan x  +  (1/Tan x)  can be written in the form (1/Cos x Sin x)".

Tan x  +  (1/Tan x)
This is the original starting point given in the question.

(Sin x / Cos x) + (Cos x / Sin x)
 Tan x = (Sin x / Cos x)      and    (1/ Tan x) =  (Cos x / Sin x)

(Sin^2 x + Cos^2 x/Cos x Sin x)
Cross multiply and make the two fractions into one.

(1/Cos x Sin x)
Sin^2 x + Cos^2 x = 1    Therefore the top part of the bracket becomes one and the denominator stays the same.




Example 2:

"Show that    5cos x = 1 + 2Sin^2 x    can be written in the form 2cos^2 x + 5Cos x -3 = 0".

5cos x = 1 + 2Sin^2 x
This is the original starting point given in the question.

5cos x = 1 + 2(1-Cos^2 x)
Sin^2 x + Cos^2 x = 1         REARRANGED =        Sin^2 x = 1 - Cos^2 x 
Sin^2 x   has been substituted for     1 - Cos^2 x.

5cos x = 1 + 2 - 2 Cos^2 x
The brackets have been expanded from 2(1-Cos^2 x) to 2 - 2 Cos^2 x

2 Cos^2 x + 5Cos x -3 = 0
The terms have been grouped and formatted as positioned in the question.


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