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Here are a few recommended readings before getting started with this lesson.
On Sunday, Magdalena and her younger sister Paulina went to the amusement park Adventurally with their father. They all had a lot of fun going on numerous rides, including a Ferris Wheel. When they first saw it close up, the girls were so amazed by its size that they asked one of the workers for more details about it.
The worker replied that it has a diameter of 46 meters and it turns at a rate of 1.5 revolutions per minute. When Magdalena's and Paulina's father heard this, he said that the height of their seat h above the ground in meters after t minutes can be modeled by the following function.There are functions that undo the trigonometric functions, so to speak. These functions are called inverse trigonometric functions.
The inverse trigonometric functions are the inverse functions of the trigonometric functions. For example, the inverse sine is the inverse function of the sine function. The main inverse trigonometric functions are shown in the table below.
Trigonometric Function | Inverse Trigonometric Function |
---|---|
f(x)=sinx | f-1(x)=sin-1x |
f(x)=cosx | f-1(x)=cos-1x |
f(x)=tanx | f-1(x)=tan-1x |
Inverse Trigonometric Function | Domain | Range |
---|---|---|
y=sin-1x | [-1,1] | -2π≤x≤2π |
y=cos-1x | [-1,1] | 0≤x≤π |
y=tan-1x | All real numbers | -2π≤x≤2π |
Contrary to trigonometric identities — which are true for all values of the variable for which both sides are defined — some equations involving trigonometric functions are true only for certain values of the variable. Now such equations will be presented.
To sum up, the following facts can be used to solve trigonometric equations. Note that n and m written below are integers.
Equation | Solutions |
---|---|
sinθ=sinα | θ=nπif n is odd, if n is even, +(-1)nα⇓θ=(2m+1)π−αθ=2mπ+α
|
cosθ=cosα | θ=2nπ±α |
tanθ=tanα | θ=nπ+α |
cos(2θ)=1−2sin2(θ)
LHS+2sin2θ=RHS+2sin2θ
LHS−1=RHS−1
Rearrange equation
Commutative Property of Addition
Rewrite 15sinθ as 14sinθ+sinθ
Distribute -1
LHS+1=RHS+1
LHS/2=RHS/2
sin-1(LHS)=sin-1(RHS)
f-1(f(x))=x
cos(2θ)=2cos2(θ)−1
LHS+3=RHS+3
Commutative Property of Addition
LHS/2=RHS/2
a2+2ab+b2=(a+b)2
LHS=RHS
LHS−1=RHS−1
sec2θ=1+tan2θ
LHS−tan2θ=RHS−tan2θ
LHS+1=RHS+1
LHS/2=RHS/2
LHS=RHS
The teacher gave the class a couple of exercises to solve for homework. She also warned that one of the equations has extraneous solutions and that the students should identify them. To make things interesting, Magdalena and Davontay decided to make a bet about which equation has extraneous solutions.
After each chose an equation, they started solving them to see who guessed correctly. The winner will get the last piece of cake left in the fridge. To solve the equations, they must write all the solutions in radians such that 0≤θ≤2π.
cos2θ=1−sin2θ
Distribute 2
Commutative Property of Addition
LHS−3=RHS−3
LHS⋅(-1)=RHS⋅(-1)
Rewrite 3sinθ as 2sinθ+sinθ
Distribute -1
Factor out 2sinθ
Factor out -1
Factor out sinθ−1
(I), (II): LHS+1=RHS+1
(I): LHS/2=RHS/2
θ=6π
(ba)m=bmam
a⋅cb=ca⋅b
ba=b/2a/2
Add fractions
Solution | Substitute | Evaluate | True or False |
---|---|---|---|
θ=6π | 2cos2(6π)+3sin(6π)=?3 | 2(23)2+3(21)=?3 | 3=3 ✓ |
θ=65π | 2cos2(65π)+3sin(65π)=?3 | 2(-23)2+3(21)=?3 | 3=3 ✓ |
θ=2π | 2cos2(2π)+3sin(2π)=?3 | 2(0)2+3(1)=?3 | 3=3 ✓ |
Therefore, there are three solutions to the equation and none of them are extraneous.
cos2θ=1−sin2θ
LHS+sin2θ=RHS+sin2θ
LHS/2=RHS/2
LHS=RHS
ba=ba
ba=b⋅2a⋅2
Solution | Substitute | Evaluate | True or False |
---|---|---|---|
θ1=4π | sin(4π)−cos(4π)=?0 | 22−22=?0 | 0=0 ✓ |
θ2=43π | sin(43π)−cos(43π)=?0 | 22−(-22)=?0 | 2=0 × |
θ3=45π | sin(45π)−cos(45π)=?0 | -22−(-22)=?0 | 0=0 ✓ |
θ4=47π | sin(47π)−cos(47π)=?0 | -22−22=?0 | -2=0 × |
It can be concluded that θ=43π and θ=47π are extraneous solutions. Therefore, only θ=4π and θ=45π are solutions to the equation. This means that Davontay bet on the right equation and he will get the last piece of the cake!
Magdalena's math teacher designed a labyrinth in the school athletics field for her students. To determine which direction to go at each crossroad, she made signs with certain clues. At one of the crossroads, the clue said to follow the direction that is not a solution to either of the two given trigonometric equations.
The clue also advised to graph the solutions on a unit circle. Write all the possible solutions in the form of general equations where n is an integer number.
cot(θ)=sin(θ)cos(θ)
a⋅cb=ca⋅b
ba=b/sinθa/sinθ
Factor out cosθ
As shown on the unit circle, the solutions are located at two out of the four cardinal directions, north and south. Therefore, these are the directions the students should not choose.
sec2θ=1+tan2θ
Distribute -1
Subtract term
Rearrange equation
The solution is located in the western direction, which means that students should not choose it. Considering the solutions to the first equation, the only direction left is east, so the students should turn east at the crossroad.
sin(2θ)=2sin(θ)cos(θ)
LHS−(3sinθ+cosθ)=RHS−(3sinθ+cosθ)
Distribute -1
Commutative Property of Addition
(I): LHS+1=RHS+1
(I): LHS/2=RHS/2
(II): LHS+23=RHS+23
cos(2π−θ)=sin(θ)
csc(θ)=sin(θ)1
LHS⋅sinθ=RHS⋅sinθ
LHS=RHS
It was finally the weekend and Madgalena and her family went on a boat ride on the local river. A man who worked there said that there was a very high tide recently.
When Magdalena asked how they measure the height of the tide, the worker said that, in addition to sensors, they also use a formula to determine the height of the tide.10:40 PM and 1:20 AM
h=4
LHS/5=RHS/5
cos-1(LHS)=cos-1(RHS)
f-1(f(x))=x
Rearrange equation
LHS⋅2π13=RHS⋅2π13
Use a calculator
Round to 2 decimal place(s)
It was previously stated that when Magdalena and Paulina were at the amusement park Adventurally, they were so amazed by the size of the Ferris wheel that they asked a worker about how large it is.
The worker replied that it has a diameter of 44 meters and it turns at a rate of 1.5 revolutions per minute. When Magdalena's father heard this, he said that in that case the height of their seat h above the ground in meters after t minutes can be modeled by the following function.h=34
LHS−23=RHS−23
LHS/(-22)=RHS/(-22)
Put minus sign in front of fraction
ba=b/11a/11
Rearrange equation
ca⋅b=ca⋅b
Multiply fractions
ba=b/3 mina/3 min
Multiply
Calculate quotient
Round to 1 decimal place(s)
t=3.5
Multiply
Use a calculator
Subtract term