205 Chapter 5 Trigonometric Functions

The general solutions to trigonometric equations that you studied in the

Preliminary Course can be written in radians:
The solution for sin sin is given by
( ) n 1
n
where n is an integer.
The solution for cos cos is given by
n 2 where n is an integer.
The solution for tan tan is given by
n where n is an integer.
EXAMPLES
1. Find the general solutions of . sin cos x x 2
Solution
( )
sin cos
sin cos cos
sin cos cos
cos sin
x x
x x x
x x x
x x
2
2
2 0
2 1 0

, cos sin x x 0 2 1 0
Solving 0 cos x gives:

since 0

cos cos cos x
x n
2 2
2
2

Solving sin x 2 1 0 gives:
since

sin
sin
sin sin sin
x
x
x
x n
2 1
2
1
6 6 2
1
1
6
n

So solutions are ,

x n
2
2

x n 1
6
n


.
CONTINUED