Solving Trigonometric Equations

That looks impossible!

Target: I will be able to solve equations involving trigonometric functions by my understanding of those
functions and by connection with algebraic equations.

Warm-Up: The teacher will show a sketch that connects the sine and cosine functions to the unit circle.
This and the next sketch are available from http://mathhombre.blogspot.com/2010/11/trig-
visualizing.html

As the teacher manipulates the sketch, jot down what connections you see.

Is there anything you want to try to do with the sketch?

Focus: Today we’ll be solving equations with trigonometric functions in them. These can look pretty
intimidating, like 25 sin2x +1= 5, but it turns out that they’re strongly connected to what we already know
about solving equations. There’s an extra wrinkle, though. We can use algebra to get to sin x = .4, but
how do we undo the sine?

1) Turn and talk: what does it mean to be the inverse of a function?

2) Using the Inverse Trig Solver Geogebra sketch: how do we find x if sin x =.5? Does the answer
make sense?

3) For the following situations find the value of x that makes the equation true.
Equation Estimate Solution Makes sense because?
sin x =.1

cos x =.8

cos x = .33

tan x = 10
Your own:
Activity: In each group below, there are three equations. The equations in each group are similar to
each other and they are different from the equations in each of the other groups. For each group:
 Identify how the three equations are similar.
 Explain how they are different from those in other groups.
 Write another equation that would belong in the group.

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

2sin y – √ 3 = 0 8 cos2 p = 3 2cos2 x – cos x = 1
3cos x = 3 1 – 4 sin2 w = 0 8sin2 y + 2sin y – 1 = 0
4 + 2p = 5 6t2 + 27 = 51 3r2 + 14r + 10 = 15
How are these equations How are these equations How are these equations
similar? similar? similar?

How are they different from How are they different from How are they different from
those in the other groups? those in the other groups? those in the other groups?

Another equation for this group Another equation for this group Another equation for this group

Solve one of the first two Solve one of the first two Solve one of the first two
equations. You may use the equations. You may use the equations. You may use the
inverse trig solver or estimate inverse trig solver or estimate inverse trig solver or estimate
for the last step. for the last step. for the last step.

Reflection: How is solving trigonometric equations similar to solving algebraic equations? How is it
different? Can you give specific examples?