AQA Core 3 Trigonometry

Section 1: Trigonometric functions and identities

Notes and Examples
In this unit you learn to solve more complex trigonometric equations.
These notes contain subsections on
The inverse trigonometric functions
The reciprocal trigonometric functions
Trigonometric identities

The inverse trigonometric functions

You have already learnt in your work on functions that the graphs of a function
and its inverse are reflections of each other in the line y = x.
The trigonometric functions sin x, cos x and tan x are many-one functions, i.e. for
any particular output of these functions, there is more than one input (in fact, for
these functions there are an infinitely large number of inputs). For example, there
are an infinite number of values of x for which sin x = 0.5.
It is therefore not possible to find inverse functions for the trigonometric functions.
However, it is possible to find inverse functions if the domains are restricted so
that the functions are one-one. These inverse functions are sin-1x, cos-1x and
tan-1x. In some textbooks these functions are called arcsin x, arccos x and arctan x.
You can use the Geogebra resource Inverse trigonometric functions to trace
out the graphs of these inverse functions.
In the case of sin x, the restricted domain used is 12 x 12 .
2

y = sin-1 x
y = sin x

1
x
/2

/2
1
2

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AQA C3 Trigonometry 1 Notes and Examples

The domain of the function y = sin-1x is 1 x 1 , and its range is 12 y 12
In the case of cos x, a different restricted domain is needed, since the domain
12 x 12 does not cover the whole range of cos x. The restricted domain
used is 0 x .
y = cos-1 x

y
3
2
1

/2

/2

y = cos x

1
2
3

The domain of the function y = cos-1x is 1 x 1 , and its range is 0 y

In the case of tan x, the restricted domain used is again 12 x 12 .
4

y = tan x

3
2

y = tan-1 x

1
2

2
3
4

The domain of the function y = tan-1x is x , and its range is 12 y 12

Example 1
Find the values of
(i) cos(tan 1 (1))
(ii) sin 1 ( 12 ) cos1 ( 12 )
Solution
(i)

tan (1)

12 tan 1 x 12

1
cos(tan 1 (1)) cos
2
4

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AQA C3 Trigonometry 1 Notes and Examples

(ii) sin 1 ( 12 ) cos 1 ( 12 )

2
3

12 sin 1 x 12

0 cos 1 x

The reciprocal trigonometric functions

In addition to using the sine, cosine and tangent functions you will need to know
three more functions. These are the reciprocal trigonometrical functions and are
defined as:

1
sin
1
sec
cos
1
cot
tan
cosec

Remember the reciprocal of a

number or function is 1 divided
by that number or function

sin 0

cos 0
Use the 3rd letter of each function
as a memory aid:
rd
e.g. 3 letter of cosec is s and

tan 0

cosec =

1
sin

You need to be familiar with the graphs of these functions and their relationships
with the graphs of sin x, cos x and tan x.

You can use the Geogebra resource Six trigonometric functions to trace out
the graphs of the sin, cos, tan, sec, cosec and cot functions, and look at the
relationships between them.
You may also find the Mathcentre video Trigonometric functions: cosec, sec,
cot useful.
y

y = cosec x

y = sec x

y = sin x
x

x
2

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AQA C3 Trigonometry 1 Notes and Examples

y

y = tan x

x
2

y = cot x

Example 2
Write down the exact value of cot 120.
Solution

1
tan120
y = tan has period of 180 so tan 120 = tan (60).
y = tan has rotational symmetry about the origin so tan (60) = tan 60 3
1
So cot120
3
cot120

Trigonometric identities
Remember: An identity is true for all values of .
In Core 2 you learned the following trigonometric identities:

sin
cos
2
sin cos2 1
tan

e.g.

tan 30

sin 30
cos 30

By dividing the identity sin 2 cos2 1 through by cos and by sin two further
identities are obtained:

tan 2 1 sec2
1 cot 2 cosec2
These two new identities, together with sin 2 cos2 1 , are often called the
Pythagorean identities since they are derived using Pythagoras theorem.

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You need to learn these identities, since they are not given in your formula book.
However, if you are not sure if you are remembering them correctly, then it is
easy to check by dividing the identity sin 2 cos2 1 through by cos or by
sin as required.

Example 3
In ABC, angle A = 90 and cosec B = 2.
(i) Find angles B and C.
(ii) Find tan C and sec C
(iii) Show that tan 2 C 1 sec2 C
B must be an acute angle as
otherwise the sum of the angles
would be greater than 180

Solution
(i) cosec B 2 sin B 12 B 30
C 180 90 30 60
(ii) tan 60 3
cos 60 12 sec60 2
So tan C 3 and sec C 2
(iii)L.H.S. tan 2 C 1

1 3 1 4

R.H.S. sec2 C 22 4
So tan 2 C 1 sec2 C as required.

For practice in using the reciprocal trigonometric functions and the Pythagorean
identities, try the Trigonometric identities puzzle 1.

In Core 2 you saw how trigonometric identities can be used in solving equations.
These new identities can be used in the same way.
The identity 1 cot cosec
links cosec and cot . Substitute
this into the equation.
2

Example 4
Solve cosec2 3 cot for 180 180 .

Solution
cosec2 3 cot 1 cot 2 3 cot

cot 2 cot 2 0
Let x cot
Factorising:

This is a quadratic in
cot . You can factorise
this directly and get
(cot - 2)(cot + 1) = 0, or
use the approach shown.

x2 x 2 0
( x 2)( x 1) 0

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AQA C3 Trigonometry 1 Notes and Examples

x 2 or x 1
cot 2 or cot 1

1
1
2 tan 26.6
tan
2
1
cot 1
1 tan 1 45
tan

cot 2

Since y tan has a period of 180 any other solutions can be found by
adding/subtracting 180 to the principal value.
So the other solutions are:
and

26.6 180 153.4

45 180 135

the value that your

calculator gives
you.

So the values of for which cosec2 3 cot are -153.4, -45, 26.6 and 135.

The Mathcentre video Trigonometric identities shows the derivation of these

identities and their use in solving equations.

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