TRIGONOMETRY PAST YEAR QUESTIONS ON ADDITION FORMULAE

Trigonometry Addition Formulae:

Edexcel syllabus on this segment reads:
The use of the basic addition formulae of trigonometry. Formal proofs of the basic formulae
will not be required; questions using the formulae for sin(A + B), cos(A + B), tan(A + B) may
be set; the formulae will be provided, for example:
sin(A + B) = sin A cos B + cos A sin B
Long questions, explicitly involving excessive manipulation, will not be set.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Edexcel Past Year Questions Involving Addition Formulae:
[(27.12.2013): Try the questions first. Then only look for my proposed solutions either in
the link given under the question or upon your email request. It's time consuming to get
them all typed and posted. Nevertheless, I blog herewith the solution for Q1 to show you that
these are all very interesting questions. Have fun and try them all!]
1)

sin (A + B) sin A cos B + cos A sin B

sin (A - B) sin A cos B cos A sin B

(a) Show that sin (A + B) + sin (A - B) 2 sin A cos B.

(1)

(b) Hence show that sin P + sin Q 2 sin [(P+Q)/2] cos [(P-Q)/2].

(3)

(c) Solve for x, 0 x /2, giving your answers in terms of ,

the equation sin 5x + sin 3x = 0.

(5)

(d) Show that sin 6x + 2 sin 4x + sin 2x 4 sin 4x cos2x.

(e) Hence(Form 5 Integration)

(4)

(24/3/2004 P1 Q11)

My Proposed Solution:
1(a) LHS = sin (A + B) + sin (A - B)
= (sin A cos B + cos A sin B) + (sin A cos B cos A sin B)
= 2 sin A cos B
= RHS (Shown)
1(b) Let:
P = A + B; and Q = A - B
Therefore: P + Q = 2A; implying: A = (P+Q)/2
P - Q = 2B; implying: B = (P-Q)/2
Since:
sin (A + B) + sin (A - B) 2 sin A cos B (see 1(a))
Imply: LHS = sin P + sin Q 2 sin A cos B = 2 sin [(P+Q)/2] cos [(P-Q)/2]
= RHS (Shown)
1(c)

sin 5x + sin 3x = 0
Use 1(b): Therefore, 2 sin [(5x+3x)/2] cos [(5x-3x)/2] = 0
2 sin 4x cos x = 0
Imply: cos x = 0 or, sin 4x = 0 for 0 4x 2
x = /2 or, 4x = 0, or 2

or,

x = 0, /4 or /2

1(d) LHS = sin 6x + 2 sin 4x + sin 2x

= (sin 6x + sin 2x) + 2 sin 4x (since RHS also has term: sin 4x)
= 2 sin [(6x+2x)/2] cos [(6x-2x)/2] + 2 sin 4x
= 2 sin 4x cos 2x + 2 sin 4x
= 2 sin 4x (cos 2x + 1)
From here, if you remember or are given the identity: cos 2x 2 cos2 x 1
LHS = 2 sin 4x [(2 cos2 x 1) + 1]
= 2 sin 4x (2 cos2 x)
= 4 sin 4x cos2x
= RHS (Shown)
Alternatively, use these relationships (if cos 2x 2 cos2 x 1 is not given)
* cos 2x = sin (/2 - 2x) ....Sine and cosine of complimentary angles are equal;
* 1 = sin /2 ...............Trigo ratio of convenient angle: sin /2 = sin 90o = 1
Thus, LHS = 2 sin 4x (cos 2x + 1)
= (2 sin 4x) [sin (/2 - 2x) + sin /2]
= (2 sin 4x){2 sin [(/2 - 2x + /2)/2] cos [(-2x)/2]}
= (4 sin 4x) sin (/2 - x) cos (-x)
= (4 sin 4x) cos x cos x ..........[sin (/2 - x) = cos x]
= 4 sin 4x cos2x
= RHS (Shown)
---------------------------------------------If you ponder over Q1 above and its solutions, you should also be able to solve this:
Extra Q. Find the exact value of: sin 75o + sin 15o.

(Answer: (3/2))

P/s: If you don't know, email me and kindly introduce yourself when requesting something.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2)

sin(A + B) sin A cos B + cos A sin B

By expanding R sin(x + ),

(a) Find, in degrees to 1 decimal place, the value of such that

5 sin x + 12 cos x R sin(x + )
where R > 0, 0 < < 90o and 0 < x < 360o.
(b) Show that R = 13.

(5)
(2)

(c) Write down the minimum value of 5 sin x + 12 cos x.

(1)

(d) Find, to 1 decimal place, the value of x which gives this minimum value
(e) Solve the equation 5 sin x + 12 cos x = 8.
Click here for Q2 answer.

(2)

(4)
(28/5/2004 P1 Q10)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3)

cos(A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B

(a)

Show that cos 2A 2 cos2 A 1.

(3)

(b)

Show that cos 4 8 cos4 8 cos2 + 1.

(3)

(c)

(d)

Hence
solve, in radians to 3 significant figures, 10 cos4 10 cos2 + 1 = 0,
for 0 < < /2,
(6)
find(Form 5: Integration)

(5)

(28/1/2005 P2 Q10)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4)

sin(A + B) sin A cos B + cos A sin B

cos(A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B

(a) Obtain an expression for cos 2 in terms of sin2 .

(2)

(b) Obtain an expression for sin 2 in terms of sin and cos .

(1)

(c) Show that cos 4 1 8 sin2 + 8 sin4 .

(4)

(d) Solve, for 0 /2, the equation sin2 - sin4 = 0.1, giving your solutions to 2 decimal
places.
(4)
(e) Find(Form 5: Integration)

(5)

(27/5/2005 P2 Q10)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5)

sin (A + B) sin A cos B + cos A sin B

cos (A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B
(f) Obtain an expression for cos 2 in terms of cos2 .

(2)

(g) Obtain an expression for sin 2 in terms of sin and cos .

(h) Show that cos 3 4 cos3 - 3 cos .
(i)

(1)
(4)

Solve, for 0 /2, the equation 9 cos 12 cos3 = 2, giving your answers to 3
significant figures.
(4)

(j) Find(Form 5: Integration)

(21/1/2008 P1 Q9)

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6)

Using cos(A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B,

(a) show that

(i)

sin2 = (1/2)(1 cos 2),

(ii)

cos2 = (1/2)(cos 2 + 1)

(4)

f() = 1 + 10 sin2 - 16 sin4 .

(b) Show that f() = 3 cos 2 2 cos 4.

(4)

(c) Solve the equation

1 + 10 sin2 o - 16 sin4 o + 2 cos 4o = 0.25, for 0 180
giving your solutions to 1 decimal place.

(4)

(d) (Form 5 Integration)

(5)

(24/5/2006 P1 Q10)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7)

cos(A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B,

f() = 5 cos - 12 sin
Given that f() = p cos ( + ), p > 0, 0 < < /2
(a) (i) show that p = 13
(ii) find, in radians to 3 significant figures, the value of

(5)

(b) Hence solve, to 2 significant figures, for 0 2, 5 cos - 12 sin = 9

(4)
(c) (Integration Form 5)

(5)
(19/1/2007 P1 Q8)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8)

cos(A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B

sin(A + B) sin A cos B + cos A sin B
(a) Write down an expression for sin 2 in terms of sin and cos .
(1)

Show that:
(b) sin2 (1/2)(1 cos 2),

(2)

(c) sin2 (A + B) - sin2 (A - B) sin 2A sin 2B.

Hence,
(d) Show that
(i) sin2 3 - sin2 sin 4 sin 2
2
(ii) sin 3 - sin2 (1/2)(cos 2 cos 6).

(5)

(4)

(e) Find(Form 5: Integration)

(5)

(17/5/2007 P2 Q10)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9)

Using the identities

cos(A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B
sin(A + B) sin A cos B + cos A sin B
express

(a) cos 2A in terms of cos A.

(b) sin 2A in terms of sin A and cos A, simplifying your answer.
(c) Hence show that cos 3A 4 cos3 A 3 cos A .

(2)
(1)
(4)

(d) Solve, for 0 x 180o, the equation 4 cos3 A 3 cos A = 0.6, giving your solutions to one
decimal place.
(5)
(e)

(Form 5: Integration)

(5)

(12/5/2008 P1 Q9)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10) cos (A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B
Show that
(a) cos (A + B) + cos (A B) 2 cos A cos B,

(1)

(b) cos 2A 2 cos2 A 1

(2)

(c) cos P + cos Q 2 cos [(P+Q)/2] cos [(P-Q)/2]

(2)

(d) Hence show that cos 8x + 2 cos 6x + cos 4x 4cos 6x cos2 x

(4)

(e) (Form 5: Integration)

(6)

(17/5/2010 P2 Q9)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11)

sin (A + B) sin A cos B + cos A sin B

cos (A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B
(a) By writing tan (A + B) sin (A + B) / cos (A + B),
prove that tan (A + B) (tan A + tan B)/(1 tan A tan B)

(3)

(b) Hence or otherwise, find the exact value of

tan 75o,
tan 15o,
simplifying your answers as far as possible.

(i)
(ii)

(5)

(c) Use the result in (a) to write down an expression for tan 2 in terms of tan .
(1)
(d) Hence find the exact value of tan 22.5o.

(4)

Given that tan = 2/5 and is an acute angle,

(e) Find the exact value of sin 2.

(4)

(18/1/2010 P2 Q10)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12)

cos(A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B

cos(A - B) cos A cos B + sin A sin B

(a) Prove that cos 2A 2cos2 A 1

(2)

f() = cos 5 + cos 3 + 2cos

(b) Show that
(i)

cos 5 + cos 3 2cos 4 cos ,

(ii)

f() = 16cos5 16cos3 + 4cos .

(6)

(c) Hence or otherwise solve, for , giving the value of in terms of ,

the equation cos 5 + cos 3 - 2cos = 0.
(5)
(d) (Form 5: Intergration)
(14/5/2009 P2 Q10)

(5)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13)

sin (A + B) sin A cos B + cos A sin B

tan A sin A/cos A

(a) Show that the equation
2 sin(x + ) = 5 sin(x )
Can be written in the form
3 tan x = 7 tan
(b) Hence solve, to one decimal place,

(5)
(5)

2 sin (2y + 50o) = 5 sin(2y -50o) for 0 y 180o

(17/01/2011 P2 Q7)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14)

cos(A + B) cos A cos B sin A sin B,

(a) Show that
(i)

sin2 = (1 cos 2),

(ii)

cos2 = (cos 2 + 1)

(3)

f() = 8 sin4 + 4 sin2 - 5.

(b) Show that f() = cos 4 - 6 cos 2.

(4)

(c) Solve, for 0 /2, the equation

4 sin4 + 2 sin2 + 3 cos 2 = 2.4
Give your solutions to 3 significant figures
(d) (Form 5 Integration)

(4)
(5)

(14/1/2011 P1 Q8)
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