Edexcel AL Mathematics: Trigonometry
Section 1: Working with radians
Exercise level 2 solutions
1. (a) cos = 0.4
Solutions are in the first and fourth quadrants
= 1.16 or 2 − 1.16
= 1.2 or 5.1 radians (1 d.p.)
(b) tan = −1.2
Solutions are in the second and fourth quadrants
= − 0.88 or 2 − 0.88
= 2.3 or 5.4 radians (1 d.p.)
(c) sin2 = 1
sin 1
sin = 1 =
2
3
sin = −1 =
2
3
= or
2 2
2. (a) 2sin x cos x = sin x
2sin x cos x − sin x = 0
sin x (2cos x − 1) = 0
1
sin x = 0 or cos x =
2
sin x = 0 x = 0 or
1
cos x = x=
2 3
x = 0, ,
3
(b) 2sin2 x − cos x − 1 = 0
Edexcel AL Maths: Trigonometry 1 © MEI 22/03/24
Exercise level 2 solutions page 1 of 3 integralmaths.org
Use the identity sin 2 x + cos2 x = 1
2(1 − cos2 x ) − cos x − 1 = 0
2 − 2cos2 x − cos x − 1 = 0
2cos2 x + cos x − 1 = 0
(2cos x − 1)(cos x + 1) = 0
cos x = 21 or cos x = −1
cos x = 1
x=
2
3
cos x = −1 x =
x= or
3
3
3. (a) cos2 x =
2
You are going to divide by 2 so need to consider −2 2 x 2 to get − x . The values for 2x are
in the first and fourth quadrants
2 x = −2 + , − , , 2 −
6 6 6 6
11 11
x=− , − , ,
12 12 12 12
1
(b) tan2 x =
3
1
tan x =
3
x= −, − , , −
6 6 6 6
5 5
x=− , − , ,
6 6 6 6
(c) 2sin2 x = sin x + 1
(2sin x + 1)(sin x − 1) = 0
sin x = − 21 or sin x = 1
x = − + , − ,
6 6 2
5
x=− , − ,
6 6 2
Edexcel AL Maths: Trigonometry 1 © MEI 22/03/24
Exercise level 2 solutions page 2 of 3 integralmaths.org
(d) 4 − 5sin x = 2cos2 x
2sin2 x − 5sin x + 2 = 0
(2sin x − 1)(sin x − 2) = 0
sin x = 21 or sin x = 2 (not valid)
5
x= ,
6 6
Edexcel AL Maths: Trigonometry 1 © MEI 22/03/24
Exercise level 2 solutions page 3 of 3 integralmaths.org