Solving Trigonometric Equations

Finding a solution to a trigonometric equation

Types of Problems:

  • be able to use a variety of methods to determine the solution to a variety of trigonometric equations

Notes & Handouts

Practice 

Video and other resources

Finding all of the solutions to a trigonometric equation within a given domain

Types of Problems:

  • finding solutions that lie within a specific range of x coordinates 

Notes & Handouts

Practice

​Video and other resources

Finding all of the solutions to a trigonometric equation

​Types of Problems:

  • be able to use sequences to express all of the possible solutions to a given trigonometric equation

​Practice

​Video and other resources

​Notes & Handouts

Using factoring to solve a trigonometric equation

​Types of Problems:

  • be able to factor expressions that are trigonometric and quadratic in nature
  • be able to determine the solutions related to a factored form of a trigonometric equation

​Practice

​Video and other resources

​Notes & Handouts

Rewriting a trigonometric equation to solve a trigonometric equation

​​Types of Problems:

  • use properties of algebra and fractions to expand and condense trigonometric equations to a form that can be solved 
  • apply trigonometric identities to write a trigonometric equation in a form that a solution can be determined 

​​Notes & Handouts

​​Practice

​Video and other resources

Solving trigonometric equations that involve a composition

​​Types of Problems:

  • be able to use variable substitution to solve more complex trigonometric equations
  • be able to connect the graph of the interior function to the graph of the trigonometric composition

​​Practice

​Video and other resources

​​Notes & Handouts

Verification of solution(s) to a trigonometric equation using graphing 

​​Types of Problems:

  • be able to solve a trigonometric equation using a graph
  • be able to use a graph to determine if a set of solutions of a trigonometric equation is valid
  • be able to use a spreadsheet/graphing calculator/graphing program to determine if a set of solutions of a trigonometric equation is valid

​​Practice

​​Video and other resources

​​Notes & Handouts

Digital Resources

DESMOS File: Solve y = sin x
DESMOS File: Solve y = cos x
DESMOS File: Solve y = tan x
DESMOS File: Solve y = csc x
DESMOS File: Solve y = sec x
DESMOS File: Solve y = cot x