Edexcel Paper 2 2023 June — Question 15

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModulePaper 2 (Paper 2)
Year2023
SessionJune
TopicTrig Proofs

  1. A student attempts to answer the following question:
Given that \(x\) is an obtuse angle, use algebra to prove by contradiction that $$\sin x - \cos x \geqslant 1$$ The student starts the proof with: Assume that \(\sin x - \cos x < 1\) when \(x\) is an obtuse angle $$\begin{aligned} & \Rightarrow ( \sin x - \cos x ) ^ { 2 } < 1
& \Rightarrow \ldots \end{aligned}$$ The start of the student's proof is reprinted below.
Complete the proof. Assume that \(\sin x - \cos x < 1\) when \(x\) is an obtuse angle $$\Rightarrow ( \sin x - \cos x ) ^ { 2 } < 1$$