Edexcel Paper 2 Specimen — Question 2

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModulePaper 2 (Paper 2)
SessionSpecimen
TopicTrig Equations

2. Some A level students were given the following question. Solve, for \(- 90 ^ { \circ } < \theta < 90 ^ { \circ }\), the equation $$\cos \theta = 2 \sin \theta$$ The attempts of two of the students are shown below.
\(\underline { \text { Student } A }\)
\(\cos \theta = 2 \sin \theta\)
\(\tan \theta = 2\)
\(\theta = 63.4 ^ { \circ }\)
Student \(B\) $$\begin{aligned} \cos \theta & = 2 \sin \theta
\cos ^ { 2 } \theta & = 4 \sin ^ { 2 } \theta
1 - \sin ^ { 2 } \theta & = 4 \sin ^ { 2 } \theta
\sin ^ { 2 } \theta & = \frac { 1 } { 5 }
\sin \theta & = \pm \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 5 } }
\theta & = \pm 26.6 ^ { \circ } \end{aligned}$$
  1. Identify an error made by student \(A\). Student \(B\) gives \(\theta = - 26.6 ^ { \circ }\) as one of the answers to \(\cos \theta = 2 \sin \theta\).
    1. Explain why this answer is incorrect.
    2. Explain how this incorrect answer arose.