Find exact trigonometric values

A question is this type if and only if it requires finding exact values (in surd form or as fractions) of trigonometric expressions at specific angles, using compound or double angle formulae without a calculator.

14 questions · Standard +0.5

1.05l Double angle formulae: and compound angle formulae
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OCR C3 Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. (i) Show that
$$\sin ( x + 30 ) ^ { \circ } + \sin ( x - 30 ) ^ { \circ } \equiv a \sin x ^ { \circ }$$ where \(a\) is a constant to be found.
(ii) Hence find the exact value of \(\sin 75 ^ { \circ } + \sin 15 ^ { \circ }\), giving your answer in the form \(b \sqrt { 6 }\).
OCR C3 Specimen Q2
6 marks Moderate -0.3
2
  1. Prove the identity $$\sin \left( x + 30 ^ { \circ } \right) + ( \sqrt { } 3 ) \cos \left( x + 30 ^ { \circ } \right) \equiv 2 \cos x$$ where \(x\) is measured in degrees.
  2. Hence express \(\cos 15 ^ { \circ }\) in surd form.
OCR MEI C4 Q3
7 marks Moderate -0.8
3 Using appropriate right-angled triangles, show that \(\tan 45 ^ { \circ } = 1\) and \(\tan 30 ^ { \circ } = \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 3 } }\).
Hence show that \(\tan 75 ^ { \circ } = 2 + \sqrt { 3 }\).
Edexcel AEA 2023 June Q1
6 marks Challenging +1.3
1.(a)Write down the exact value of \(\cos 405 ^ { \circ }\) (b)Hence,using a double angle identity for cosine,or otherwise,determine the exact value of \(\cos 101.25 ^ { \circ }\) ,giving your answer in the form $$a \sqrt { b + c \sqrt { 2 + \sqrt { 2 } } }$$ where \(a\) ,\(b\) and \(c\) are rational numbers.
Edexcel AEA 2016 June Q2
7 marks Challenging +1.8
2.Find the value of $$\arccos \left( \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 2 } } \right) + \arcsin \left( \frac { 1 } { 3 } \right) + 2 \arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 2 } } \right)$$ Give your answer as a multiple of \(\pi\) . $$\text { (arccos } x \text { is an alternative notion for } \cos ^ { - 1 } x \text { etc.) }$$
OCR MEI Paper 3 2021 November Q14
5 marks Challenging +1.2
14
  1. Show that $$\arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { n + 1 } \right) + \arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { n ^ { 2 } + n + 1 } \right) = \arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { n } \right) \Rightarrow \arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { 2 } \right) + \arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { 3 } \right) = \arctan 1 .$$
  2. Use the arctan addition formula in line 23 to show that $$\arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { n + 1 } \right) + \arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { n ^ { 2 } + n + 1 } \right) = \arctan \left( \frac { 1 } { n } \right) , \text { as given in line } 39 .$$
OCR MEI Paper 3 2021 November Q15
4 marks Challenging +1.8
15 Prove that \(\arctan 1 + \arctan 2 + \arctan 3 = \pi\), as given in line 41 . \section*{END OF QUESTION PAPER} \section*{OCR
Oxford Cambridge and RSA}
OCR MEI Paper 3 Specimen Q15
5 marks Challenging +1.2
15 Fig. 15 shows a unit circle and the escribed regular polygon with 12 edges. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{b4e10fd2-4144-4019-bf00-070f93a2b05d-11_839_876_356_269} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 15}
\end{figure}
  1. Show that the perimeter of the polygon is \(24 \tan 15 ^ { \circ }\).
  2. Using the formula for \(\tan ( \theta - \phi )\) show that the perimeter of the polygon is \(48 - 24 \sqrt { 3 }\).
OCR H240/02 2018 March Q6
11 marks Standard +0.3
6 In this question you must show detailed reasoning.
  1. Use the formula for \(\tan ( A - B )\) to show that \(\tan \frac { \pi } { 12 } = 2 - \sqrt { 3 }\).
  2. Solve the equation \(2 \sqrt { 3 } \sin 3 A - 2 \cos 3 A = 1\) for \(0 ^ { \circ } \leqslant A < 180 ^ { \circ }\).
AQA C4 2006 January Q3
6 marks Moderate -0.3
3 It is given that \(3 \cos \theta - 2 \sin \theta = R \cos ( \theta + \alpha )\), where \(R > 0\) and \(0 ^ { \circ } < \alpha < 90 ^ { \circ }\).
  1. Find the value of \(R\).
  2. Show that \(\alpha \approx 33.7 ^ { \circ }\).
  3. Hence write down the maximum value of \(3 \cos \theta - 2 \sin \theta\) and find a positive value of \(\theta\) at which this maximum value occurs.
OCR C3 2010 January Q9
12 marks Challenging +1.2
The value of \(\tan 10°\) is denoted by \(p\). Find, in terms of \(p\), the value of
  1. \(\tan 55°\), [3]
  2. \(\tan 5°\), [4]
  3. \(\tan \theta\), where \(\theta\) satisfies the equation \(3 \sin(\theta + 10°) = 7 \cos(\theta - 10°)\). [5]
OCR MEI C4 2009 June Q8
19 marks Standard +0.8
Archimedes, about 2200 years ago, used regular polygons inside and outside circles to obtain approximations for \(\pi\).
  1. Fig. 8.1 shows a regular 12-sided polygon inscribed in a circle of radius 1 unit, centre O. AB is one of the sides of the polygon. C is the midpoint of AB. Archimedes used the fact that the circumference of the circle is greater than the perimeter of this polygon. \includegraphics{figure_8.1}
    1. Show that AB = \(2\sin 15°\). [2]
    2. Use a double angle formula to express \(\cos 30°\) in terms of \(\sin 15°\). Using the exact value of \(\cos 30°\), show that \(\sin 15° = \frac{1}{4}\sqrt{2 - \sqrt{3}}\). [4]
    3. Use this result to find an exact expression for the perimeter of the polygon. Hence show that \(\pi > 6\sqrt{2 - \sqrt{3}}\). [2]
  2. In Fig. 8.2, a regular 12-sided polygon lies outside the circle of radius 1 unit, which touches each side of the polygon. F is the midpoint of DE. Archimedes used the fact that the circumference of the circle is less than the perimeter of this polygon. \includegraphics{figure_8.2}
    1. Show that DE = \(2\tan 15°\). [2]
    2. Let \(t = \tan 15°\). Use a double angle formula to express \(\tan 30°\) in terms of \(t\). Hence show that \(t^2 + 2\sqrt{3}t - 1 = 0\). [3]
    3. Solve this equation, and hence show that \(\pi < 12(2 - \sqrt{3})\). [4]
  3. Use the results in parts (i)(C) and (ii)(C) to establish upper and lower bounds for the value of \(\pi\), giving your answers in decimal form. [2]
OCR MEI C4 2013 June Q3
7 marks Moderate -0.8
Using appropriate right-angled triangles, show that \(\tan 45° = 1\) and \(\tan 30° = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\). Hence show that \(\tan 75° = 2 + \sqrt{3}\). [7]
WJEC Unit 3 2023 June Q6
15 marks Standard +0.3
  1. Using the trigonometric identity \(\cos(A + B) = \cos A \cos B - \sin A \sin B\), show that the exact value of \(\cos 75°\) is \(\frac{\sqrt{6} - \sqrt{2}}{4}\). [3]
  2. Solve the equation \(2\cot^2 x + \cosec x = 4\) for values of \(x\) between \(0°\) and \(360°\). [6]
    1. Express \(7\cos\theta - 24\sin\theta\) in the form \(R\cos(\theta + \alpha)\), where \(R\) and \(\alpha\) are constants with \(R > 0\) and \(0° < \alpha < 90°\).
    2. Find all values of \(\theta\) in the range \(0° < \theta < 360°\) satisfying $$7\cos\theta - 24\sin\theta = 5.$$ [6]