Find maximum or minimum value

A question is this type if and only if it asks to find the maximum, minimum, greatest, or least value of an expression involving trigonometric functions, typically after expressing in harmonic form.

8 questions · Standard +0.2

1.05n Harmonic form: a sin(x)+b cos(x) = R sin(x+alpha) etc
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Edexcel P3 2023 January Q2
6 marks Standard +0.3
2. $$f ( x ) = \cos x + 2 \sin x$$
  1. Express \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in the form \(R \cos ( x - \alpha )\), where \(R\) and \(\alpha\) are constants, \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { \pi } { 2 }\) Give the exact value of \(R\) and give the value of \(\alpha\), in radians, to 3 decimal places. $$g ( x ) = 3 - 7 f ( 2 x )$$
  2. Using the answer to part (a),
    1. write down the exact maximum value of \(\mathrm { g } ( x )\),
    2. find the smallest positive value of \(x\) for which this maximum value occurs, giving your answer to 2 decimal places.
Edexcel P3 2024 June Q4
9 marks Standard +0.3
4. $$f ( x ) = 8 \sin x \cos x + 4 \cos ^ { 2 } x - 3$$
  1. Write \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in the form $$a \sin 2 x + b \cos 2 x + c$$ where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
  2. Use the answer to part (a) to write \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in the form $$R \sin ( 2 x + \alpha ) + c$$ where \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { \pi } { 2 }\) Give the exact value of \(R\) and give the value of \(\alpha\) in radians to 3 significant figures.
  3. Hence, or otherwise,
    1. state the maximum value of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\)
    2. find the second smallest positive value of \(x\) at which a maximum value of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) occurs. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
OCR MEI C4 Q1
8 marks Standard +0.3
1 You are given that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \cos x + \lambda \sin x\) where \(\lambda\) is a positive constant.
  1. Express \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in the form \(R \cos ( x - \alpha )\), where \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\), giving \(R\) and \(\alpha\) in terms of \(\lambda\).
  2. Given that the maximum value (as \(x\) varies) of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) is 2 , find \(R , \lambda\) and \(\alpha\), giving your answers in exact form.
OCR C4 Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.3
1 Express \(2 \sin \theta - 3 \cos \theta\) in the form \(R \sin ( \theta - \alpha )\), where \(R\) and \(\alpha\) are constants to be determined, and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\). Hence write down the greatest and least possible values of \(1 + 2 \sin \theta - 3 \cos \theta\).
OCR MEI C4 2015 June Q4
8 marks Moderate -0.3
4 You are given that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \cos x + \lambda \sin x\) where \(\lambda\) is a positive constant.
  1. Express \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in the form \(R \cos ( x - \alpha )\), where \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\), giving \(R\) and \(\alpha\) in terms of \(\lambda\).
  2. Given that the maximum value (as \(x\) varies) of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) is 2 , find \(R , \lambda\) and \(\alpha\), giving your answers in exact form.
Edexcel Paper 2 2023 June Q8
6 marks Challenging +1.2
  1. (a) Express \(2 \cos \theta + 8 \sin \theta\) in the form \(R \cos ( \theta - \alpha )\), where \(R\) and \(\alpha\) are constants, \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { \pi } { 2 }\) Give the exact value of \(R\) and give the value of \(\alpha\) in radians to 3 decimal places.
The first three terms of an arithmetic sequence are $$\cos x \quad \cos x + \sin x \quad \cos x + 2 \sin x \quad x \neq n \pi$$ Given that \(S _ { 9 }\) represents the sum of the first 9 terms of this sequence as \(x\) varies,
(b) (i) find the exact maximum value of \(S _ { 9 }\) (ii) deduce the smallest positive value of \(x\) at which this maximum value of \(S _ { 9 }\) occurs.
OCR C3 2009 June Q7
10 marks Standard +0.3
  1. Express \(8 \sin \theta - 6 \cos \theta\) in the form \(R \sin(\theta - \alpha)\), where \(R > 0\) and \(0° < \alpha < 90°\). [3]
  2. Hence
    1. solve, for \(0° < \theta < 360°\), the equation \(8 \sin \theta - 6 \cos \theta = 9\), [4]
    2. find the greatest possible value of $$32 \sin x - 24 \cos x - (16 \sin y - 12 \cos y)$$ as the angles \(x\) and \(y\) vary. [3]
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 Specimen Q7
12 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. Given that \(\cos \theta = \frac{7}{25}\), where \(\frac{3}{2}\pi < \theta < 2\pi\), determine the exact values of
    1. \(\sin \theta\), [3]
    2. \(\sin(\frac{1}{2}\theta)\), [3]
    3. \(\sec(\frac{1}{2}\theta)\). [1]
    1. Express \(4 \cos x - 3 \sin x\) in the form \(A \cos(x + \alpha)\), where \(A > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac{1}{2}\pi\). [2]
    2. Hence find the greatest and least values of \(4 \cos x - 3 \sin x\) for \(0 \leqslant x \leqslant \pi\). [3]