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Math Grade 9-12 Answer Key

Math: Trigonometric Sum, Difference, and Double-Angle Identities

Use identities to simplify, evaluate, and solve trigonometric expressions

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Math: Trigonometric Sum, Difference, and Double-Angle Identities

Use identities to simplify, evaluate, and solve trigonometric expressions

Math - Grade 9-12

Instructions: Read each problem carefully. Use exact values unless a decimal is requested. Show your work in the space provided.
  1. 1

    Use a sum identity to find the exact value of sin(75°).

    Write 75° as 45° + 30°.

    Using sin(45° + 30°) = sin 45° cos 30° + cos 45° sin 30°, sin(75°) = (√2/2)(√3/2) + (√2/2)(1/2) = (√6 + √2)/4.
  2. 2

    Use a difference identity to find the exact value of cos(15°).

    Using cos(45° - 30°) = cos 45° cos 30° + sin 45° sin 30°, cos(15°) = (√2/2)(√3/2) + (√2/2)(1/2) = (√6 + √2)/4.
  3. 3

    Use a sum or difference identity to find the exact value of tan(105°).

    Write 105° as 60° + 45°, then use the tangent sum identity.

    Using tan(60° + 45°) = (tan 60° + tan 45°)/(1 - tan 60° tan 45°), tan(105°) = (√3 + 1)/(1 - √3). Rationalizing gives tan(105°) = -2 - √3.
  4. 4

    If sin A = 3/5 and cos B = 12/13, with A and B both acute angles, find the exact value of sin(A + B).

    Use right triangles or the Pythagorean identity to find the missing sine and cosine values.

    Since A is acute and sin A = 3/5, cos A = 4/5. Since B is acute and cos B = 12/13, sin B = 5/13. Therefore, sin(A + B) = sin A cos B + cos A sin B = (3/5)(12/13) + (4/5)(5/13) = 56/65.
  5. 5

    If cos x = 5/13 and x is in Quadrant IV, find the exact value of sin(2x).

    Since cos x = 5/13 in Quadrant IV, sin x = -12/13. Using sin(2x) = 2 sin x cos x, sin(2x) = 2(-12/13)(5/13) = -120/169.
  6. 6

    If sin θ = 7/25 and θ is in Quadrant II, find the exact value of cos(2θ).

    In Quadrant II, sine is positive and cosine is negative.

    Since sin θ = 7/25 in Quadrant II, cos θ = -24/25. Using cos(2θ) = cos²θ - sin²θ, cos(2θ) = (-24/25)² - (7/25)² = 576/625 - 49/625 = 527/625.
  7. 7

    Simplify the expression sin(x + y) + sin(x - y).

    Using the sum and difference identities, sin(x + y) = sin x cos y + cos x sin y and sin(x - y) = sin x cos y - cos x sin y. Adding them gives 2 sin x cos y.
  8. 8

    Simplify the expression cos(a + b) + cos(a - b).

    Write out both cosine identities and combine like terms.

    Using the sum and difference identities, cos(a + b) = cos a cos b - sin a sin b and cos(a - b) = cos a cos b + sin a sin b. Adding them gives 2 cos a cos b.
  9. 9

    Verify the identity cos(2x) = 1 - 2sin²x.

    Starting with cos(2x) = cos²x - sin²x, replace cos²x with 1 - sin²x. This gives cos(2x) = (1 - sin²x) - sin²x = 1 - 2sin²x, so the identity is verified.
  10. 10

    Rewrite 2cos²x - 1 using a double-angle identity.

    Recall the cosine double-angle forms: cos(2x) = cos²x - sin²x, cos(2x) = 2cos²x - 1, and cos(2x) = 1 - 2sin²x.

    The expression 2cos²x - 1 is equal to cos(2x) by the double-angle identity for cosine.
  11. 11

    Solve for x on the interval 0° ≤ x < 360°: sin(2x) = 1.

    The equation sin(2x) = 1 occurs when 2x = 90° + 360°k. Dividing by 2 gives x = 45° + 180°k. On 0° ≤ x < 360°, the solutions are x = 45° and x = 225°.
  12. 12

    Find the exact value of cos(2x) if tan x = 3/4 and x is in Quadrant I.

    The tangent form of the double-angle identity is cos(2x) = (1 - tan²x)/(1 + tan²x).

    Using cos(2x) = (1 - tan²x)/(1 + tan²x), cos(2x) = (1 - (3/4)²)/(1 + (3/4)²) = (1 - 9/16)/(1 + 9/16) = (7/16)/(25/16) = 7/25.
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