Detailed, Beginner-friendly Solutions

Trigonometry problems — with key theory and step-by-step explanations

(Written so a 10th-grader or a beginner can follow)

How to use this file

• Each question has a short Theory box listing the identities and definitions you need.

• Then a step-by-step solution uses those identities and explains each step in plain lan-
guage.

• Final answers are boxed for quick reference.

1. Question 1

Problem. Simplify
 2
3a x − x3

a a
arctan 3 , a > 0, −√ < x < √ .
a − 3ax2 3 3

Theory you must know

1. Tangent triple-angle identity

3 tan ϕ − tan3 ϕ
tan(3ϕ) = .
1 − 3 tan2 ϕ

2. Range of arctan: the function arctan y returns an angle in the interval

− π2 , π


2
.

So arctan(tan θ) = θ only when θ lies in that interval.

3. Remember: when simplifying arctan(tan(·)) you must check whether the angle is
inside the principal interval.

1
Step-by-step solution (simple words)

1. We try to match the fraction with the right-hand side of the triple-angle formula.
Suppose
x x
tan ϕ = (so equivalently ϕ = arctan ).
a a
2. Compute tan 3ϕ using the identity:

x3
3 xa − a3 3a2 x − x3
tan 3ϕ = x2
= .
1− 3 a2 a3 − 3ax2

That shows the big fraction equals tan 3ϕ.

3. So the original expression is arctan(tan 3ϕ).

4. We can replace arctan(tan 3ϕ) by 3ϕ only if 3ϕ ∈ (− π2 , π2 ).

a
5. Use the condition |x| < √ . Since tan ϕ = x/a, this implies
3

1 π
| tan ϕ| < √ =⇒ |ϕ| < .
3 6

Multiply by 3: |3ϕ| < π2 . So the condition is satisfied.

6. Therefore  2
3a x − x3
 x
arctan 3 = 3ϕ = 3 arctan .
a − 3ax2 a

 2
3a x − x3
 x
arctan 3 = 3 arctan .
a − 3ax2 a

Short extra note for learners: the crucial steps are (i) recognize the triple-angle
pattern and (ii) check the principal range for arctan. If you skip the range check you may
get a wrong simplification for other x values.

2
2. Question 2

Problem.
3 arcsin x = arcsin(3x − 4x3 ), x ∈ − 12 , 12 .
 

Theory you must know

1. Sine triple-angle identity

sin(3θ) = 3 sin θ − 4 sin3 θ.

2. Range of arcsin: arcsin y returns an angle in [− π2 , π2 ]. So arcsin(sin α) = α only if α

lies in that closed interval.
π
3. Reminder: If |θ| ≤ 6
then |3θ| ≤ π2 ; this helps connect arcsin and sin safely.

Step-by-step solution (clear words)

1. Let θ = arcsin x. Then sin θ = x and θ ∈ − π2 , π2 by definition.

 

2. Apply the triple-angle identity:

sin 3θ = 3 sin θ − 4 sin3 θ = 3x − 4x3 .

3. So the right-hand side arcsin(3x − 4x3 ) equals arcsin(sin 3θ).

4. This becomes 3θ if 3θ ∈ [− π2 , π2 ]. We must check whether 3θ is inside the principal

range of arcsin.

5. Since x ∈ [− 12 , 21 ], we have |θ| = arcsin x ≤ arcsin 12 = π6 . Therefore |3θ| ≤ π2 .

6. So arcsin(sin 3θ) = 3θ. Substitute back θ = arcsin x to get 3 arcsin x.

3 arcsin x = arcsin(3x − 4x3 ) for x ∈ − 21 , 12 .

 

Learner tip: always check the principal-value ranges for inverse trig functions before
simplifying arcsin(sin ·) or arctan(tan ·).

3
3. Question 3 — General solutions (all angles)

Problem. Find general solutions (all possible angles) for the nine equations below. Use
n ∈ Z.

Useful theory and identities

• Sine zeros: sin α = 0 ⇐⇒ α = nπ.

• Cosine zeros: cos α = 0 ⇐⇒ α = π

2
+ nπ.

• Tangent period: tan α = tan(α + nπ).

• Angle-sum for tangent (addition formula)

tan A + tan B
tan(A + B) = ,
1 − tan A tan B

provided the denominator is not zero.

• Angle-difference for tangent

tan A − tan B
tan(A − B) = .
1 + tan A tan B

(1) sin 3θ = 0
nπ
3θ = nπ ⇒ θ= .
3
(Reason: sine is zero at integer multiples of π.)

(2) sin 4x − sin 2x = 0

Use sin A − sin B = 2 cos A+B

2
sin A−B
2
:

sin 4x − sin 2x = 2 cos 3x sin x = 0.

So either sin x = 0 or cos 3x = 0.

sin x = 0 ⇒ x = nπ.

π π kπ
cos 3x = 0 ⇒ 3x = 2
+ kπ ⇒ x = 6
+ 3
.

4
Final:
π nπ
x = nπ or x = 6
+ 3
.

3θ
(3) tan =0
4
Tangent is zero when its argument equals nπ.

3θ 4nπ
= nπ ⇒ θ = .
4 3

tan 2x + tan x
(4) =0
1 − tan x tan 2x
Recognize left side as tan(2x + x) = tan 3x (when denominator is defined). So

nπ
tan 3x = 0 ⇒ 3x = nπ ⇒ x = .
3

nπ
(We must avoid points where the expression is undefined, but x = are valid roots.)
3

tan 3x − tan x
(5) =0
1 + tan 3x tan x
Left side equals tan(3x − x) = tan 2x (when defined). So

nπ
tan 2x = 0 ⇒ 2x = nπ ⇒ x = .
2

However, check whether tan x (or tan 3x) is defined at these points:
(2k + 1)π
• If x = , then tan x is undefined (vertical asymptote), so those x are not valid.
2
• Therefore only even n (i.e. x = mπ) give valid solutions.

So final:
x = mπ (m ∈ Z) .

5
 √
(6) tan θ = 3
√
We know tan π3 = 3 and tangent repeats every π.

π
θ= + nπ .
3

(7) csc θ = −2

csc θ = −2 means sin θ = − 12 . Sine equals − 12 at angles 7π

6
and 11π
6
in [0, 2π); then repeat
every 2π:
7π 11π
θ= + 2nπ, θ = + 2nπ .
6 6

(8) 2 cos θ + 1 = 0

This gives cos θ = − 12 . Cosine equals − 12 at 2π

3
and 4π
3
in [0, 2π); repeat every 2π:

2π 4π
θ= + 2nπ, θ= + 2nπ .
3 3

(9) cot θ − 1 = 0
π
cot θ = 1 means tan θ = 1. Tangent equals 1 at 4
and repeats every π:

π
θ= + nπ .
4

6
4. Question 4 — Principal solutions (angles in [0, 2π))

Problem. Find principal solutions for:

√
3
(1) sin x = − 12 , (2) tan θ = 1, (3) cos θ = − 2
.

Theory

• Principal solutions means we list answers in the interval [0, 2π).

Answers
7π 11π
• sin x = − 12 ⇒ x = , .
6 6
π 5π
• tan θ = 1 ⇒ θ = , .
4 4
√
3 5π 7π
• cos θ = − ⇒θ= , .
2 6 6

7
5. Question 5
√ √
Problem. In triangle ABC, sides are 7, 4 3, and 13. Show the smallest angle is 30◦ .

Theory (Law of Cosines & how to compare angles)

• Law of Cosines: In any triangle with sides a, b, c opposite angles A, B, C,

b2 + c 2 − a 2
cos A = .
2bc

• Smallest side ↔ smallest angle: The smallest side faces the smallest angle.

Step-by-step
√ √ √
1. Compare side lengths: 13 ≈ 3.605, 4 3 ≈ 6.928, 7; so 13 is the smallest side.
√ √
2. Let A be the angle opposite side a = 13. Take b = 4 3, c = 7.

3. Apply cosine rule:

√ √
b2 + c 2 − a 2 (4 3)2 + 72 − ( 13)2
cos A = = √ .
2bc 2·4 3·7
√ √
Compute squares: (4 3)2 = 48, 72 = 49, ( 13)2 = 13.
√
48 + 49 − 13 84 3 1 3
cos A = √ = √ = ·√ = .
56 3 56 3 2 3 2

√
3
4. cos A = means A = 30◦ (or π/6 radians).
2

Smallest angle A = 30◦ .

8
6. Question 6
7
Problem. In triangle ABC with a = 2, b = 3, c = 4, prove cos A = .
8

Theory

Use the Law of Cosines:

b2 + c 2 − a 2
cos A = .
2bc

Computation
32 + 42 − 22 9 + 16 − 4 21 7
cos A = = = = .
2·3·4 24 24 8
7
cos A = .
8

7. Question 7

Problem. In triangle ABC with a = 9, b = 8, c = 4, prove the relation

6 cos C = 4 + 3 cos A.

(We will check whether this identity is true as stated.)

Theory

Again use the Law of Cosines:

a2 + b 2 − c 2 b2 + c 2 − a 2
cos C = , cos A = .
2ab 2bc

Computation & check

81 + 64 − 16 129 43
cos C = = = .
2·9·8 144 48
So
43 43
6 cos C = 6 · = = 5.375.
48 8
Next compute cos A:
64 + 16 − 81 −1
cos A = = .
2·8·4 64

9
So  
1 3 256 − 3 253
4 + 3 cos A = 4 + 3 · − =4− = = ≈ 3.953125.
64 64 64 64
These two numbers are not equal. Thus the given formula with cos A is false.

Possible correction (explanation)

If the right-hand side used cos B instead of cos A, the identity holds:

c2 + a 2 − b 2 16 + 81 − 64 33 11
cos B = = = = ,
2ca 2·4·9 72 24

then
11 11 43
4 + 3 cos B = 4 + 3 · =4+ = = 6 cos C.
24 8 8
So the correct relation is 6 cos C = 4 + 3 cos B, not with cos A.

Given identity with cos A is false. Correct identity: 6 cos C = 4 + 3 cos B.

10
8. Question 8

Problem. For triangle ABC, if

A+B
a tan A + b tan B = (a + b) tan ,
2

prove the triangle is isosceles (i.e. A = B).

Theory and identities

• Law of sines: a = 2R sin A, b = 2R sin B where R is the circumradius.

sin x
• tan x = .
cos x
• Useful identity:
A+B sin A + sin B
tan = .
2 cos A + cos B
• Algebra trick: After substitution, multiply both sides by denominators and rearrange
to get a perfect square.

Step-by-step proof (simple words)

1. Replace a, b by 2R sin A and 2R sin B:

A+B
2R sin A · tan A + 2R sin B · tan B = 2R sin A + 2R sin B tan .
2

Divide both sides by 2R:

A+B
sin A · tan A + sin B · tan B = (sin A + sin B) tan .
2

2. Write tan as sin / cos:

sin2 A sin2 B sin A + sin B (sin A + sin B)2

+ = (sin A + sin B) · = .
cos A cos B cos A + cos B cos A + cos B

3. Multiply both sides by cos A + cos B:

cos A + cos B cos A + cos B

sin2 A · + sin2 B · = (sin A + sin B)2 .
cos A cos B

11
 4. Expand and simplify (group terms); after cancellation you reach:

sin2 A cos2 B + sin2 B cos2 A − 2 sin A sin B cos A cos B = 0.

5. The left side is a perfect square:

(sin A cos B − sin B cos A)2 = 0.

6. Therefore sin A cos B = sin B cos A, i.e.

sin(A − B) = 0.

7. Since A, B ∈ (0, π) for a triangle, sin(A − B) = 0 implies A − B = 0 (difference cannot

be π). So A = B.

Hence A = B and the triangle is isosceles.

Student tip: The key idea is to convert side-lengths to sines (law of sines), replace
tangents by sines over cosines, and simplify. The perfect-square outcome indicates equality
of angles.

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