IB Math AA HL — Trigonometry
& Depreciation
Zero → Hero Lesson
Teach: principal angles, general
solutions, compound depreciation
Teacher: show steps, check k-values,
verify answers
Lesson Agenda
• Part A — Trig foundations (right triangle & unit
circle)
• Part B — Solving tan(kx + c) = a (general
solution method)
• Part C — Compound percentage &
depreciation (logs & checks)
• Worked examples: Paper-1 Q1, tan(3x+10)=√3,
Vehicle depreciation
• Practice problems & Homework
Right-triangle definitions (Zero →
Hero)
• Draw a right triangle with angle θ: opposite,
adjacent, hypotenuse.
• Definitions: sinθ = opp/hyp, cosθ = adj/hyp,
tanθ = opp/adj = sinθ/cosθ.
• Example: if opp = 1 and adj = 1 → tanθ = 1 ⇒ θ
= 45°.
Unit Circle & Signs — Why we use
it
• Unit circle point = (cosθ, sinθ). So tanθ =
sinθ/cosθ = y/x.
• Tangent undefined when cosθ = 0 (vertical
asymptotes at 90°, 270°).
• Quadrant signs: QI (+,+) ⇒ tan+, QII (−,+) ⇒
tan−, QIII (−,−) ⇒ tan+, QIV (+,−) ⇒ tan−.
• Key values: tan0=0, tan30=1/√3, tan45=1,
tan60=√3.
General Solutions — Core
Formulas
• If tanθ = a → θ = α + k·180°, where α =
arctan(a) (principal angle).
• If sinθ = a → θ = α + k·360° or θ = 180°−α +
k·360°.
• If cosθ = a → θ = ±α + k·360°.
• Exam habit: write α, write general solution
with k, substitute expression, solve for x, test k
values.
Worked Example A — Paper-1 Q1
• Question: Solve tan(2x − 5°) = 1 for 0° ≤ x ≤
180° (screenshot this page).
• Step 1: principal α = arctan(1) = 45°.
• Step 2: 2x − 5° = 45° + k·180° ⇒ 2x = 50° +
k·180° ⇒ x = 25° + k·90°.
• Test k: k=0 → 25°; k=1 → 115°; k=2 → 205°
(out); k=−1 → −65° (out).
• Final: x = 25°, 115°. Verify by substitution
(2×25−5=45°, tan45=1).
Worked Example B — tan(3x + 10°)
= √3
• Question: Solve tan(3x + 10°) = √3 for 0° ≤ x ≤
180° (practice).
• α = arctan(√3) = 60°. 3x + 10° = 60° + k·180°.
• 3x = 50° + k·180° ⇒ x = (50° + k·180°)/3.
• k=0 → 50/3° ≈16.67°; k=1 → 230/3° ≈76.67°;
k=2 → 410/3° ≈136.67°; k=3 → >180° (stop).
• Final: x = 50/3°, 230/3°, 410/3° (or rounded).
Verify by substitution.
Compound Percentage —
Foundations
• A decrease of r% ⇒ multiply by (1 − r).
Example: 15% ⇒ ×0.85.
• Repeated annual decrease compounds: after n
years multiply by factor^n.
• If first year is a special change, handle it
separately then apply annual factor for
remaining years.
Worked Example C — Vehicle
Depreciation
• Initial P = $35,000. First year −15% ⇒ V1 =
35,000 × 0.85 = $29,750.
• From year 2 onward −11% p.a. ⇒ annual
factor 0.89. Value after 10 years: V10 = 29,750
× (0.89)^9 ≈ $10,424.
• Inequality: find smallest n with Vn < 10% of
initial (3,500):
• Solve 29,750 × (0.89)^{n−1} < 3,500 ⇒
(0.89)^{n−1} < 0.117647 ⇒ n−1 >
ln(0.117647)/ln(0.89) ≈18.364 ⇒ n=20.
Practice Problems (In-class &
Homework)
• 1. Solve tan(4x − 15°) = 1 for 0° ≤ x ≤ 90°. (In-
class)
• 2. Solve cos(2x − 20°) = 1/2 for 0° ≤ x ≤ 180°.
(In-class)
• 3. Machine costs $50,000; first-year −20%,
then −10% p.a. Find value after 8 years and
smallest n so value < $10,000. (Homework)
• Homework: rewrite worked solutions for A,B,C
in your handwriting and photograph them.
Teacher & Marking Tips
• For trig: always show principal α and general
solution with k; test k values explicitly.
• For depreciation: clearly separate first-year
factor and repeated factor; use logs for
inequalities and check integer candidates.
• Encourage student to verify at least one root
by substitution to avoid sign errors.